This was my first attempt to hire the contractor from Homestars.
After submitting the request, I've hired The Honest Electrician to install pot lights in the living room and bathroom.
The electrician arrived on time; however, only completed 1/2 of the requested work and refused to continue due to building is not upto the code which I found later is ok, since they are grand-fathered.
It was already later than promised 4 hours and when he try to leave, 1/2 of his works wasn't even completed properly that we had to contact them to rectify the issue they have created.
I've sent the photo of the area where work is required and explained the requirements before getting estimate, but there was no warning about the works can't be done in the old house if there are any work grand-fathered previous wirings.
We had to hire someone else to finish the job, and when we've consulted them, they said it is ok to do the required job without any concern since those are light works that don't require permits.
The new electrician also told us that the hole didn't have to be made in the wall which we had to hire someone to fix.
We were fully charged for 1/2 of the work and also charged with the supplies which wasn't part of the estimate.
Not happy with The Honest Electrician and do not recommend them at all.
If you are looking for someone to work on your old house, I think you should beware.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $680.00
- Company Response
Home Buyers Beware
Non-compliant and unsafe electrical work.
Non permitted electrical work. Already had electrical contractor on site doing electrical work in kitchen with no permit. Contractor was too expensive to do the work instead of us, so Chris hired us.
Some homeowner DIY electrical work.July 12, 2021 at 1:36PM our conversation mentions very high probability to cut drywall. Flat roof with very limited space to get inside to help guide a fish tape/stick. Nearly impossible to get that fish stick up through the wall without cutting a hole to guide it. Like finding a needle in haystack.
Homestars conversation:
Good afternoon Chris,
Thanks for contacting us.
Pot lights
We can supply and install some wafer thin LED pot lights for your kitchen/living room/basement. Super high efficiency and very bright lights. Lithonia WF4 3k4k5k selector switch to change the colour temperature of the light. There is a very high probability that we will have to cut some drywall out in order to fish the wires, needed in order to run the lights.Chris refused to agree or understand the liability of the non-compliant work. No ground wires in the existing outlets on the main floor. This is a huge safety issue and presents a dangerous condition to cause electrocution or electrical shocks. We also noted that the electrical panel was upgraded without a permit because the system ground is not to current electrical code. The sewer and gas-lines are also not bonded to ground with #6 AWG ground wire. Bathroom wiring was previously done by the client’s father and it was not done correctly. There was no neutral connection in the outlet box, only switch legs and Canadian Electrical Code dictates we need to have a neutral there. I followed up with the city to see if any electrical permits have been pulled for this property. Here is a copy of the email from the Electrical department.
I am not a liar by saying this is not safe and it is a very big liability for my insurance if something goes wrong. So we pulled out and refunded Chris the difference in the work we had completed. No, we did not mention there would be a cost for the light switch. Secretary forgot to mention this. All we charged the client for was the materials $27.70 Had there been an electrical permit pulled with the panel upgrade all of this non grounded equipment would have been corrected and made safe. Then we wouldn’t have the liability issue if something goes wrong. We are now working with a legal team at LawShield to build better documents, contracts and non-compliant disclosures to protect my company better.
Here is the Canadian Electrical Code that I am legally bound to uphold and abide by. The code book tells me I have to do it and the electrical inspectors tell me I have to do it.
2018 CEC
26-702 Bonding of receptacles
1) Where grounding-type receptacles are used in existing installations to replace the undergrounded type, the grounding terminal shall be effectively bonded to ground and one of the following methods shall be used:
a) Connection to a metal raceway or cable sheath that is bonded to ground;
b) Connection to the system ground by means of a separate bonding conductor; or
c) Bonding to an adjacent grounded metal cold-water pipe.2) Notwithstanding Subrule 1), at existing outlets where a bonding means does not exist in the outlet box, grounding-type receptacles shall be permitted to be installed, provided that each receptacle is protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter of the class A type
The Honest Electrician Inc. will not do non-compliant electrical work. Insurance liability reasons, my license and my electrical trade ticket are on the line. If in doubt when you're about to purchase a property call 311 and ask to speak with the Electrical TAC Department or Trade Permits department and ask for any trade permits for your potential property. We stand behind what we do and we refuse to do work on a property where electrical work has not been inspected, is not compliant with the Canadian Electrical Code and is simply unsafe.
Sincerely,
Kyle Moss
The Honest Electrician Inc.