There are several terms electricians use that seem to be parts of their own jargon. They are common terms within the contracting business that most people working in construction are familiar with but consumers without construction experience often have no clue what certain things mean. One such term used is “rough-in”.

When electricians use this term they are referring to the installation of all electrical components that are hidden behind walls—these items are put into place after a structure has been “framed” and “dried in”, prior to the “finished walls”. Of course the quoted terms here are additional terms in construction jargon that many consumers may not be familiar with.

The items an electrician installs when they rough-in the electricity are all the wiring, junction boxes, boxes for receptacles and light fixtures, etc… Bare wires are extended from the main panel, run across and down various studs in the frame of the structure and left poking out of the various types of utility boxes that electricians install for securing items such as lights and switches; leaving the wires poking out of the boxes prior to the finished walls insures that they are easy to grab. The utility boxes that electricians put in place such as for light fixtures and receptacles provide an installation surface for the electrician to secure (screw in) items like light switches, light fixtures and receptacles.