Lights, camera, action—what would our world do without electricity? We’ve come a long way from gas lanterns and candles, but the electrical industry is still a changing landscape. If you thought you knew everything there is to know about North State electrical contractors, guess again.
Not all electricians are electrical contractors.
An electrical contractor is a business that employs electricians and builds entire electrical structures. When you see an excavator digging massive duct banks beside a large commercial building, it might be an electrical contractor. Electrical contracting is a construction business.
An electrician, on the other hand, is an individual tradesman. If he’s self-employed, he’ll choose projects that require only one person—typically inside projects in homes and businesses where he installs wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, and such, or troubleshoots electrical problems. He’ll leave the trench-digging for the contractors.
Electrical contractors do more than just wires.
Nowadays, almost everything inside a building is running off some electrical outlet or battery. With more complicated appliances and machinery comes the need for more advanced electrical geniuses. These guys don’t just install wires—they also install the concrete or metal casing that goes around them. They’ll set up entire phone, computer, and fiber optic cabling systems and security systems.
You’ll also see them up in a bucket, fixing light poles or power lines. When there’s a storm, they’re the guys you can call to get the lights on again. Is the “B” in your Bloom Company sign burned out, making it look like you’re Loom Company? Electrical bucket service can come to your rescue!
Electrical contractors play a key role in restorations.
Some buildings were built before central air conditioning and surround-sound entertainment systems came into vogue. Others were built before clothes dryers were invented. And still others were built before electricity was even invented. When there’s an old Victorian mansion or former piano factory that is being restored, it will need some new wiring, outlets, and what-not. Somebody needs to make sure that there’s not going to be a fire there two months after it’s been carefully restored.