Best way to stub into stick build

VietGnome · May 2, 2026

Power is likely going to be the last thing I do in my 30x40 shop build, since I'm planning for surface mounted EMT throughout.

However since I'm doing an FPSF foundation I'll have 2' wings surrounding the slab, and don't want to deal with running conduit through all that later, so I'm just going to stub in some 2" conduit, then I can trench and complete the run later.

Should I:

1. Stub up outside the slab, and go through the wall? Seeing as to ground my sub panel to grounding rods I'll need to stub through the exterior anyways?

2. Stub up through the slab for the feed, and stub the ground wire out the side later. My building is 2x6 on a 8x8" stem wall, so if I go this route should I stub up just inside the stemwall in the floor, then go (fairly) straight up into the panel later? Or should I attempt to stub up inside the stemwall/wall cavity in order to keep it out of the way?

I feel like the former is more structurally sound but looking for opinions?

PCustoms · May 2, 2026

#1 is easiest and can be done later. Personally my choice unless you need to hide the conduit.

#2 requires more planning/measuring. You can run a 2nd piece of conduit for ground use. Or, does Canada allow for UFER?

readhead · May 2, 2026

You should check with the building department. Some jurisdictions require an outside disconnect.

mike93lx · May 2, 2026

I'd put the pipe in the foundation anyway. You don't have to use it but you can't add it later

VietGnome · May 2, 2026

PCustoms said:
#1 is easiest and can be done later. Personally my choice unless you need to hide the conduit.

#2 requires more planning/measuring. You can run a 2nd piece of conduit for ground use. Or, does Canada allow for UFER?

I think I know exactly where I want my panel so I feel it should be pretty straight forward to stub it in right below? Unless there's something I'm missing.
I know I could do #1 later, but with the wing insulation it would be a pain in the add to dig it all up, remove insulation, lay conduit, back fill, replace insulation, and fill ontop, so I'd like to do it first and just be done with it.

Canada does allow UFER, but since I'm doing FPSF with full underslab insulation/poly the concrete isn't actually in contact with the ground so it doesn't meet the criteria.

Do you mean run a second in slab conduit that just comes out the side of the slab for the grounding wire? My only concern with that would be wouldn't that piece of conduit likely fill up with dirt, water, freeze, etc?

mm08822 · May 2, 2026

You can also eliminate some of the wall conduit or shorten runs by putting conduit in the slab and place it as the crow flys.

Just locate it so it won't interfere with your future car lift or indoor swimming pool excavations.

PCustoms · May 2, 2026

VietGnome said:
Do you mean run a second in slab conduit that just comes out the side of the slab for the grounding wire?

Yep. Half inch should be fine

VietGnome said:
My only concern with that would be wouldn't that piece of conduit likely fill up with dirt, water, freeze, etc?

I'd throw a cap on it for now, and then when you run the ground wire through it you can always plug it with putty or foam.

I would have to dig a little bit, but I wonder if you can pre-install your ground rods and have them run up through the slab? I guess theoretically you could just run the bare ground wire and leave excess coiled up ready to go later. Edit: probably can't have the bare copper in the concrete

I've never had to think too much about this, anything I've done has been out of sight and we just run the conduit up the side of the building with an lb into the back of the panel

VietGnome · May 2, 2026

PCustoms said:
Yep. Half inch should be fine

I'd throw a cap on it for now, and then when you run the ground wire through it you can always plug it with putty or foam.

I would have to dig a little bit, but I wonder if you can pre-install your ground rods and have them run up through the slab? I guess theoretically you could just run the bare ground wire and leave excess coiled up ready to go later

I've never had to think too much about this, anything I've done has been out of sight and we just run the conduit up the side of the building with an lb into the back of the panel

I can't get a permit without a licensed electrician anyways, so that is definitely a question to add my to ever growing list.

75gmck25 · May 5, 2026

During your planning, also consider if here is any other reason you want to run conduit under the wall instead of later coming through it. Or maybe even conduit running through the stem wall. For example, the future path for a propane line to a heater, wiring to a generator you want to keep outside the building, or conduit for low voltage wiring to cameras or other devices, etc. However, it sounds like you have a fairly short stem wall and framed walls on top, so maybe it's just easier to come up with conduit outside the building and through the framed wall.

My garage is brick faced on block (10" thick?), so drilling new holes can be a PIA. My wife also hates to see gray conduit running up exterior walls and ruining her view of the nice red brick.

Norcal · May 5, 2026

75gmck25 said:
.
. My wife also hates to see gray conduit running up exterior walls and ruining her view of the nice red brick.

Paint the conduit to blend in.

75gmck25 said:

wyliesdiesels · May 5, 2026

VietGnome said:
1. Stub up outside the slab, and go through the wall? Seeing as to ground my sub panel to grounding rods I'll need to stub through the exterior anyways?

i thought canada didnt require rods on detached buildings, not that i agree with it.

wyliesdiesels · May 5, 2026

I would run it in the slab, along with a few extra conduits for comms wiring

VietGnome · May 5, 2026

wyliesdiesels said:
I would run it in the slab, along with a few extra conduits for comms wiring

lt seems like Ontario doesn't require it. But the CEC (NEC equivalent does, IIRC)

I think I'll plan to stub in a 2" for a feeder, and maybe 1 or 2 smaller incase I want to run ethernet or something down the line.

Is there any considerations I should have for those? Or should I just cap them and have them run out directly beside the 2" feeder and deal with them later if i need them?

Then since im surface mounting ill probably convert from PVC to EMT where it comes out the slab, add a small kick back and just run it into the bottom of the panel.

Steve W. · May 5, 2026

75gmck25 said:
My wife also hates to see gray conduit running up exterior walls and ruining her view of the nice red brick.

Norcal said:
Paint the conduit to blend in.

I painted my gray conduit along the house with a "Redwood" paint. Matches quite well.

Along the back vinyl siding, I painted the conduit with a "Sandstone". Also matches quite well.

.

readhead · May 5, 2026

Just a Thought. Shouldn't you be asking your electrician these questions?

VietGnome · May 5, 2026

readhead said:
Just a Thought. Shouldn't you be asking your electrician these questions?

I don't have an electrician yet. And I'll be meeting with the concrete guy and hashing that all out much before electrical so I want all my ducks in a row.

I'd also like to have a sound plan in place before I meet with an electrician.

Best way to stub into stick build

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PCustoms

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