We are having two rooms finished on our second floor. When the sole plate for a closet was nailed into the subfloor, it pierced though the nail plate and electric wire. Which resulted in the breaker popping. When the subfloor was removed, it was discovered that the wiring was run under the floor and the wire was laid in notched out joists and covered with a nail plate. It was also discovered that nails had pierced the wiring prior to our finishing project.
A electrician was called in and has recommened that all wiring be pulled and restrung.
This was a modular home built in Colo. About 6 years ago and erected in another state. Was the way they laid the wiring under the second story subfloor acceptable and within NEC CODE?

Wire or was it cable? Where was thehome erected, that's the code that must be met

Normally holes are drilled to maintain strength, Notching is done by idiots or lazy people. Current code says if closer than 1 1/4" a Nail plate must be used.
If existing is not damaged, you can leave it alone. Would be a good idea to pull a new cable for the damaged one.

Wire or was it cable? Where was thehome erected, thats the code that must be met

It was electrical wire. The house was erected in Nebraska.

So each wire was an individual wire, you could see the black, white and green or was it covered and bundled together in one continuous sheath of plastic?

Priceless...


Notching is done by idiots or lazy people.

You don't say much, but when you do, priceless.

Pomona, can you post some pictures of what you have?

Pomona, can you post some pictures of what you have?

Here you go. Hot off the press. I feel sick. Some of the wires weren't even covered by a nail plate. Does home owners cover anything like this?

That was done by a "Hack", I wouldn't have passed that. Wonder if the manufacturer could be held responsible?

From my understanding the modular home builder would not have struing these cables. They make the equivalent of a wiring harness so prestrung lights and outlets can be connected when the modules come together. Could have been done by a carpenter, electrician or day laborer, no way to tell. You could try your insurance but they may only pay to repair not rewire the home.

From my understanding the modular home builder would not have struing these cables. They make the equivalent of a wiring harness so prestrung lights and outlets can be connected when the modules come together. Could have been done by a carpenter, electrician or day laborer, no way to tell. You could try your insurance but they may only pay to repair not rewire the home.

After further review, it was a local company that did the wiring. I can't believe we got a certificate of occupancy. We are in contact with the company.

A Certificate of Occupancy is to insure that the home is completed and ready for occupancy, and would not find the hidden problem you discovered.

An electrical permit and subsequent inspection of the rough wiring may have, and most likely not, since again the condition is hidden under the flooring.

Best to work your way through the municipal building dept that issued the CO, and any other permits that were issued, to see what can be done to get this condition corrected.

You may need to contact an attorney for help in dealing with the actual installer. This can get sticky and may be difficult to get compensation to correct the poor, installation.

The company that did the job has agreed to correct the wiring !