How To Run Wire Through Wall Studs

The primary challenge when installing new wiring in existing walls is routing the wiring through the intervening framing.

How to run wire through wall studs.

One solution is to run them behind baseboards and another is to pass them vertically into the attic or basement and run them laterally from there. Using a hammer and chisel notch a path in the top plate of the wall so that a wire can be run from the wall to the ceiling. If there are horizontal fire blocks between studs you have two options. Snip all the white neutral wires to the same length 6 in.

Run the electrical wire pulling wire through studs is made slightly easier with nm wire such as romex that has a patented coating called simpull that reduces friction. Then fish your wire from the basement to the top of the wall and pull it through into the room. Cover the notch with a metal nail plate after pulling the cable through. For the horizontal portion of the cable run this can involve drilling holes in the joists where the cable will pass.

You obviously can t drill holes in studs that are already covered with a wall material so you won t be able run cables laterally in the walls. 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. Use a flex bit to drill through the center of the fire block. If your joists are not running the right way then try running the wire in a different wall instead.

When adding or replacing wiring in finished walls most electricians will attempt to make the horizontal portion of the cable run in the unfinished attic or basement crawlspace areas looping the cable down or up through the wall cavity across the floor or ceiling joists then vertically through another stud cavity to the next wall box opening. Fold the ground wires neatly into the back of the box photo 11. Drill one hole through every stud. Push the long wire through the hole in the top of the special green wire connector and connect the remaining wires to it by twisting the connector clockwise until it s tight.