#Hiding speaker wire in drywall Patch#
#Hiding speaker wire in drywall full#
#Hiding speaker wire in drywall windows#

With in-wall speakers you’ll run cabling from the speaker location downward to the floor. This first method requires you to either remove existing skirting board and run cabling behind it, or add skirting board. If you have no access to the attic or crawlspace, and you need to run wires further than just one front wall… Also: LABEL WIRES BEFORE PULLING THEM THROUGH!) (Make sure to use 10-15% extra speaker cabling just in case, and 500mm extra for in-ceiling speakers for the hookup. If you’re struggling to get through insulation, you can attach a metal chain at the end of the fish tape and use a powerful rare-earth magnet to stick to it on the other side of the wall. Get it to the other side, tape your speaker cable to it, and pull it back through. So 28mm for a 70mm stud, and 36mm for a 90mm stud.Īssuming you have a clear path in the wall, you can run the cabling using a fish tape or electrical snake.īend one end at 180 degrees so it can find its way through insulation or mild obstacles. If you have to drill through a stud, your hole diameter can be no more than 40% of the width of the frame. See this video (at 2:55) and this video for examples. Leave one edge uncut so the paper acts like a hinge. When you cut the hole be sure to use a “pumpkin cut” where you angle the utility knife or jab saw INWARD.

#Hiding speaker wire in drywall Patch#

The key is to cut open a “window” in the plasterboard so you can access the framing, then drill the hole, feed the cable, and patch the hole. You can use a paddle bit to drill through the framing so your cables can get through. But if not, you’ll still be able to do the job (using the ‘cornice’ method below). If you can’t access an attic space above the speakers, we hope they’re running TOWARDS. They’ll either be running TOWARDS the wall where your electronics will be… Or LATERALLY to a ‘side’ wall.

In the room you’re putting in-ceiling speakers, you want to know which way the joists are running. The “ceiling joists” are running parallel with a uniform spacing. Check out this picture to see what I mean.

#Hiding speaker wire in drywall full#

These are timbers that run the full length (or width) of the room. Once you work out which it is, it should be the same for the whole house.You’re going to have to run around (or through) these timbers.Ĭeilings are a bit different in that, they usually only have “joists.”

#Hiding speaker wire in drywall windows#

Take note of how windows have lintels above them, and walls are 90mm or 70mm deep with 35mm or 45mm thick timbers.Īlso note that studs are at 450mm or 650mm centres. That’s how you’ll get to the electronics.Ĭheck out this diagram to get a feel for how walls are framed. If you’re using in-wall OR in-ceiling speakers, you’ll probably need to run cabling in the walls. This will prepare you to problem solve and get the job done.It’s almost always doable, and usually pretty easy. Before you go cutting and poking around you want to KNOW what’s behind those walls and ceilings.