Exacting Standards
Exact Electric lives up to its name
After starting Exact Electric LLC as a one-man operation in 2008, Zach Euse’s firm has grown to more than 40 employees and routinely works on million-dollar projects throughout Seattle and the surrounding region.
“For over a decade we have been installing electrical systems primarily for mixed-use/multifamily dwellings—all with rave reviews from the general contractors we serve,” Zach states with pride.
Zach says his firm started out doing a lot of service work and small projects and has progressed into doing ground-up projects and a lot of tenant improvements, from restaurants and retail to breweries and medical/dental offices. “We also do light industrial and have worked on a handful of print shops,” he adds. The firm generally performs projects with an electrical scope that lands between $10,000 and $2 million.
The diversity of projects includes the rewiring of an apartment building in Tacoma; two electrical build-outs for dental offices in existing buildings; remodeling and expansion of a hotel’s administration offices; two lighting retrofit projects for a major hospitality chain; and electrical system enhancements for a commercial chocolate retailer.
Exact Electric works mostly as a sub to general contractors. “One of our biggest selling points (especially with the big projects) is that we do what we say we’re going to do,” Zach says. “We’re competitively priced, and we offer the additional benefit that we can do design-build as well as the engineered projects.” The team will also install systems that have been engineered by others and thrives on opportunities to collaborate.
The Exact Electric team prides itself on the ability to be agile and adapt to changes in work orders. “We first grew accustomed to that when working with homeowners who would change their minds as their projects progressed. It is definitely a strength we have,” Zach says.
Design-Build Agility
A case in point is the firm’s current work on a design-build project—a mixed-use building in Capitol Hill, a residential district in Seattle. The Capitol Hill multifamily project features a 45-unit residential component, as well as two commercial spaces and underground parking. The Exact Electric team helped before the construction began by applying for permits and developing utility plans. They then installed underground electrical and utility conduits and provided temporary power to the construction site.
“For the Capitol Hill project, Exact Electric is wiring all the units, as well as the shell for the retail spaces. We’re also ensuring that the facility meets all relevant energy code requirements—an important element in an environmentally conscious city like Seattle. We went over the design with the contractor, and we will sometimes do that with the developer or owner of projects as well,” Zach explains. “We met with the architect and important stakeholders involved in the process. Once we got approvals, we would wire and box one floor at a time. We would go through and walk each completed floor to make sure everything was at the ready before we’d wire and box the next floor.”
This project’s low-energy usage design means lots of coordination between the electrical contractor, plumber, HVAC team and the building engineering contractor, Zach says. “We have to make sure we are all on the same page because the design means that no air will penetrate through the walls or roof,” he explains. “We get samples to the GC about the product we’re going to use, get approval on that and then get everything ready for Sheetrock. Once the drywall and finishes are done, we make all the final connections and trim out all the units and perform testing.”
Team Strengths
Zach is proud of the quality of his team. “We train them on the job; we trust our guys and know that they are highly capable. A big thing for us is communication. All of our leads have tablets and software to get them information on the spot as well as to track data for each job,” he says.
Weekly team meetings—and sometimes more often than that—help keep projects on track, Zach says. “It’s also a great time to ensure the team has the tools, materials and information they need for each project. It helps us keeps tabs on them while allowing them to feel comfortable with doing their work. It prevents them from feeling overwhelmed.
“Safety and education are important as well,” Zach says. “We are committed to the highest safety standards companywide. We actively support education and training for our staff and field workers. This ensures our team is operating according to the most current industry safety standards and regulations and that we are ahead of the curve when it comes to efficiencies and new technologies.”
Communication is also key, he says. “Anyone can get me or my project managers at any time, as well as my estimators working the job. It is important that these guys know if they have a question that I can be a resource; I try to emphasize the positives,” Zach says.
Education and communication are also ways that Zach’s team chooses to educate and inform both potential and existing customers. The firm maintains an informative blog on its website to help people understand electrical alternatives and issues. Blog topics answer questions such as: What does it mean to retrofit LED recessed lights? What should you do if a circuit breaker keeps tripping? How do you creatively light an outdoor living area?
Change with the Times
Exact Electric is positioned for continued success. “I would like to continue to grow the firm,” Zach says. “I anticipate a slowdown at some point in the economy, but I think we are prepared for that by diversifying our projects. Right now, the mixed-use multifamily projects are dominating and that’s great. But, we are adaptable and we maintain a presence in a variety of project types—from residential remodels and service work to doing tenant improvements and smaller new construction projects.”
Zach’s enthusiasm is rooted in his love for the work his company performs. “I love what I do. I take pride in my work, and I thrive on challenge,” he says. “Nothing is more gratifying than quality work and satisfied customers.”