How to run cables behind the drywall

[Caemofan]

Folks,
I am thinking of running my speaker cable behind the drywall but I was wondering if there is a way of doing it so that I do not have to cut too many big holes in between studs. If anyone can direct me to a good website or can tell me what is the best way to run cables without creating too much damage to the drywalls, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

[goodwinaj]

If you have base board or crown molding you can run it behind that.

[Winger]

What do you have for flooring in the room? There are several sources for flat speaker wire that's intended to be run beneath carpet.

[lancity]

I have a wood floor so i just run flat cable under an area rug and cover the exposed areas with wood grain contact paper. Keeps the wife happy.

[DoingOK]

Are you on a concrete slab or crawl space? Fortunately, mine is a crawl space so I just drilled from below into the wall space. I bought some wall plates from Monoprice and some cabling from Blue Jeans Cable.....voila', neat and clean.

Listening room:



Living room:

[bigred7078]

Mar 2, 2010 11:33:01 GMT -5 goodwinaj said:

If you have base board or crown molding you can run it behind that.

yup. This is a very easy way to do it, especially if you have base boards. Just remove the base boards, cut out some drywall, run some cable, patch the drywall, recover the base boards, and SHAZAAM...done

[tonymc]

I used a 3/8 drill bit(used by hand, not a drill) and put the hole right behind where the speaker is hung so you don't see it. Dropped the wire inside the wall and ran the wire behind the trim and drilled a hole in the floor behind the couch to run the wires under the house.
It was kind of a pain, but well worth it.

[Caemofan]

I have a carpet flooring and I do have the baseboard (are you guys referring to that base molding that runs around the drywall at the bottom?). Like the picture from DoingOK?

[goodwinaj]

Mar 2, 2010 15:09:10 GMT -5 Caemofan said:

I have a carpet flooring and I do have the baseboard (are you guys referring to that base molding that runs around the drywall at the bottom?). Like the picture from DoingOK?

Yes, it comes off pretty easily. You can channel the dry wall like bigred said, or sometimes there is a 1-2cm gap where the drywall and floor meet where you can tuck the wires. Reinstall the baseboard and done.

[HDSapper]

Also, if you have access to the tops of the wall in the attic, you could make holes in the drywall at the equipment and the speaker, and drill down through the top plate of the wall, and run the wire up, over, and back down. If there's insulation in the wall you'll need something to "fish" the wire down, but otherwise you can just drop the wire down and pull it out at the bottom.

Also, as you may well know, don't run your speaker wire too close to electrical. If you have to cross electrical wires, do so at a 90 degree angle.

I don't know if I made any sense or not. Hopefully so.

[LuisV]

Found this on Crutchfield's site, but I'm sure you can find other How to Guides:

In-wall Wiring Guide
www.crutchfield.com/Learn/learningcenter/home/inwall_wiring.html

[hunghung]

Mar 2, 2010 11:25:50 GMT -5 Caemofan said:

Folks,
I am thinking of running my speaker cable behind the drywall but I was wondering if there is a way of doing it so that I do not have to cut too many big holes in between studs. If anyone can direct me to a good website or can tell me what is the best way to run cables without creating too much damage to the drywalls, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

Maybe this video is for you ;D
www.audioholics.com/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/installing-surround-sound-speakers

[pczach]

I run my speaker wire underneath the floor on my first floor living room. I run the speaker wire down behind the baseboard. Through the drywall, and down a hole that pops out in my basement ceiling. It is an unfinished basement right now. I just run the speaker wire from the amp down the wall to the basement, run the wire between the floor joists to the other end of the room, and then up the wall at the other end of the room, to the surrounds.

[kinge]

Get a fish tape. Be creative. Be persistent. Don't panic. You will be just fine.

Jeb