Framing challenges and electrical mess
#1
02-21-17, 09:48 AM
Framing challenges and electrical mess
Hi all! I am adding a bathroom to my basement and as such, new walls are going up in previously unfinished places. Specifically - I need to put up a wall between the window and the electrical panel box as shown here (there will be enough room for the box - I checked local code!).
There are a lot of ceiling obstacles in this route...it seems there is metal conduit for electrical work running right underneath each joist. (The big wooden structure hanging down is just a clothes line - that's not a problem to take out). So I'm trying to figure out how to do this.
Should I have my electrician come in and move all the existing wires? (or maybe do this myself?) I could drill through the joists and run the wires through them so they sit higher up but this seems like a lot of work for otherwise-functioning electrical setup. So then I started thinking I would leave them alone and just leave a gap between the top wall frame and the joists - securing the frame with 2x4 pieces that comes down from the joist? Then maybe try to find a drop ceiling grid that would accommodate leaving it all there - does one exist? Or are there other options?
Thanks for the input!
There are a lot of ceiling obstacles in this route...it seems there is metal conduit for electrical work running right underneath each joist. (The big wooden structure hanging down is just a clothes line - that's not a problem to take out). So I'm trying to figure out how to do this.
Should I have my electrician come in and move all the existing wires? (or maybe do this myself?) I could drill through the joists and run the wires through them so they sit higher up but this seems like a lot of work for otherwise-functioning electrical setup. So then I started thinking I would leave them alone and just leave a gap between the top wall frame and the joists - securing the frame with 2x4 pieces that comes down from the joist? Then maybe try to find a drop ceiling grid that would accommodate leaving it all there - does one exist? Or are there other options?
Thanks for the input!
#2
02-25-17, 06:42 AM
Member
Suspended Ceiling
I would leave them alone and just leave a gap between the top wall frame and the joists - securing the frame with 2x4 pieces that comes down from the joist? Then maybe try to find a drop ceiling grid that would accommodate leaving it all there
What is the height from the floor to the bottom of the conduit?
#3
02-25-17, 06:54 AM
Group Moderator
Before Wirepuller commented, my thought was going to be that, since this room is "right by" the box, it shouldn't be too big of a deal to move all the wires up into the joists where they then probably wouldn't need to be in conduit, unless the runs require it.
I also wouldn't want to lose any headroom with a drop ceiling. Nothing wrong with drywall if you get the wires moved up.
I also wouldn't want to lose any headroom with a drop ceiling. Nothing wrong with drywall if you get the wires moved up.
#4
02-26-17, 05:42 AM
Thank you both for weighing in! My ceiling to floor height is 89 in. so I don't think losing 3" to a suspended ceiling would be that big of a deal and it sounds easier than trying to move all the electrical...so I'm leaning towards that at the moment. I had planned to do a drop ceiling anyway vs. drywall b/c there are other things up in the joists (plumbing and HVAC related) that I think having easy access to would be good. Anyone have any suggestions on drop ceiling options that come down 3 in?
