How much does it cost to add new electrical?

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by househuntinggal

The previous owner of our home did not have any overhead lighting installed by the builder in the living or dining rooms. We want to get estimates from a couple electricians on how much it would cost to install a chandelier in the dining room and track lighting in the living room. Our townhouse is fairly new (built 2005), we live in central NJ - what kind of ballpark figure should we expect?

Does the electrician also fix/patch up the ceiling after the work is done?

Thanks in advance - I am clueless about this...!

Should be around $700 maybe 800. It's about a days work tops. Yes you'll have some drywall to patch. Not including parts. As forvthecdrywall most ekectricians not do drywall. They do usually have a drywall guy that patches the walls. When I do a retro I cut squares then put them back so thecdryeall guy has the piece. .

[selhars]

Why doesn't anyone ever think to come through the floor above? It's a lot easier to have carpet restretched than to have texture matched.

I suppose that could be done. But I think I'd rather have the holes patched than have someone mess with the flooring in the rooms above. In my case I have old-fashioned parquet flooring which you'd think you could just pry up, do the electric work and re-lay the parquet. But I still think I'd rather just patch any ceiling holes.

I've gotten a quote of 400 per room and that's WITH attic access, but no current fixture, so no boxes or braces. And I was told the joists are too far apart so the usual support braces won't work. So they'll have to do some extra work on that.