Wiring Timber Frame Homes Enclosed
with Insulated Panels
The most common method used in wiring insulated panels is for the manufacturer to create horizontal chases (at two levels that are chosen by the homeowner) through the foam insulation. The electrician then fishes the wires through the chases. These chases save the time normally spent drilling through the 2 X studs of a stick frame house in order to create pathways for the wiring.
An improvement in this method of wiring is offered by certain panel manufacturers. In this option the electrical boxes for the switches and outlets are pre-installed during fabrication. This saves the electrician time (and therefore the homeowner money) and also provides a tighter, better-insulated fit at each electrical box. The fabricator also lines the chases with PVC pipe, which simplifies the wiring process. The wires will not get caught on the foam insulation so they can be pushed, not fished, through the chases. This, once again, saves on the electrician's time.
If it is not possible to make use of the existing chases, alternative methods of wiring can be employed. These methods include running the wiring behind baseboards, chair rails or wainscoting. However, these are options of last resort due to the question of meeting local building codes and the additional costs of material and labor.
The basic method for wiring ceiling fixtures and ceiling fans is to rout out the tops of ceiling beams to create a channel in which to run the wires. This procedure is done in the shop while your frame is being cut or on site after the raising.
The lighting choices available to the timber frame homeowner are the same as those used in conventionally built stick frame houses. There is, however, one important difference to keep in mind when laying out your lighting plan. The posts and beams that give timber frame homes their distinctive character can also cast some big shadows. It is therefore important to decide where you want to accentuate those shadows and where you want to eliminate them. The various lighting fixtures -- surface mount, recessed, track lighting, hanging fixtures, etc. - can be used alone or in conjunction with one another to produce the desired lighting patterns.
Once the wiring method has been chosen it is necessary to develop a detailed wiring plan that includes the path of the wires and the exact location of all switches, outlets and light fixtures. The diagram can be marked on the home plans by the electrical contractor or by the homeowner. |
