Laying cable under laminate underlay

I recently did something similar. I replaced the radiator in a room and realised that I'd left the alarm cables that had previously ran behind the radiator pipes in front of them!

I decided not to bother taking the radiator off again and simply cut a channel out of the underlay to run the cable in. The laminate doesn't seem to have any problems bridging the approx. 5mm gap I left (so far anyway!)

so you actually cut a groove in the underlay, rather than running the cable under it ?? May be an idea to tuck the cables into the joins in the underlay...

Yeah, that would be better I suppose - I didn't have the option because the cables were already there so I had to work around them - if you are laying the cables as new (or they have plenty of slack) then I don't see why you couldn't route them along the joins.

Just a point from re-reading your post - I used the large rectangular 'tiles' of underlay (prolly about 5-8mm thick, not the stuff on the rolls - that might be too thin to do this without squashing the cables.

I would expect it to be easier to put cables under the roll stuff as its softer and should accommodate the cables by compressing a little... but I could be talking out of my arse !

It may be easier but I would think that the cable would be subject to quite a bit of wear and tear as people walk across the laminate.

Out of interest, is there no way you place the cables in the expansion gap around the edges before fitting skirting/beading?

I could do - but a door and fireplace gets in the way. I suppose I could still route it under the expansion stip thingy.

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:00:04 +0000 (UTC), NC scrawled:

I wouldn't even remotely think about possibly ever doing such a thing.

Is that because you are opposed to laminate though ;)

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 11:25:33 +0100, Richard Conway scrawled:

At the risk of being controversial, I'm not against laminate flooring!

I used the fibre-board type of underlay for mine and cut grooves into it to accommodate the telephone and speaker cables. No adverse effects but the fibre-board was thicker than the cables.

Grumble

so can you explain your reply then ?? Whats so evil about the proposal ?

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 19:57:07 +0000 (UTC), NC scrawled:

I'm sure it is theoretically possible but as a professional it's not the done thing. If they were maybe at the edge then possibly as an only option but definitely not acroiss a doorway.

Just my opinion, do with it what you will. ;)

and appreciated it is too.. Thanks for the input.