Cochrane Electric & Handyman Services

Jul 2017

Complete renovation of sanctuary. Transformed cathedral ceiling, installed beaded soffit between beams instead of paint, skim coated block walls, drywall all other walls, finish trim, installed modern LED recessed lighting and state of the art LED accent strip lighting which highlights new ceiling, repainted, refinished wood doors, rectified problems with sound system, etc.

$39k

Levittown, PA

Mar 2016

Gentleman contacted Porch Pro to replace his main breaker. I contacted him same day and gave him a few options. He explained what happened and I ask him for a picture which he gladly provided. ( before photos) I examined the photos and noticed the corrosion and the rusted out bottom of the entire panel. This panel had been taking on water for years. The main service entrance cable was acting like a funnel for the water that was getting in his outdoor meter cabinet. Unfortunately very common problem. This is the second panel this month and about the 500th in the last 30yrs with exact same problem. A simple drip loop in the main cable during installation would have avoided this problem. This left the customer with little choice but to replace the panel. Old panel was the odd 150amp type, only had 20 positions and was already loaded with twin tandem breakers. (Not a big fan of twin tandem breakers) replaced the panel with 30/60 position 200 amp main breaker panel complete with all new branch breakers installed proper size ground wire and a new 200amp service entrance main cable with drip loop. Notice in the after pictures the all important drip loop and a sealed painted 3/4" plywood backboard. Both very important for basement electrical panels. This new panel will now last a lifetime along with my labor which also has a lifetime warranty. $1100.00 total cost to customer. Adds about 5K to value of his home.

$1k

Lansdale, PA

Jan 2016

Was contracted to upgrade service panels. Home had all electric baseboard heat which contributed greatly to the whopping 57 positions needed. Installed a 40 position 200 amp main breaker panel as well as a 100 amp 20 position sub panel. Drove 8' ground rod & grounded panels with # 4 solid copper wire, same wire was used at the cold water supply. As you can see in the before pictures one of the biggest mistakes made by contractors is the lack of a drip loop in the main service entrance cable. Water has been getting in this panel for years as seen by the extensive rust. (See before pics) A new cable was installed so a drip loop was added. When water gets in the meter cabinet and it will without resealing every couple of years it will be impossible for any water to get inside this brand new panel. As seen in the after pictures. $2000 is not the norm for a panel upgrade for me, however with all the additional circuits of baseboard heat additional breakers, and sub panel cost was driven an extra $500 took about 12 hours to complete. Notice the large painted (2 coats, both sides & edges) 3/4" backboard which provides moisture resistance on basement exterior wall as well as a massive clean canvas for the new service.

$2k

Warrington, PA

Jan 2016

Gentleman had just purchased this house. It had a beautiful renovated basement with a black drywall ceiling. Problem was the ceiling was loaded with 2'X4' fluorescent lights. Because they were recessed into the drywall he was kind of committed to what was there. I could have taken them all out patched and painted the ceiling then installed anything he wanted. He did not want to go to that length for the basement at this time. He wasn't happy with the light the different color light and the constant flickering. Upon inspection of lights found they were the older T12 bulbs (fatter) which meant they also had the old rapid start heavy ballasts. These are the ballasts that smell like someone is putting a hot tar roof on when they go bad. The tar was used to cool the internal transformer inside the case of the ballast. But when they burst it can create quite a smelly mess and if left unattended could start a fire. Solution: One option was a retrofit LED where I could custom make a series of LED modulars inside the existing Fluor. Light housing and accomplish nice clean dimmable light. However there were 9 lights and it was still the basement so that expense will be left for down the road. LEDs are awesome and here to stay (unlike compact Fluor bulbs the curly ones) and I like them very much so hang in there prices are coming down everyday. The simplest solution was to replace all ballasts with a electronic ballast then install T8 tubes (skinny ones) the light is bright, there is no more flickering, no more of needing this bulb in to make that bulb work and no more heavy old smelly tar ballasts in his home. Each fixtures wiring to sockets needs to be reconfigured, change ballast, relamp, clean lens, and your done. Each fixture took me about 20 min. Cost per fixture $50 each.

$450

Mount Laurel, NJ

Dec 2015

Job was given to me when over the course of 18 months more than 7 different roofing contractors patched, caulked, replaced sections of rubber, however were unsuccessful stopping 3 major leaks. I have been doing electrical work there for quite sometime and knew the building well. Long story short the problem was never at the leak area itself but over 100' away. Water was getting under and flowing between the roofs to the low leak area. I came up with a liquid rubber coating system after cutting sections of the rubber sliding in ISO board to pitch the water at a faster pace. (Eliminated all ponding) It worked out great it wasn't in the budget to coat entire roof so I repaired and coated the effected areas. As of Dec 2, 2015 raining last two days no leaks in this massive building for the first time since they took over in 2011 I now walk on water over there with all the service staff. Pardon the pun. Feels great to accomplish this for these really nice people.

$13k

Philadelphia, PA

Oct 2013

Complete remodel of kitchen, removed wall separating kitchen from dining room which opened up space for that eat in large granite piece. Notice the different color cabinets sink base, above microwave, etc. they pop with the main cherry cabinets and crown molding. Also the Brazilian exotic cherry hardwood floors from the front door through the dining room gave the entire job that jaw dropping look.

$20k

Huntingdon Valley, PA

Aug 2018

This had been a house fire and friends and family did a lot if not all of the wiring and over the 2yrs with different people tapping into the original panel it was a birds nest of wire. Replaced main panel and added sub panel. Completed same day

$2k

Huntingdon Valley, PA

Sep 2017

This was a complete rewire of a 1935 stone guest house. The house was not gutted as they wanted to stay as original as possible. That made my job time consuming as each line needed to be fished through thick plaster and stone exterior walls. After a slow start it came together nicely with modern kitchen, security lighting, and LED gimbal ring recessed lighting throughout. All outdoor wall lighting controlled with basement time clock as well as bypass switch at each location. The main service was moved from garage to basement as well as a sub panel added in attic to aid in the rewire of the 2nd floor. I'm waiting on painting for finish pictures.

$20k

Bryn Mawr, PA

Feb 2014

Same company The Philadelphia Hand Center this location called South Jersey Hand Ctr. They loved the lighting and savings at the King of Prussia building I went to there Cherry Hill office. Basicly did the same thing on a slightly smaller scale. 67 fixtures. Pictures coming soon. Since that time I have been doing General maintenance on 9 of the 12 locations. I maintain there emergency lighting, fix patch and paint walls, replace and repair faucets, toilets, basic plumbing, I also using a series of high quality LED modulars, custom backlit a large smoked glass sign for there Center City office. Came out great they could not have been more pleased. Especially after several failed attempts in lighting the sign previously. I will also get pictures of this sign and post next trip

$2k

Cherry Hill, NJ