Moving a Callbox to an Adjacent Wall
We are looking to move the location of a call box in a new condo to another adjacent wall. Is this difficult to do? Do we need to get the architectural schematics of what is behind each wall to judge feasibility? How much can one expect to pay a contractor to do this job? Anyone…
We are looking to move the location of a call box in a new condo to another adjacent wall. Is this difficult to do? Do we need to get the architectural schematics of what is behind each wall to judge feasibility? How much can one expect to pay a contractor to do this job? Anyone ever do this and any tips for the process? Any contractors interested please post your contact information.
Thanks for the posting jcarch and fire alarm guy. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by riser and splices, but I have reached out with the intercom company and sent over pictures of where the callbox currently is and where we are trying to move it to. We are on the top floor, so we have that going for us. I am concerned about how the wires are going to be routed but I thought the intercom company can best judge what is feasible. Thanks again though for the posts.
Most of the above comments are correct. The drawings would be useless because there is almost no shot that the intercom riser is in there as built. The riser is the biggest problem. Depending on the type of intercom system, alot of those wires are common to the other units. If the building were to allow you to touch it, you should question there judgment.
agree with rodriguezstudio…a couple of other things to think of:
– the higher up you are in the building, the easier it is. On the ground floor, you’ve got wires for every apartment in your line above you running through the riser for the intercom. If you’re on the top floor, it’s only wires for your apartment.
– you’re probably not going to be able to change the entry or exit points for the riser, so you’re rerouting everything between those to fixed points. Do you have somewhere to run all those wires? You’ll have to channel through wall/ceiling to do this. If you’re in a new building, your ceilings may be plaster on concrete…if that’s the case, you can’t channel the slab, so have to find another way. Look carefully and figure out if you can get where you need to go.
– Keep in mind that at the entry and exit points you’ll have to have cover plates to access the splices that will be needed at each point. They’re not a big deal, but take them into account when planning this.
Good Luck
Point taken from the first comment. I called the super who didn’t really draw a hardline about the company doing it. That being said, he gave me the name and number of the company that does it. I spoke with a guy there who works on the building. He said it shouldn’t be that hard and that they can do the work. I’m going to send him a picture of the area where it is now and where we want to move it to so he can gauge how hard it will be. Based on how that goes, we’ll proceed.
I think it will be harder than you may think unless you are doing a complete gut renovation, and even then it may not be possible.
ask your building super. chances are there is a company who services your system in your building. generally they do not allow anyone else to touch the system (and generally they also do not allow you to move it- but that will depend on how many apartments are above yours)except the company that does service.