The way some guys run wire through finished walls makes me cringe

I was finishing a job in a 1950s house in Tacoma and saw the previous installer had just notched the top of every door frame to run his 4-conductor. It looked terrible and weakened the structure for no reason, since he had attic access the whole time. How do you handle retro runs in old plaster without butchering the place?

3 comments

3 Comments

calebc402mo ago

Notching door frames is a wild choice with attic access. For plaster walls, a long flex bit and a good stud finder are key. You can often fish wire down from the attic or up from the basement with minimal damage. Small holes behind trim or in closets are way better than hacking up the structure.

lily572mo ago

My last house had plaster walls from the 1920s. I spent a whole weekend fishing a single Ethernet cable from the attic to the living room. The flex bit got stuck twice, and I had to cut a small access hole in a closet ceiling to free it. I feel your pain on a deep level.

kimfisher2mo ago

My 1950s house taught me that same lesson.