Rewiring an entire office building in a single weekend may seem like an impossible task, but with the right planning, tools, and dedicated effort, it can absolutely be done. As the building owner and weekend warrior taking on this massive project, I've put together this comprehensive guide to walk through all the key steps I took to successfully rewire my office from top to bottom in just two days.
Develop a Strategic Rewiring Plan
The first and most crucial step is to develop a strategic plan for systematically rewiring the building section-by-section. Here are the key elements my plan included:
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Map out the building - Draw up detailed maps showing all offices, cubicles, conference rooms, and common areas. Note the locations of all outlets, switches, lighting fixtures, network ports, electrical panels, etc. This provides a wiring roadmap.
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Determine wiring order - Plan the order to tackle wiring based on proximity of rooms and access points. Rewire bottom to top floors and back to front rooms systematically.
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Label everything - Label all circuits and cables so you know what they connect to. Color code labels for easy identification.
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Estimate time requirements - Gauge how long each office or section will take to rewire so you can schedule appropriately.
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Gather supplies - Stock up on electrical supplies like wire, outlets, boxes, connectors, tools, ladder, etc. Get at least 25% more than you think you'll need.
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Schedule electrician inspection - If reconnecting the electrical panel, schedule an inspection before and after the weekend to ensure proper and safe connections.
Ready the Building
To maximize efficiency during the actual rewiring weekend, I spent several weekends beforehand getting the building ready:
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Remove furniture - Clear all furniture from offices and rooms to allow easy access to walls and ceilings.
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Take down pictures - Remove artwork and wall hangings that obstruct outlet access.
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Cut access holes - Cut openings in drywall where wiring runs are needed so wires can be pulled through.
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Run cables - Pre-run all cables through ceilings and walls to each office beforehand.
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Rent lighting - Rent temporary lighting and power generators to illuminate work areas.
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Notify occupants - Inform all employees of the rewiring plans so they can vacate the building over the weekend.
Rewire Section-by-Section
With strategic prep in place, I was ready to methodically rewire the building section-by-section over the intense two day rewiring marathon. Here were the key steps:
Outlets and Switches
- Shut off main power supply before beginning.
- Remove existing outlets and switches.
- Pull new wires through cut access holes and pre-run cables.
- Connect new outlets and switches.
- Carefully label each new outlet's circuit.
- Use a continuity tester to verify all new connections.
Lighting
- Take down existing fixture.
- Disconnect wiring from fixture and adjacent junction boxes.
- Run new wires from junction box to fixture location.
- Reinstall fixture and reconnect.
- Test that newly wired lighting works properly.
Electrical Panel
- Shut off main power supply and call electrician to inspect.
- Disconnect existing wires going into panel and remove.
- Mount new panel and begin reconnecting circuits per your wire labeling system and detailed building map.
- Have electrician re-inspect connections and reenable main power when complete.
Network and Phone
- Unplug or disconnect existing cabling from wall ports.
- Run all new CAT5/CAT6 networking cables from a central IT room to each office dropping endpoints.
- Plug in and test connectivity of each networked device.
Cleanup and Inspection
As wiring each section was completed, I immersed in intensive cleanup to keep the building safe and accessible:
- Vacuum up all wires clippings and debris.
- Secure all exposed wires and openings.
- Replace drywall access panels.
- Rehang office artwork and decor.
- Move furniture back into place.
Finally, I hired an experienced electrician to inspect all rewiring work to ensure it is properly grounded, connected, and 100% safe.
Let There Be Light!
When that final inspection came back all clear, I flipped on the main power supply, said a prayer, and was thrilled to see bright, successful illumination! My office building rewire against all odds was a shining success ready for business on Monday morning.
So with dutiful planning, diligent preparation, methodical execution, and lots of caffeine and willpower, rewiring an entire office building in one weekend is entirely possible. Just be sure to enlist help, stay organized, take all precautions, and be ready for an intense two days!