Elec outlet in existing hardwood floor
OK, here is one for you outside the box thinkers….
Slab on grade. Engineered hardwood floor glued to the slab. Need to install a floor receptacle in the center of the room.
Yeah, I know…WHAT?!
Any good ideas?
Replies
Get some of those guys who dig the tunnels in Gaza.
Easy. Just install one of those new wireless receptacles :-)
Any chance they're ready for a new floor?
I wish but the floor is only 3 years old...
Hang a cord reel from the ceiling ;o)
Jeff
You could possibly work along one plank from the edge of the room. First off, get enough replacement plank. Then saw cut through the center of the plank to be sacrificed and chisel it out. Cut through the floor to bury the wire, then fit the new plank in place & glue. How you fit the new plank depends on how it fits together, but at a minimum you'd have to cut off the bottom edge of the groove on one side.
Thats the only solution I have thought of so far...I wish it were a floating floor so it would be easier to remove as its about a 20' run. sigh
Do the owners really know what they are asking for?
To do this properly may involve partial floor removal, jackhammer or wet diamond saw, fishing wire, electrial box approved for in-slab application, concrete patching, and floor replacement.
Big project. How bad do they need that plug?
$1000 will do it plus clean up, sure you really want this?
Joe H
How thick is the flooring? Mike's idea might work if the flooring is thick enough, but it would probably violate any number of codes, laws, and city ordinances. - lol
This sounds like a case where you need to put on your political hat and "manage the customers expectations". - lol
How far is it from the outside wall? Stem wall or monoslab?
If it is fairly short you might be able to jet under and hit the hole from outside on a monoslab. I hit a 1' hole in my garage floor from the opposite wall, 22' away. You would still be trenching around the house from the nearest place you could get power but sand is easier than hardwood floor to put back.
I can't even imagine cranking up a cutoff saw in a furnished house, even if you could pop up a strip of floor.
Needs to be an assembly like one of these.
http://www.lewelectric.com/cfm/residential.cfm
We have several in our commercial building and I have installed new ones in old slabs, but not with a hardwood floor glued over them. Mostly the new installs were for data/power/telecom in conferance rooms.
They eventually become a PITA because they accumulate dirt,wax, and general junk in the lids or recepticals themself if the lids are left open. One spilled drink and they are toast.
You need to run it in conduit, so your cut line just got bigger.
Is there an outside wall in this room?
You've been handed a basket of lemons, and you'll be lucky to make lemonade.
Here you have two issues - and neither to be taken lightly. The box, and the wire run to it.
For the box, you have no choice but to core-drill into the concrete; you need the depth for the box. You might as well get a deep box, and go all the way through the concrete.
Then you have the issue of getting wires to the box. That's why I asked about an outside wall.
If you can get to the slab from the outside, it's possible to bore or water-jet under the slab, then run your conduit there.
If that's not an option, you'll have to use a concrete saw and a roto-hammer to make a trough at least 3" deep (and 2" wide) in the slab, and lay your pipe there.
They know...thats why they asked me to do it!
Yeah its not going to be an easy task but you can't say No.
You can't SAY it, but ....
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A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter
I have to say yes to anything right now or someone else will!!! Our market is so slow here in Florida, we have 20 guys fighting to replace rotten fence pickets!!! :)
And actually it is proving to not be taht difficult.
We pulled up the hardwood and I have an attachment made by Wolfcraft that channels in concrete using a drill. Groove will be just enough to fit 1/2" conduit. Will connect to nearest receptacle and call it done. Will have taken two days to do but the HO will be happy. Sure, I won't make much money on it but a little is better than nothing right now!
If you had it figured out, than why did you ask us?
Will your "wolfcraft" cut out for a floor box? Any other box will be a code violation.
Was that meant to be a hostile response or is it just me...
Well, I asked because in the years I have been hanging out at least one resonse is always good for something I may not have thought of and since I first posted it, some of the responses did help.
Edited 11/16/2009 10:25 pm ET by Oak River Mike
where did you find the wolfcraft. I have a small job it would be perfect for but I can't seem to find a US supplier
thanks
tate,
I bought mine when I lived in Germany. Forgot I had it in my shop uintil I need it for this project.
Not often I agree with DanH but in this case he's on to something, be adventurous and do the tunneling thing. Pretend your doing an ARMY recruiting piece "BE ALL YOU CAN BE" and "AN ARMY OF ONE!
PS use placki conduit too!
One of the other posters gave me an idea. I used to have a flat extension made for floors. It plugged in at the wall and the wire ran through a wedge shaped piece of rubber specifically designed for e.g. office environments where you needed an outlet in the middle of a room w/ e.g. a desk. It's made for walking and everhthing. My dad gave me one once when I needed power to my race track in the center of a room. Worked great. I'm sure you can still get something like that. While not the best, it sure ensures that WHEN someone changes their mind about where they need that outlet, it can change with their needs.
An even better product -"flat conductor cable" and it's sheathing- exists. Put a carpet over it and none will notice it's there. The product, alas, is listed only for commercial locations.