Should I do it?

[Shizelbs]

Okay, as many of you know, I am having a new house built. Its at the point where the insulation is in place, with the drywall to go up soon.

This is my chance to drill holes to run surround sound in my family room. Should I just go in and drill holes? Do I just drill holes between the studs where I would like to make the speaker connections? I will be running the wire under the floor, in the crawl space, and then up the back wall.

Any comments or suggestions? I have zero home-owner, DIY skills, so any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

[shack]

Any comments or suggestions? I have zero home-owner, DIY skills, so any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.
Even though it is a relatively simple thing to do if you know exactly what you want, in your case HIRE someone to prewire you house before the drywall guys get there. I did mine but I knew weeks in advance where everything was going. Tell them what you plan on doing and they will have it done quickly. I know you are going to spend some big $ for your rig so don't be cheap and have it done right. They may even be able to offer some tips to make it look/work better.

[unc2701]

DO IT!!! It's a hell of a lot easier to drill those holes w/o the drywall in place. Surround placement might be a little off, but you'll be glad you did it. You don't have to necessarily run the wires right now, but drill the holes and run some heavy duty twine to where you can get to it in the basement/ crawlspace and staple the twine to where you'll put the holes in the drywall to put in binding posts. Once the house is done, cut out your hole, tie the speaker cable to the twine and pull the other end.

The only reason I disagree w/ shack about hiring someone is that they'll put in the crappiest/ cheapest wire they can find.

[shack]

The only reason I disagree w/ shack about hiring someone is that they'll put in the crappiest/ cheapest wire they can find.
Yep, probably that monster stuff and charge a fortune for it.

Seriously, most installers will run what you want. You know enough to specify gauge, quality etc. They should know exactly what code requires for inwall wires. Even if you do it yourself go ahead an run the wires now. It is so much easier.

I was recommending this on Shelby's self described level of competence and the time frame.

[unc2701]

I was recommending this on Shelby's self described level of competence and the time frame.

Good point... and it depends on the contractor. The builders in my neighborhood will only let you work with their electrician and the electrician wouldn't install the stuff you gave them. They wanted to use radio shack 18ga.... WTF?

[Shizelbs]

Well, hiring out is not an option. See, I am not paying for the builder's super expensive 'upgrade' where they would do it for a fee. I have to do it, in that its a secret operation.

Other houses that did get the upgrade have some no-name cheap 16 gauge wiring. I am glad I didn't pay for that crap.

[unc2701]

Yeah, that sounds about like my nieghborhood- they did the same thing to my brother in North VA. AND when he put in his own wire, they ripped it out. Drill the holes & go with the twine. If they rip it out you won't lose anything and you can still run wire w/ a fish tape.

[Shizelbs]

I'm just drilling holes tonight. The wire will go in later. The holes will be covered up by the insulation, so, hopefully no one will notice.

I was going to make a night long project out of it, and wire for a LAN throughout the house, but that certainly would be noticed.

[unc2701]

the main thing for a LAN is to make sure you'll have a way to get from the basement/ crawlspace to the attic. From there you can make any connections you need in the future by drilling up from the basement into the baseplate of the wall or down from the attic through the top of the studwall. look where the airducts go- you should be able to put in a piece of conduit that runs through that space & no one will know the difference.

[Shizelbs]

Well, since tonight is my only chance to do it, and now that I have a migraine, complete with aura, I am just going to stick to the surround wiring.

For LAN, I'll just buy a couple cable modems, and do wifi from there.

[Dennis Gardner]

If it isn't CL3 wire for inwall installation, an inspector may find it and have it removed.

[Shizelbs]

If it isn't CL3 wire for inwall installation, an inspector may find it and have it removed.

All I am going to do before I move in, is drill the holes. Once I move it, dropping down into the crawl space should be no problem. I agree though, I would be afraid of having the wire removed and wasting the money spend on said wire.

[Dennis Gardner]

All I am going to do before I move in, is drill the holes. Once I move it, dropping down into the crawl space should be no problem. I agree though, I would be afraid of having the wire removed and wasting the money spend on said wire.

I gotcha, if I was closer, I would hold the flashlight!!!!

Seriiously though, use CL3 code approved wire for inwall. Insurance can refuse claims if they find wiring not to code, even if the wire isn't the cause of trouble. I've seen it happen.

Parts Express has some nice Carol wire with high strand count.

Parts Express 14 Ga. Inwall (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=100-762)

[Shizelbs]

Note to self: charge batteries for drill before needing to drill things.

It'll be okay. They didn't place as much of the insulation as I guessed they would today. So, I have one more day to get this done.

[Dennis Gardner]

I too have a love/ hate relationship with my cordless tools. Love'em when they work................ :D

[SCompRacer]

I was fortunate to have a builder let me do all my low voltage wiring as long as I used materials that were up to code. What a drag to have to sneak it in.

Wear gloves and a long sleeve shirt if your gonna be around insulation.

[Shizelbs]

Well, mission accomplished.

By the way, for a totally unrelated matter, how much would three sheets of sheet rock cost? No reason whatsoever, just curious.

[ND13]

Well, mission accomplished.

By the way, for a totally unrelated matter, how much would three sheets of sheet rock cost? No reason whatsoever, just curious.

HEHEHE!!!! ;) :p

[unc2701]

'bout $15 last time I checked (4'X8'X .5" = $5). I'm leaving for the hardware store, so I tell you exactly in about an hour.

EDIT: 3/8" thickness is a little over $5, 5/8" is $8 for 4x8 sheets... they didn't have any 1/2" in 4x8 but it was $11 for 4 x12. I'm in NC, so local costs for you might be different.

[shack]

'bout $15 last time I checked (4'X8'X .5" = $5). I'm leaving for the hardware store, so I tell you exactly in about an hour.

EDIT: 3/8" thickness is a little over $5, 5/8" is $8 for 4x8 sheets... they didn't have any 1/2" in 4x8 but it was $11 for 4 x12. I'm in NC, so local costs for you might be different.
Whatever it is now, very soon it will be more (maybe a lot more). Anybody remember what happened to the cost of building materials after Hurricane Andrew?