Electrical outlet in living room floor
by
Kasey
+20
URGENT! We have a concrete slab foundation. We are taking out existing flooring and before we lay the new flooring, I want to wire and install an electrical outlet in the floor. The floor installers say I need to dredge a little trench in the concrete to lay the wiring in, then cover it before the flooring goes in. Do I get a plumber for that? Need done asap as the flooring should be delivered next week.
19 answers
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I have seen this done on TV before with a small pointed jackhammer. Something similar to this http://www.harborfreight.com/11-amp-35-lb-lower-wall-breaker-hammer-68150.html Not sure if this helped but I figured I would give it a try :-)
RCooper @ thoughtsbyher.com
on May 18, 2015
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Thanks. By the time I buy the tool, I could pay someone. :) Thanks! Wish me luck.
Kasey
on May 19, 2015
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I'd follow their advice. Might be an idea to place the wire in a conduit of sorts - pvc? Don't know the area you're redoing, budget or how much room height you have. Personally, I would build a kind of subfloor over the concrete with room to run the wire between the concrete and the flooring .
Marion Nesbitt
on May 19, 2015
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You should be able to rent the jackhammer. Check with an electrician on what kind of conduit to use.
Barb
on May 19, 2015
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get a length of small diameter of poly pipe lay it where you want it and then concrete over it,the cable will then slide through easyly.
Don Goldwyn
on May 19, 2015
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An electrician should be able to do this for you and will tell you if this is even legal in a residential situation.
Mary-Ann
on May 19, 2015
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We built a new house 9 years ago and had to put in a floor outlet on the 1st and second level. We hardly ever use either.
Anita Gian
on May 19, 2015
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Hire a Electrician
Jason Sipple
on May 19, 2015
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Use lamps or whatever that are run by batteries and leave your slab as it is.
Becky Greenwald
on May 19, 2015
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Electrician is what you need!
Hope Williams
on May 19, 2015
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The wire has to be run in a protective tube. Probably metal. It has to be to your local codes. It can not just be put between floors. If not done properly, it could cause electric shock when walking on floor. This could be a DIY if the knowledge of code is there. If not, don't play with electrical, especially in a floor.
Hope Williams
on May 19, 2015
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My family home always had outlets in the floor and I loved them. When we went t finish our lower level the builder refused saying it was a safety issue. Unless it is well protected! any water issues, flood, washing machine, toliet, etc could damage your entire electrical system. I love them for that lamp in the middle of the room but we have gotten by well without it. Safety first!
Cynthia
on May 19, 2015
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I would guess using some type of cutter/grinder with a cement blade to cut a channel and then power chisel to get out the center? Once cut you will have to come up with some type of cover to prevent tripping hazards. There are many types of outlet floor plates. Just make sure it is installed level with the floor and can be covered to stay clean. We have a bunch of different ones in conference rooms and some are better than others. The ones more flush they are and good solid material the longer you will be happy with them. Will this weaken your slab and invite cracks? Stop rushing and do a search, this is a serious idea and needs to be thought through with reason. Good luck
Don
on May 19, 2015
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A diamond blade in an angle grinder, cut two parallel slots, then knock out the section between the two slots to get the needed channel. I'd have a licensed electrician install the conduit (plastic or metal) and make all the connections, the fill the channel with cement.
Grouchy
on May 19, 2015
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I know that you are in a hurry so I am going to give you an alternate decision. Personally I would go and buy plywood for the entire floor and just leave the space for the wiring to go between the wood. You would not be harming your concrete (which could cause your foundation to crack) and you can run your wiring through the drywall somewhere to connect on the outside, instead of the concrete. Good Luck! P.S. IT WOULD BE NICE TO LEARN WHAT YOU DECIDED TO DO!
Mcgypsy9
on May 19, 2015
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We ran a trench from an existing wall to where we wanted our floor outlets. So very happy we went to that expense. We used our general contractor who hired an electrician. You want to make sure it is done right.
Cheryl Tierce
on May 19, 2015
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I had floor outlets in a house I had built. The electrician did all the wiring and the outlets were cutouts into the wood floor. It did not seen the be a problem but then again, there was subflooring, no concrete, under the wood flooring.
Iberkeley
on May 19, 2015
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I would advise you not to do this. Running an electrical cable with conduit will require a trench of at least 2 inches deep and since the existing non bearing areas of the slab are probably in the order of 4 inches thick, the potential is high that when, not if, any shifting occurs, the area you trenched out will crack open. To do this properly and correctly the conduit needs to be driven underneath the slab.
D & K
on May 20, 2015
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You guys are awesome! I'm new to this site. LOVING IT! Electrician coming tomorrow. (ALLEGEDLY) He was due today. UGH
Kasey
on May 21, 2015
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