I keep going back and forth on underground vs. surface runs. Trenching sounds like a hassle, but the clean look is tempting. Did you rent a trencher or just dig by hand? Curious if the cost savings were worth all that work compared to just running conduit along the fence or something.
I’ve done both, and honestly, trenching by hand is a pain unless your run is super short or the soil’s really soft. Rented a trencher last time—saved my back and finished in a couple hours. Upfront cost was about $100, but worth it for the time and hassle saved. Surface conduit’s quicker, but always looks a bit DIY to me, and you’ll have to worry more about damage or code issues. If you care about curb appeal or plan to sell, underground’s usually the better call.
I totally get what you mean about the curb appeal—nothing kills a nice exterior like a chunky conduit running along the side of the house. I once had a client who insisted on surface conduit for budget reasons, and it bugged them every time they pulled into the driveway. Curious if anyone’s run into issues with inspectors being picky about exposed conduit? I’ve heard some towns are stricter than others, and codes seem all over the place.
Curious if anyone’s run into issues with inspectors being picky about exposed conduit?
Definitely—my “charming” 1920s place has seen its share of inspector opinions. One guy practically brought a magnifying glass to the conduit on my garage. Some towns want it painted to match, others just don’t want trip hazards. Makes you wonder if they moonlight as curb appeal consultants…
It’s wild how much attention exposed conduit gets, right? I remember stressing over whether to paint mine or just leave it—ended up matching it to the siding, mostly because I couldn’t stand the mismatched look. Inspectors seem to have their own “style rules,” but honestly, as long as it’s safe and not an eyesore, I feel like we should get a little creative leeway. Sometimes I wonder if they secretly judge our color choices more than the wiring itself…
