What should you look for in an electrician?
First and foremost, you want to make sure you hire an electrical contractor who is licensed and insured. There are many contractors who claim they have years of experience and know what they’re doing, but unless they can present you their license number and insurance certificate, it would not be wise to proceed with them. Second, experience is a must. Now, to be fair, what about the journeyman electrician who just recently completed his/her apprenticeship? They have indirect experience, but not quite the years of experience you might be looking for in, say, a master electrician. A recently licensed journeyman electrician can be quite skilled and knowledgeable, but imagine yourself about to go through surgery. Would you be more nervous if a freshly graduated MD were to perform the surgery as opposed to a physician with 20 years of surgical experience? We’ll hazard to guess that yes, you’d have some major reservations. On the flip side, if you were to ask a surgeon who’s in his/her 70s onwards and on the brink of retirement to perform a fine-detailed surgery and their hands appear to not be the steadiest, you might be equally nervous. A similar situation applies to electricians. A more experienced electrician will have the instincts and the skill to complete an electrical job well, but don’t discount a freshly licensed electrician from doing some of the simple and sometimes more complex electrical tasks around your home, and remember to tap into their up-to-date knowledge. So although experience is quite important in your selection process for finding the best electrician in St. Catharines, many other factors exist that contribute to a knowledgeable and skilled electrical contractor St. Catharines residents and business owners need. |
A better screening question to ask your electrical contractor is how many years of experience they have in a PARTICULAR electrical job. Say, for example, you’re looking for a knob and tube replacement for your entire home. Has your electrician done this before? Roughly how many times? If they have, feel free to ask for one or two previous clients’ references.
Other questions you could ask your commercial or residential electrician in St. Catharines that are job-specific are:
- “Do you have any guarantees if something malfunctions immediately after the project is completed?” - if any errors were made, you want to make sure the electrician will stand by the quality of his/her work and rectify any immediate mistakes that result in a breakdown or a glitch.
- “Do you need to pull a permit for this job?” - major electrical wiring jobs or additions usually need a permit; a lot of the times, the electrician can pull a permit for the job.
- “Are there additional costs on top of the quoted one?” - find out what the estimate includes; there could be ancillary costs you may not have accounted for, such as additional materials or permits. In regards to the latter, for example, if a permit needs to be pulled and inspections need to be scheduled with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), this costs extra.
- “Will you be doing the work, or have a subcontractor to work on the project?” - generally, if you’ve developed a good rapport with the main electrician, you might prefer he/she do him/herself if it is a big electrical project. In certain cases, the job may be subcontracted to a journeyman electrician working under him/her. If that is the case, you need to find out if the subcontractor is also licensed and insured, and what their qualifications are.
- “How long will the work take?” - this is a good question to ask just so you can plan your schedule around the work.
When you’re searching for good electricians in St. Catharines, you’ll want to find someone who is honest with all aspects of the work, communicative from the first moment of contact to task completion and someone who is highly skilled and experienced in the electrical trade. To become a licensed electrician in St. Catharines, you have to complete thousands of hours of apprenticeship in addition to relevant courses, exams and certifications. Licensing is the minimum requirement on your list.
You’ll want to find someone who has the right “soft skills” that make you confident in the electrical contractor and make the process smooth from start to finish. So again, on top of having the basic electrician qualification requirements, you’ll want someone who:
DID YOU KNOW?
In addition to the traits you'd want to find in your electrical contractor, make sure they are ECRA/ESA certified - ask for their ECRA/ESA license #. In Ontario, this certification is mandatory for an electrical contracting business to do electrical work in homes. Be aware that certified or even master electricians, who hold certificate an Ontario College of Trades certification and master electrician license, respectively, cannot be hired directly to do electrical work. They must work under an ECRA/ESA certified business. This is an issue many Ontarians may not be aware of but need to know before they hire a professional.
We're confident our team embodies the above qualities (in addition to the proper certifications), and our motto is that we take as much care in our clients' electrical services as we would our own, so you know you're getting the best service in town. We rely primarily on word of mouth and are proud to have our business grow even during the tough past couple of years, all thanks to the referrals of our happy customers.
We provide exceptional value to our clients, and that doesn't always mean the lowest price. It means you can be rest assured that the hard-earned money you spend is going towards quality service that will stand the test of time, so you can sleep easy at night knowing the delicate and detailed work isn't done by a fly-by-night contactor who claims they're licensed even if they're not legally allowed to perform electrical work in your home and business.
You’ll want to find someone who has the right “soft skills” that make you confident in the electrical contractor and make the process smooth from start to finish. So again, on top of having the basic electrician qualification requirements, you’ll want someone who:
- Communicates well, from scheduling of a home assessment, to discussing pricing particulars, to describing the job specifics.
- Has high integrity. For example, if the electrical contractor chooses the cheapest quality materials to cut costs on his/her end, but does not think long-term for the home or business owner, this is something to be aware of. You’ll want an electrician who treats your home or business as if it were his/her own.
- Is detail-oriented. This may be assumed in this line of work, but you’d be surprised how many “sloppy” contractors are out there who often make careless mistakes. Our electricians take pride in their work and have the chops to do it right.
DID YOU KNOW?
In addition to the traits you'd want to find in your electrical contractor, make sure they are ECRA/ESA certified - ask for their ECRA/ESA license #. In Ontario, this certification is mandatory for an electrical contracting business to do electrical work in homes. Be aware that certified or even master electricians, who hold certificate an Ontario College of Trades certification and master electrician license, respectively, cannot be hired directly to do electrical work. They must work under an ECRA/ESA certified business. This is an issue many Ontarians may not be aware of but need to know before they hire a professional.
We're confident our team embodies the above qualities (in addition to the proper certifications), and our motto is that we take as much care in our clients' electrical services as we would our own, so you know you're getting the best service in town. We rely primarily on word of mouth and are proud to have our business grow even during the tough past couple of years, all thanks to the referrals of our happy customers.
We provide exceptional value to our clients, and that doesn't always mean the lowest price. It means you can be rest assured that the hard-earned money you spend is going towards quality service that will stand the test of time, so you can sleep easy at night knowing the delicate and detailed work isn't done by a fly-by-night contactor who claims they're licensed even if they're not legally allowed to perform electrical work in your home and business.
We provide the following electrical services:
- Residential electrician services
- Commercial electrician services
- Emergency electrician
- Electrical panel upgrade
- Electrical repairs and inspections
- Knob and tube wiring replacement, aluminum wiring replacement
- Appliance electrical wiring
- Lighting installations and repairs
- Electric Vehicle charging station installation
- New construction electrical service
- Electric vehicle home charging station
...and plenty more!
How do you know if you need the service of an electrician? If you take a look at the infographic above, there are some good bullet points on typical scenarios that would warrant a call to an electrical contractor. Things like flickering lights, electrical panel upgrade, moving into a very old home which may not have the electrical capacity to handle newer appliances - these are just a few examples of when you'd want to call your local electrician.
EV charging station installations like Tesla and other electric vehicles have been trending the past decade and generally fare better when the charging station located around the garage has been upgraded, especially for the sake of charging time. If you're in need of home addition electrical service, this too is something a certified electrician like Electrician St. Catharines is well-equipped to handle.
New construction electrical wiring and rough in services require a highly skilled electrician who will ensure the electrical for new construction is done properly and to code, and we are proud to say we have the experience and excellent reputation to handle all your home addition electrical wiring. With years of experience and an unwavering commitment to producing the highest quality work that will minimize future unnecessary repairs, our licensed electrician will ensure the new build electrical wiring will be done right the first time around and minimize the likelihood of preventable repairs.
If you're looking for service for your office or business, you'll need the expertise of an electrical contractor who is experienced in this type of work. Commercial electrical is not just a larger scale of residential. There is additional training and experience needed to perform commercial electrical services, and we at Electrician St. Catharines are proud to have achieved this designation and qualification. Your office or business is no place for DIY work - you're busy enough as it is. You'll need a commercial electrician to handle the finicky wiring and ensure all systems work in sync with each other.
We are blessed to be serving a great city like St. Catharines, the largest city in Niagara region at over 133,000 residents. Known for its manufacturing industry, it is a city full of charm and friendliness. We've also made friends with our fellow Canadian neighbours, Electrician Chilliwack and Electricians Calgary, and to the south of us electrician Fresno We look forward to finding out about your electrical needs and serving you with attentiveness from our best electricians in St. Catharines and Niagara region. So whether you're looking for a light fixture installation such as a chandelier install, electrical panel upgrade, or electrical repair from residential and commercial electrical contractors in St. Catharines, contact us to get the process started!
Additional FAQs:
What is a master electrician in ontario?
A journeyman electrician in Ontario is fully qualified to perform electrical work for most homes and residences (provided they work under a licensed electrical contracting company). They will have at least 8,000 hours of on the job experience supervised by a head electrician. A master electrician in Ontario has 50% additional hours of instruction and job experience and so for more complex jobs, such as those that require permits (think new home construction electrical or a full residential electrical wiring update), a master electrician should be involved, whether they are the main contractor or supervising a journeyman electrician or apprentice.
what is the going rate for an electrician in my area?
This is a great question, as it depends on a few factors. Is your job simple like a one-story chandelier installation, or a complex whole home electrical rewiring requiring permits? The majority of licensed electrical contractors in St. Catharines charge within the same range, us included. What sets us apart is our commitment to excellent communication, our unmatched experience and our satisfaction guaranteed policy. If you find a price point that is significantly lower than others in the area, that should be an automatic red flag - their qualifications and certifications should be scrutinized.
how much does it cost to rewire a house in ontario?
This is determined by many variables. A ballpark estimate would be $3K for a small home (1,000 sq ft or less), $3K to $10K for a mid-sized home (average 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft), and $10K and up for a large home (2,000 sq ft +). This is a gross generalization as other factors come into play such as the complexity of the job, whether permits are required, the number and type of appliances used, the energy output required and whether we're working on existing wiring or completely replacing it. Give Electrician St. Catharines a call to get a more accurate estimate based on your current situation.
can you rewire a house in stages?
It is generally preferable to rewire the property in one shot, so as to provide some seamlessness and unity of the electric components. Having said that, if budget is an issue, it is possible to rewire a house in stages. Ask our electrical experts about which rooms or areas should be prioritized, along with other considerations.
Does rewiring a house add value?
The answer is YES, rewiring a house adds value to the property. Electrical rewiring ensures that the components are up to code, and any updates will be able to efficiently accommodate the electrical demands of modern appliances and homes.
Is it legal to do your own electrical work in Ontario?
This is a tricky question because although you can technically perform your own electrical work in Ontario under specific condition, one of which is you must notify the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), the better question is why you would want to undertake potentially dangerous work on your own and put your property's electrical system at risk of fires or inefficient operations that would cost you more money down the line. So in our humble opinion, it would be best to hire a licensed electrical contractor to perform the vast majority of these jobs.
Do I really need an electrician?
It depends on what job you need done. If you're simply replacing a light fixture or testing out what works and what doesn't through your electrical panel, that's fine. However, anything that involves dealing directly with wires, rewiring or a more comprehensive diagnostic analysis of an electrical system that needs repair, it would be in your best interest to hire a highly skilled and qualified licensed electrician.
If you're looking into some major renovations, additions or anything that involves tearing down a wall and requiring electrical work, you'll need a special building permit from the City of St. Catharines, and once the electrical work has been done, an ESA inspection has to be arranged to ensure the work is done to code. Once that's approved, the electrical work can be sealed up and drywall can be put up.
Electrician St. Catharines is experienced in this entire process and we're proud to offer the highest quality and specialized residential and commercial electrical services to you, so feel free to give us a call.
If you're looking into some major renovations, additions or anything that involves tearing down a wall and requiring electrical work, you'll need a special building permit from the City of St. Catharines, and once the electrical work has been done, an ESA inspection has to be arranged to ensure the work is done to code. Once that's approved, the electrical work can be sealed up and drywall can be put up.
Electrician St. Catharines is experienced in this entire process and we're proud to offer the highest quality and specialized residential and commercial electrical services to you, so feel free to give us a call.
See what others had to say about us:
Thank you for fixing my breaker panel! You're a lifesaver. Your price was reasonable and I'm thankful you walked me through the process so I wasn't left in the dark. I'm going to tell my friends and family about you!
- Jarvis M.
I would highly recommend Electrician St. Catharines electrical contracting company, as they communicated well from beginning to end, were punctual, courteous and provided our home addition electrical service with attention to detail.
- Charlene S.
I can't say enough great things about these guys...Our cousin referred us to them when we needed some electrical hook ups and repairs for our home. So glad we did because everything was explained properly to us so we didn't have to worry about anything afterwards.
- Steven G.
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