If you’re having a new house built, you might be wondering how much electrical wire is needed to complete the electrical work. The amount of wire required varies depending on the size and layout of the house. In this blog post, we’ll explore how much wire is used in a typical new home construction project and what factors influence the amount.
As a general rule of thumb, you will want one foot of wire per square footage that is covered by your house. This does not include the wiring used in any detached structures such as a garage or shed. If those are present, additional wiring will be needed to accommodate them. You will also want to allow approx. 5% for wastage.
Within Australia, electrical wire, or building wire as it is commonly known, is generally sold in 100 metre rolls.
Within America, 1000′ spools are much cheaper than multiple 250′ put-ups. Given you need to deal with gauges, you should look to have 1 ft of 14-2 for every sq ft and about 25% of that in 14-3 and 12-2. For example, a 3000 sq ft house would take 3000 ft of 14-2 and 750 ft of 14-3 and 12-2. The rest of the wire would be cut to exact lengths for air conditioning and stove etc.
If the layout of your home is complex or has several levels, it may require additional wiring. For example, a two-story house will need more wire than a single-story home with the same square footage. The extra wiring is needed to ensure all areas of the house have access to power and are correctly wired for safety.
In addition to the size and layout of your home, other factors affect how much wire is required. The type of wiring used will also impact the total amount needed. For instance, homes built with copper wiring require less than those using aluminium or other types of wiring. The quality of your electrical system and its components can also determine the number of wires you’ll need to complete the project. And don’t forget, the number of outlets and switches in your house will affect the amount of wire needed. The more outlets and switches you have, the more wiring is necessary to ensure proper operation.
In short, calculating exactly how much wire is required for a new home construction project can be tricky. Over the years, we’ve found it is better to overestimate than underestimate, as there are always unexpected complications that occur on new home builds. Once you know how much wire is needed for the home you will be able to calculate how long it will take to wire the house.
It’s important to ensure you have enough wiring to meet all safety requirements and power your home correctly. With careful planning and calculations, you can ensure that the electrical work in your new house is done right. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact one of the licensed electricians from Finnley Electrical, we’d be glad to help.
