Our core Tilghman Builders team is made stronger by the specialists we have created relationships with. These vendors and partners help our clients time again, and we stand by the quality of their work, as we do our own. One such trusted partner is GJC Electric. They are a full service residential and electrical contractor, serving Eastern Pennsylvania, and they go above and beyond to deliver quality.
We spoke to Greg Clark,the owner of GJC, and asked him a few questions about his business and what homeowners should plan for in their own home's electrical features, or when renovating.
Q: What do homeowners looking to remodel need to plan for?
The homeowners just need to come to us with an idea and what they’re looking for, and we can design it. For instance if you need task lighting over a certain counter, or you have an area of your home that is always dark. We also need to know what you’re going to run -- is there a large entertainment center, or an area where you charge multiple devices. If you have a circuit breaker which regularly trips, there is a reason and most likely it is because of what is being used on that circuit. We want to prevent those problems in the future.
Q: What’s your biggest request?
We get a lot of requests, both in new construction and remodels, to install recessed lighting throughout the house. It's the easiest way to change the look of a room, and the function of it too. You can brighten up a family space, or just a highlight a single painting. We have a lot of options.
Q: Big debate -- LED or Incandescent?
LEDs may cost a bit more, but they have a much longer than incandescents -- the manufacturer says that if you run them for 3 hours a day, 7 days a week, they will last for 22 years. If you have places that are hard to reach, like a high ceiling or outdoor floodlights, we recommend using LEDs. That way you're not having to hire someone to come out and change the bulbs when, and if, they go out. And they've improved the color of them, so you may not be able to tell a real difference.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make with electrical?
The biggest mistake is doing it themselves, or hiring someone that is unqualified, like a family member of a handyman. Even if an electrical product is marketed as "easy install" there is not much that we recommend a homeowner try to install themselves. A reputable electrical contractor should be focused on customer service, and can provide license and insurance information. You should do your research -- look for their reviews online and a history of their business. They should be careful in your home, like wearing booties, and stay true to their estimates. You should also look for a warranty -- we warranty our work up to 1 year.
Q: What are the electrical dangers in an older home?
Older homes are classified as 20+ years or older. The biggest problem we see in older homes is loose connections, and they may not know until it's too late. Or we may get a call that half of the electrical in a room doesn't work, and after we check, it's because the connection on the outlet came loose over the years. And installation methods have changed, so preventatively, a homeowner could update the outlets and switches throughout the house.
Q: After the electrical update is completed, what should homeowners keep in mind?
It's never a bad idea to have an annual or biannual electrical inspection. We come out and test all the outlets, check the functionality of light switches, and go into the panel and make sure all the terminations and wires are tight. On your own, you should test your home's GFI/AFCI yearly.
Our day-to-day tips are to stay away from extension cords, especially on space heaters. Power strips are good, but you can also install a whole house surge protector on your panel. They are great to protect all of the equipment throughout the house, and can come with a manufacturer's warranty up to $75,000 coverage should anything happen to your devices. An electrician should install this.
Homeowners should also know the location of the electrical panel (breaker box). Also know if there are any disconnects, like in the basement.
Q: What's the biggest innovation in electrical?
Definitely the biggest trend is the Smart Home. Some people are turned off because they think it's overly expensive. But in the last few years some companies have come out with products that really make it inexpensive, specifically Lutron Caseta - it integrates with Amazon echo, your smartphone, your tablet. It allows you to swap out any switch in your home, and you can then control that switch through your smarthub and wifi.
Learn more about GJC Electric on their website here!
