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Wondering if you can run electricity to your VersaTube shed, garage, workshop, or barn? Go for it! Although VersaTube structures don’t come with electrical already prepared, one of the great things about owning a VersaTube is that it’s fully customizable. So whether you need electricity for your horse barn or task lighting in your shop, it can easily be done. There are just a few things to keep in mind:

Make it a consideration when picking your site

Depending on your property, you may have more than one location option for your new building. If you plan to run utilities to it, it’s wise to factor that in as you finalize your site location. The closer your building is to existing utilities, the less expensive running electrical will be for you.

Discuss it with your professional sales engineer

Even if you’ve already assembled your VersaTube building, you can still run electric to it and finish the interior. But to really ensure you come away with the exact building you’re envisioning, you should talk your ideas over with your professional sales engineer before you begin. When you tell your VersaTube engineer that you want to install basic electrical, run surround sound, or add special lighting, your engineer might make some modifications to the standard design to make it easier for you to finish your structure when it arrives.

DIY safety tips

Running electrical is not really a DIY job for a novice. But, if you’ve got the skill set to run your own electrical to your building, your budget will surely thank you. If you’re planning to run the electrical yourself, remember these tips:

• Take care of getting the proper permits and follow your local building codes.

• Make sure the structure is weather sealed before installing electric.

• Take care to ground properly. While your VersaTube is naturally fire-resistant, a lightning strike to a building that isn’t grounded could fry the electrical equipment inside. To be safe, the metal frame needs grounded together and each corner should be grounded. That way, lightning will follow a path to the ground and the interior of your building and the supplies inside won’t be damaged.

When in doubt, hire a contractor!

Some things are better left to professionals: surgeons, dentists, lion tamers, contractors and electricians, to name a few! If you're new at this type of DIY, a contractor might be a great investment. Sure, he or she will take a healthy bite of your budget, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing your building is being built by an expert is probably worth it.

If you want, you can hire a contractor to handle the entire process, from assembling your structure, to finishing the interior, to subcontracting electricians and plumbers. A contractor will even take care of making sure all your permits are in place and inspections are handled smoothly.

How can you make sure you get a good contractor? Let us help you! We’ll recommend a certified VersaTube installer and you can rest assured that you’re in good hands. Have more questions about running electrical or any other part of your build? Contact us! We’re glad to help.