Running Speaker Wire through Drywall


Hi all!

Does anyone have experience of running speaker wire or cable through drywall? I wanted to put 2 surround speakers but don't know how to run speaker wire down the drywall into the basement. I already have the electronic hand held stud finder and know how to use it. In my mind, I am thinking of drilling a hole big enough to stick the cable though. Since there are the foamy material (not sure the correct name?) to keep the house warm, how do I run the speaker wire down to the basement.

Does anyone know a good website link that explains how to run speaker cable through the drywall and straight down to the basement?

I have taken few pictures but I can not attach to this forum. I would have to email them to you. My basement is not finish.

Thanks!!
mantaraydesign

Showing 3 responses by jea48

I assume your home is stick framing.
Putting a hole through the wall, between the studs will get you into the wall cavity. You will still have a bottom plate and sub floor you will need to get through. You can drill up through the sub floor and plate from the basement.

The trick is to find the exact area in the basement to drill the hole.

* Pick the wall space area where you would like to make the wall penetration.
* Next step you will need a drill and a 1/16 to 1/8 inch bit.
* Measure out from the Sheetrock wall, say 2 inches, and drill a small hole all the way through the floor. ( Word of caution here! If you have radiant heat in the floor do not drill.)
* Next insert a piece of wire through the hole about 12 inches. Go to the basement and look for the wire.
* Measure back from the wire 2 inches, (drilled hole to sheet rock) + thickness of rock + about 1 1/2 inches ( approx 4 total inches). Look for nails/s sticking through sub floor sheathing. Drill a 3/4 to 1 inch up through floor and plate.

* If the wall you are wanting to use is an outside wall it can be a little tricky depending on the drill you will be using. An Angle drill works the best. Because of the foundation wall and seal plate you may have to angle the drill bit to drill the hole with a regular drill. In this instance you will have to be careful and not drill out through the outside of the house..... LOL, seeing daylight is a bad sign..... Because you will be drilling at an angle shorten up the distance back from the locator wire. Only measure back about 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Carefully drill hole with a 1 inch bit.
Low voltage bracket for existing Sheetrock or plaster walls.
Best not to get too close to wall studs, stay a few inches away. Just never know what may be fastened to the stud inside the wall...

If an interior wall always check the other side of the wall. Make sure something is not already in the space.

Also roughly check the location in the basement before you cut the opening in the wall. Make sure the area below is accessible. Look for duct work that may prohibit access from the basement.
Mantaraydesign,
a Fish Tape.

If you use a low voltage bracket, as I showed in an above post, you will have a hole in the wall approx 2 X 3 1/4 inches. If you push a stiff piece of wire, or fish tape, up through the drilled hole in the basement to the hole cut in the wall above and have someone else watch for the wire or fish tape.
Add a pull wire to the cable/s you will be pulling for future... That is why I suggest drilling a 3/4 inch minimum hole through the bottom plate inside the wall.

Trust me, fishing and pulling the cable will be the easy part.....
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