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Frequently asked questions
Everything we get asked most often about electrical, construction and telecommunication. Can't find your answer? Write to us or call 418-747-0199.
General
About Nuvem and how we work
Who is Nuvem and what exactly do you do?
Nuvem télécommunications inc. is a Quebec City company with three divisions: electrical (CMEQ electrical contractor), construction (RBQ general contractor) and telecommunication (tower erection, marking and maintenance). One point of contact, from the ground to the top. Learn more about us.
Do you hold the required licences and insurance?
Yes. Nuvem holds RBQ licence 5813-6219-01 (general contractor and electrical contractor) and is a member of the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec. Our work is covered by liability insurance and our crews meet CNESST requirements, including work at height.
How do I get a quote?
Fill in the contact form and select the division, or call us (local 418-747-0199, toll-free 1-877-748-0318). For electrical and construction we schedule a site visit; for telecom we ask for the technical scope or site study.
Are your quotes free and without obligation?
Yes, for all our services. The quote is itemized (materials, labour, exclusions) and the price of an accepted quote is fixed, except for changes you request during the project or documented unforeseen conditions (e.g. bedrock, unsuitable soil).
What payment methods do you accept?
Bank transfer, cheque and, for residential contracts, progress payments tied to milestones (deposit, stages, balance on delivery). Terms are written into the quote.
Do you work weekends or handle emergencies?
Regular hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Electrical emergencies (outage, hot panel, burning smell) are handled as a priority: call rather than write. For telecom sites we respond according to the service agreements in place with the carrier.
Electrical
Residential, commercial and agricultural electrical contractor
How much does a 200-amp electrical service cost?
In Quebec, replacing or installing a 200 A electrical service usually costs between $3,000 and $6,000 depending on the condition of the mast, the distance to the pole, the panel chosen and the number of circuits to rework. We coordinate the disconnection and reconnection with Hydro-Québec. Read our full guide on electrical service costs.
When should an electrical panel be replaced?
If the panel is 30-40 years old or more, if there is no room for new circuits, if breakers trip often, if it still uses fuses, or if your insurer requires it (Federal Pioneer/Stab-Lok panels, aluminum wiring). Adding a heat pump, an EV charger or a hot tub is often the right time to move to 200 A.
Do you install electric vehicle charging stations?
Yes, residential and commercial: Level 2 (240 V) chargers of all brands, with load management if your panel is limited. We help you claim the Roulez vert rebates (up to $600 residential) and provide the required certificate.
What is needed to install a standby generator?
A fixed generator (propane or natural gas) requires a transfer switch or panel, a pad, code clearances and a fuel connection by a licensed contractor. For a portable generator, a manual transfer panel with an outdoor inlet is enough. Never a direct "homemade" hookup: it is dangerous and illegal.
Do you wire new homes and owner-built homes?
Yes. We do complete wiring, the electrical service, lighting and basic home automation, and we regularly work with self-builders, coordinating with other trades and inspections.
Do you do commercial, industrial and agricultural electrical work?
Yes: commercial spaces, workshops, warehouses, farms and agricultural buildings (ventilation, dryers, milking systems), LED lighting, three-phase distribution, grounding and insurer compliance.
What is an electrical code upgrade and is it mandatory?
It is the correction of an installation that no longer meets the Quebec Construction Code, Electricity chapter: outdated panel, missing GFCI/AFCI breakers, aluminum wiring, ungrounded outlets. It becomes mandatory when work touches those elements, in some cases on a sale, or at the insurer's request.
Do you offer electrical troubleshooting?
Yes, for residential, commercial and industrial: fault diagnosis, tripping circuits, dead outlets, overheating, replacement of breakers or defective devices.
Construction
General contractor: foundations, homes, additions, garages
Helical piles or a concrete foundation: which to choose?
Concrete suits a main home with a finished basement on stable soil. Helical piles suit cottages, additions, garages and sloped, rocky or hard-to-reach lots, and let you build without curing time. Our detailed comparison helps you decide.
How long does it take to build a new house?
Count 6 to 10 months from the first shovel to handover for a standard single-family home, depending on the season, complexity and material availability. Plans, permit and financing come before, over 2 to 4 months.
Can a foundation be built in winter in Quebec?
Yes, with precautions: excavating frozen ground, heating and shelters for concrete curing, or helical piles which install year-round. It is often a good strategy to start framing in spring. See how to prepare your lot.
Do you do additions and major renovations?
Yes: additions on foundation or piles, second-storey additions, kitchen, bathroom and basement renovations, opening load-bearing walls with engineer's drawings, and of course all the electrical in-house.
Do you build detached garages and farm buildings?
Yes, garages, sheds, workshops and agricultural or commercial wood-frame buildings, on slab, foundation or piles, including electrical and garage doors.
Who handles permits and plans?
We prepare the municipal permit application with you and coordinate the plans (technologist or architect) and required studies (geotechnical, surveyor's layout). The permit is issued in the owner's name.
What warranties apply to construction work?
The legal warranties of the Civil Code of Quebec (1 year on finishing, 3 years on hidden defects, 5 years on major structural defects) apply to our work, in addition to manufacturers' warranties. A new home sold by a contractor may also be covered by the Garantie de construction résidentielle (GCR).
Telecommunication
Towers, marking, maintenance and civil works for carriers
What telecommunication services do you offer?
Tower erection and dismantling (self-supporting, guyed, monopoles), antenna and line installation, aeronautical obstruction marking (paint and lighting), preventive maintenance, civil works (foundations, shelters, fencing, access roads) and site audits.
Where do you work in telecommunication?
Across Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island), including remote regions and sites reachable only by forest roads or helicopter.
Which carriers do you work with?
We deliver projects for Telus, Vidéotron, Rogers and Telener, as well as tower builders, cooperatives and companies operating private networks (mining, forestry, hydroelectric).
Are your climbers certified for work at height?
Yes: work-at-height and tower rescue training, fall protection, first aid, rigging and signalling, WHMIS and each carrier's own requirements. Every site has its safety plan and equipment inspection.
Do you handle regulatory tower marking?
Yes, to Transport Canada and NAV CANADA standards: red-and-white paint, LED obstruction lights (low, medium and high intensity), controllers and remote monitoring, replacement and upgrade of existing systems.
Can you do the foundations and civil works of a cell site?
Yes, that is the advantage of our three divisions: concrete or pile foundations, equipment pad, shelter, fencing, access road, electrical service and standby generator, then tower erection by the same team.
Service areas
Where we work in electrical and construction
Which municipalities do you serve as electrician and general contractor?
The 28 municipalities of the north shore: Portneuf (Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, Saint-Casimir, Deschambault-Grondines, Cap-Santé, Portneuf, Donnacona, Neuville, Pont-Rouge, Saint-Basile, Saint-Raymond, Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier), Quebec City and north (Quebec City, Charlesbourg, Beauport, Loretteville, Val-Bélair, Wendake, Lac-Beauport, Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval), Côte-de-Beaupré (Boischatel, L'Ange-Gardien, Château-Richer, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Beaupré, Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges) and Charlevoix (Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Baie-Saint-Paul). See all service areas.
Do you charge travel fees?
No travel fees for quotes and work within our 28 municipalities. Beyond (e.g. Charlevoix-Est or Lévis), reasonable fees may apply and are stated in the quote.
Do you serve the south shore (Lévis, Lotbinière)?
Our priority areas are on the north shore, but we review south-shore projects case by case, especially construction and commercial installations. Write to us with the details.
Do you work on cottages and in areas without winter road access?
Yes. Our telecom crews are used to remote sites and we apply the same logistics (snowmobile, ATV, forest roads) to cottages in Portneuf, the Jacques-Cartier valley and Charlevoix.
Careers
Working at Nuvem
Which positions are you hiring for?
Lineworkers and tower climbers, electricians (journeymen and apprentices), carpenters, project managers and labourers. See open positions and apply.
Do I need work-at-height training to apply as a climber?
No. We train motivated candidates: certifications (work at height, rescue, rigging, first aid) are provided and renewed by Nuvem. Good physical condition and comfort at height are required.
Is travel frequent in telecom?
Yes, telecom projects involve stays outside the region (lodging and meals paid, travel premiums). Electrical and construction positions are mostly in the Quebec City and Portneuf area.