Wiring new shop

[Bergmanautocraft]

I recently purchased a metal building in the Wilmington NC area, 40x28. I’m not interested in being an electrician, so I’m getting estimates. 100amp sub panel , trenched from house about 25’. Several dedicated 220 circuits, lights, fans, bathroom, office, plenty of receptacles, mini split, etc. I’m trying to get estimates as I have no idea what this should cost. Is there a range or a way to figure what’s fair?

 

[nadogail]

You will find that what you are looking for will cost more than you want to pay and take longer than you like.

 

[The Cobbler]

probably too many variables for a guess, not least of which rising costs & lack of availability of materials

 

[wyliesdiesels]

this question comes up at least once a week and the answer is almost always the same. too many variables and it varies by location

 

[cybrdyke]

You will find that what you are looking for will cost more than you want to pay and take longer than you like.

The only "rule of thumb" that actually works.

 

[mike93lx]

A few grand, as a starting point.

 

[MongoTA]

"Fair" would probably be best by getting three estimates, all made from the same spec sheet. Locating where you want your specific outlets on the walls with blue tape might nail cost down tight. Regional markets can vary by quite a bit.

 

[Bergmanautocraft]

We're in the process of trying to get a few estimates together for comparison

 

[mike93lx]

We're in the process of trying to get a few estimates together for comparison

Good luck. Won't be surprised if you can't even get three.

That's a big space and you are talking about a lot of stuff. Reading it again, my "few grand" won't cover it and would just give you basics. If cost is a concern, I would come up with bare minimum and a wish list, so you can pare it back if needed.

 

[Bergmanautocraft]

Good luck. Won't be surprised if you can't even get three.

That's a big space and you are talking about a lot of stuff. Reading it again, my "few grand" won't cover it and would just give you basics. If cost is a concern, I would come up with bare minimum and a wish list, so you can pare it back if needed.

This isn't a few grand in my opinion. Im guessing 10+ soup to nuts

 

[u2slow]

I’m not interested in being an electrician, so I’m getting estimates.

I wasn't interested in being a carpenter or roofer either, but my funding dictated otherwise.

A sub-panel and a few circuits isn't that tough a job to DIY.

 

[mike93lx]

This isn't a few grand in my opinion. Im guessing 10+ soup to nuts

A few grand would probably get you a panel and some receptacles.

Sounds like you have about as accurate a number as you can get before getting real quotes. Good luck with the project.

 

[Steve W.]

"Fair" would probably be best by getting three estimates, all made from the same spec sheet. Locating where you want your specific outlets on the walls with blue tape might nail cost down tight. Regional markets can vary by quite a bit.

When I had my shop built a few years ago, I had printed out my "want list" along with some artist-type renderings from a cheap software program and gave a copy to every one of the (six) contractors that responded to my invitation to bid on the job. Only three of them actually responded with a quote, but they all appreciated the detailed list.

My son and I did all the wiring inside the building. The run from the meter/disconnect and the breaker panel had to be installed by an electrician, along with one receptaclel (inside and outside) and one switched light (inside and outside). I never did keep track of how much we spent, but there are 16 dual-tube fluorescent troffers in the ceiling (on five switches for zoned lighting), and a BUNCH of receptacles spread around the room, fed by five breakers. Basically a quad (two duplexes) every four feet everywhere except directly behind the main bench, which has a backstop and overhead light that would prevent access to a receptacle in the wall. There are power strips mounted to the bench. There is another circuit for the lights upstairs (attic trusses), along with a circuit for receptacles upstairs. I shudder to think what that might have cost me if it had been done "professionally".

This is the panel for just the shop. A circuit for a welder has been added since this picture was taken.



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[Model A Fan]

I recently purchased a metal building in the Wilmington NC area, 40x28. I’m not interested in being an electrician, so I’m getting estimates. 100amp sub panel , trenched from house about 25’. Several dedicated 220 circuits, lights, fans, bathroom, office, plenty of receptacles, mini split, etc. I’m trying to get estimates as I have no idea what this should cost. Is there a range or a way to figure what’s fair?

I'm not an electrician and I've solicited lots of advice from this forum regarding a similar (albeit shorter run from the main) sub-panel question/project. Sub-Panel in Garage-Adding 220v for Table Saw and Air Compressor

I am frugal, to the point of not getting the project "just done" by a contractor since the cost came in so high. My request for my barn was as follows:

1. 100A Sub-Panel with 90A breaker in main breaker
2. 50' run of 2-2-2-4 MHF (Mobile Home Feeder) as the power supply from the main breaker to my sub-panel
3. 50' of 1-1/2" Sched. 40 conduit
4. 8/3 feeder from new sub-panel to existing 6-space sub-panel that runs my lighting
5. Wire up two 220V circuits for an air compressor and a table saw
6. Disconnect large cable/wire that originally "fed" barn that was connected from my house to my barn (150'+ away)
7. Permits pulled by contractor for county inspection

$4100+tax and possibly more due to troubleshooting that would need to occur.

My cost so far is under $800 for materials, the second bid I received wanted $3300 for materials. Efffffff that.

100A main panel-$90 at Lowe's
90A Eaton breaker-$44 off eBay
2-2-2-4 -60' @ $2.48/ft=$150
LBs- 2@$7/ea
50' 1-1/2" conduit-$135
23 space grounding bar-$12
Misc pieces-$100 or so
90A Square-D Breaker-$56 local hardware store
Knipex Wire Strippers-$60
100' 10/2 wire-$80
300' 12/2 wire-$150
250' 12/2 wire-$165
250' 14/2 wire-$120
Grounding rods x 2-$52
Grounding rod nuts-$6
---------------------------------
$1234 (but not all the wire will be used up in this project, so that is if I were to use ALL of the wire I purchased).

Some of these materials were purchased "pre-pandemic" so their prices are not what you'd likely find today, some came from people off Craigslist/OfferUp as leftovers that I can piece together my circuits, etc. Overall, this project will cost a whole lot less than originally quoted and I'll have a lot of knowledge and confidence in myself in the future too; all I'll do is just plan, have plan checked, and then go for it and have the end product evaluated by an inspector from the permitting office for correctness. I'm duplicating this project to my garage, so that isn't too big of a deal really to go through all of this since I'll just replicate what I did in my barn, but in my garage. I've learned a WHOLE LOT by asking LOTS of questions once I decided to do it myself.