| As a historical city, Philadelphia is full
of historical buildings. When tourists walk along the sidewalks, they
can enjoy many charming and well-kept homes. I, too, enjoy these houses,
for they are unique and distinctive in appearance. My perception,
however, is affected by my occupation. As an electrician, I also notice
old, rusty service entrance cables, which are like graffiti on the
city’s murals. I see wires that are run along the front of homes,
because the effort was not made to hide them carefully within the
delicate plaster walls. I think about the sophisticated framing structure
unmatched by that in the common, modern home. My thoughts turn to
century-old floorboards that do not leave any room for mistake because
their antiquity cannot be replaced. And, of course, I must consider
the old “knob
and tube” wiring which was in common use from 1880 to the
1930s, a time when wiring a whole house cost just 35 dollars.
Below is more of a guide than an exact price list for electrical
work performed in the kind of homes described above. There are many
factors that can affect costs. One aspect to consider is the location
of outlets. If the walls need to be left intact (minimal cutting
allowed), given the complicated framing structure, sometimes 2 feet
left or right can affect prices. If renovations require painters,
then the electrician usually has the freedom to cut technological
holes that can be patched and painted over. Such liberty decreases
the price of installation.
Another aspect is the scope of the project. On larger projects,
each single item costs less due to the overall utility of certain
tasks.
You may use the guideline prices below to gain a rough idea of
the total cost of your project. Please keep in mind that the final
cost could be lower or higher, depending on the factors I have just
described.
Guideline prices will be published by the end of June 2008.
Thank you.
Vlad
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