The Electrical Rough-In

When the electrical rough-in is completed, there'll be a new nest of wires that extend from the panel to new boxes attached to the framing where plugs, switches, and fixtures will later be mounted. The boxes for plugs will be at a consistent height near the floor, the switches at a level of 3 or 4 feet. Wall and ceiling boxes will be located for lights. All these boxes will be set carefully so that when finished wall sur­faces are later put in place, each box will sit neatly behind the plane of the wall.

During the rough-in, wires should also be run for phone and cable TV. If you are planning on a built-in sound system or intercom, this is the time for the rough wiring for those systems as well. The alarm installers, too, will do their preliminary work, should you be installing a security system.

Your job isn't to check wire sizes or to look for code violations. Your concern is with what's there and, perhaps just as important, what isn't there. If you want a phone in a particular location, running the line and installing a box at this stage is a matter of a few dollars. Later on, with finished surfaces in place, the price goes up by about a factor of ten. You need to think through one last time all your electrical, cable, phone, speaker, and other needs and communicate your wants to the crew on hand.