How To Run Wire Through Walls With Studs

Follow these guidelines to avoid causing structural damage.

How to run wire through walls with studs.

For either 12 or 14 gauge wire a 1 2 inch or 3 8 inch spade or auger bit mounted on a drill provides a good amount of space to pull the wire through. Tap the wall with a hammer across the area where the new wiring will be installed. If there is no open path for the wire you may need to drill through wall studs or ceiling joists. Drill through the center of the stud using a maximum diameter of 60 of the stud s width 40 for load bearing walls.

When running wire through metal or steel studs you need. One of the options t. How to run wire through the studs behind a wall 1. Pierce the drywall with the tip of a drywall saw on the left or right side of one of the pencil marks on the wall.

Must protect the wire from the sharp edges in the factory hole in the stud. This usually requires drilling holes through wall studs and or the top or bottom wall plates the horizontal members at the top or bottom ends of the studs. The primary challenge when installing new wiring in existing walls is routing the wiring through the intervening framing. Each time you hear a sharp tap.

Smaller holes make it difficult to pull the wire. Make a hole in the center of each stud large enough to allow the cables to pass through easily but never exceed 40 percent of the stud width which means a maximum diameter of 1 3 8 inches for 2 x 4 framing. Larger holes compromise the structural integrity of the stud.