BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
That’s exactly the dilemma I’m stuck on right now. I want to keep costs down, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking, “What if I regret not running that extra conduit?” Has anyone actually saved money by skipping the future-proofing, or does it usually end up costing more later? I’d love to hear if anyone found a good middle ground—like, is there a way to plan for upgrades without blowing the budget upfront?
“What if I regret not running that extra conduit?”
That question haunted me during my last remodel. I tried to save by skipping some “future-proofing” steps, like extra outlets and smart home wiring. Honestly, I ended up regretting it when I wanted to add built-ins and realized I’d have to open up finished walls. In hindsight, I wish I’d at least run empty conduit in a few key spots. It wasn’t the cheapest option, but it would’ve saved a lot of hassle later. Maybe the middle ground is picking just a couple of high-traffic areas for upgrades instead of everywhere?
Title: Building base structures—what if you had to start over?
That “what if” has tripped me up more than once. I used to think running extra conduit was overkill—until a client wanted to add solar panels and we had to snake new wiring through insulation and finished drywall. Not fun. I get wanting to save money, but honestly, a little foresight in high-use spots pays off. I’d rather have a few “wasted” conduits than be cursing myself later with a drywall saw in hand...
I’d rather have a few “wasted” conduits than be cursing myself later with a drywall saw in hand...
Couldn’t agree more. People always think “future-proofing” is just a buzzword until they’re tearing apart a perfectly good wall. I’ve seen folks skimp on things like extra conduit or access panels, and it always comes back to bite them. Honestly, the cost of a little extra material is nothing compared to the headache (and landfill waste) of ripping out finished work. Planning for upgrades is just smart—especially with how fast tech changes.
the cost of a little extra material is nothing compared to the headache (and landfill waste) of ripping out finished work.
That’s the truth. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched crews curse their past selves for not running an extra conduit or leaving a chase open. One project, we had to retrofit fiber lines into a building that was only five years old—felt ridiculous, but tech had already leapfrogged what was there. Ended up cutting through brand new drywall and patching it all back up. Not fun, and definitely not cheap.
I get that budgets are tight, but honestly, “wasting” a few feet of conduit is nothing compared to the labor and disruption later. Even just leaving a capped stub in an accessible spot can save so much hassle down the line. Sometimes people think they’re being efficient by trimming every bit of “excess,” but it’s usually just short-sighted. Planning for change isn’t just about gadgets—it’s about not boxing yourself in for the next decade.
