How To Run Wire Down Wall From Attic

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.

How to run wire down wall from attic.

Cut a hole for each box with a drywall saw or a saw appropriate for the wall material then feed the wires down from the attic or up from the basement toward each hole using a fish tape or a fish stick. If you re working in a crawlspace you can use a flex bit drill to drill this hole from several feet away. Run the wire or cable to its destination. Depending on what the wiring is for this may be go through the drywall to the ceiling for instance for new lighting or be farther down on a wall.

When working from an attic space it will be significantly easier to access a wall space on the floor below by working either an interior wall or the exterior wall that is on the gable end of the structure. And use semi rigid wiring fish tape to pull your wiring down to your outlet location. Return to the attic or basement and drill through the wall plate where you want to guide the wire through. To run cables vertically go into the attic or basement and drill holes in the wall plates above or below the locations of connection boxes.

When you re installing a new electrical circuit or running speaker cables in your home you have to run the wires inside your finished walls. If you will need to fish wiring through a wall drill a hole through the wood plate in the attic only. Attach the wire or cable to a fish tape or coat hanger using electrical tape and feed it into the hole until it reaches the opening at the other end. How to snake wires through insulation.

You may encounter nails so choose an auger drill bit which won t get damaged by metal.