Hi all,
I'm about to install projector cables running from the middle of my ceiling, down one wall. Before I butcher the plasterboard in the ceiling and wall, are there any gotchas? What's the best tool to cut it? Should I be looking to take out long rectangular chunks, or just small squares every so often and look to get the cable through on the end of stiff wire?
Antony
The latter. I usually cut something like 20mm diameter holes and use pieces of stiff wire (coat hanger) or moderately stiff wire (singles) to hop from one hole to the next to pull through a piece of string. Keep a loop of the string coming out of each hole, and then pull the cable bundle through hole by hole. If you try to bypass some of the holes, you risk it getting stuck. Afterwards, it's simply a matter of polyfilla to fix the holes.
Obviously, if you can get access from above, things are easier.
It depends a bit on whether your walls are stud partitions (ie plasterboard screwed or nailed to a hollow timber frame) or dry-lined (ie, plasterboard attached to a brick wall using plaster or thin battens) - which is it?
David
Small holes and "fish" them. Or if there's any chance you may need to change them/replace mod etc MT2 on the surface, not as pretty perhaps but a hell of lot easier than having to dig it all out again.....
I'd start by going for a hole where the faceplates will be and access at the top either through the floor above or at ceiling level. Then see is weighted string will fall between the two. If does great use the string to pull all the required cables in together but either make the string into a loop or long enough so you don't loose the end. Might be useful later for extra cables.
If not use mark the string where it goes into the wall and pull it out and use it to measure where the noggin is and make a hole there so you can drill/cut a channel through the noggin, repeat as required.
Less is more as far as holes are concerned. B-)
perhaps
If there is a possibility of the above, how about feeding flexible conduit into the wall and then make good ?
They are stud partitions. What difference does that make? I got a wallboard saw and some Polyfilla today, so I'm all set. :)
I'm keenly keeping up with all the interesting replies...
Antony
Do you drill holes or cut them out with a saw? If I only need to drill, the wallboard saw that I just got can go back unless you lot think it could be useful.
Antony
A stanley knife will make a neater cut. score through the surface, and repeat until it goes right through.
With stud partitions you can simply drop cables for most of the height - but they'll probably have 'noggins' - horizontal strengtheners - between the studs which will stop things. Either one or two depending on the wall height. You should be able to find these by tapping the plasterboard with a knuckle, or using a stud finder.
At a noggin, I'd cut out roughly 4 x 4" of plasterboard centred on it and then cut a notch for the cables. Then cut a bit of plasterboard to fit the hole and nail in place. Finish with one coat plaster - far cheaper than Polyfilla. I'd also make battens from scraps of wood and fix behind the plasterboard at top and bottom securing with brass woodscrews. Large enough to fix to the patch and the existing board. That way you'll not get any cracks after filling.
I think your respondents have assumed stud partitions anyway!
David
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