Home Page link

Running wire in finished ceiling on main floor

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 1 of 4       1 2 3 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Running wire in finished ceiling on main floor Mash 08-21-2008
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by Mash on August 21, 2008, 2:35 pm


We have a large family/living room area and I want to put two ceiling
fans in this area. So the fans will be on the same floor about 25 feet
apart or so.

I'm going to add a new circuit for these fans/lights. I'm comfortable
with the electrical wiring part of the job but I'm not actually sure
how to run the wire.

The room in question is on the 1st floor. Above that is the 2nd floor
with our bedrooms, Above the 2nd is an attic.
How do I run the wire through the 1st floor ceiling? Obviously I have
to cut a hole in the ceiling where the lights will be mounted. Do I
also have to cut holes in the ceiling so I could drill a hole in the
joists and run the wire through them?

To complicate things we have a ceiling with a popcorn finish so I
don't know how hard it will be to patch any holes I make. I'd like to
minimize the destruction to my ceilings...my wife would appreciate
that too :)
Thanks

PexSupply PEX Tools 468x60
Posted by metspitzer on August 21, 2008, 3:14 pm


wrote:

>We have a large family/living room area and I want to put two ceiling
>fans in this area. So the fans will be on the same floor about 25 feet
>apart or so.
>
>I'm going to add a new circuit for these fans/lights. I'm comfortable
>with the electrical wiring part of the job but I'm not actually sure
>how to run the wire.
>
>The room in question is on the 1st floor. Above that is the 2nd floor
>with our bedrooms, Above the 2nd is an attic.
>How do I run the wire through the 1st floor ceiling? Obviously I have
>to cut a hole in the ceiling where the lights will be mounted. Do I
>also have to cut holes in the ceiling so I could drill a hole in the
>joists and run the wire through them?
>
>To complicate things we have a ceiling with a popcorn finish so I
>don't know how hard it will be to patch any holes I make. I'd like to
>minimize the destruction to my ceilings...my wife would appreciate
>that too :)
>Thanks

I am sure you will get many answers.

If it were me, I would cut a 14-16 inch wide piece of sheet rock out
between the two fixtures. Leave half of the sheet rock overlapping
the end studs so you will have something to screw the end pieces of
rock too.

There may be many methods that you can "try" to keep from making such
a large hole, but opening the entire ceiling between the fixtures will
prevent any surprises you may run into.

http://i37.tinypic.com/5u3j3s.png
Joists in yellow. Fixture box in yellow. Opening in black.



Posted by metspitzer on August 21, 2008, 3:19 pm


wrote:

>wrote:
>
>>We have a large family/living room area and I want to put two ceiling
>>fans in this area. So the fans will be on the same floor about 25 feet
>>apart or so.
>>
>>I'm going to add a new circuit for these fans/lights. I'm comfortable
>>with the electrical wiring part of the job but I'm not actually sure
>>how to run the wire.
>>
>>The room in question is on the 1st floor. Above that is the 2nd floor
>>with our bedrooms, Above the 2nd is an attic.
>>How do I run the wire through the 1st floor ceiling? Obviously I have
>>to cut a hole in the ceiling where the lights will be mounted. Do I
>>also have to cut holes in the ceiling so I could drill a hole in the
>>joists and run the wire through them?
>>
>>To complicate things we have a ceiling with a popcorn finish so I
>>don't know how hard it will be to patch any holes I make. I'd like to
>>minimize the destruction to my ceilings...my wife would appreciate
>>that too :)
>>Thanks
>
>I am sure you will get many answers.
>
>If it were me, I would cut a 14-16 inch wide piece of sheet rock out
>between the two fixtures. Leave half of the sheet rock overlapping
>the end studs so you will have something to screw the end pieces of
>rock too.
>
>There may be many methods that you can "try" to keep from making such
>a large hole, but opening the entire ceiling between the fixtures will
>prevent any surprises you may run into.
>
>http://i37.tinypic.com/5u3j3s.png
>Joists in yellow. Fixture box in yellow. Opening in black.
>
BTW it would be a much easier project if you can get the feed from an
existing ceiling box.

Make sure you use ceiling boxes designed for ceiling fans.


Posted by Mash on August 21, 2008, 3:30 pm


>>
> >If it were me, I would cut a 14-16 inch wide piece of sheet rock out
> >between the two fixtures. =A0Leave half of the sheet rock overlapping
> >the end studs so you will have something to screw the end pieces of
> >rock too.
>
> >There may be many methods that you can "try" to keep from making such
> >a large hole, but opening the entire ceiling between the fixtures will
> >prevent any surprises you may run into.

Yeah, that makes sense. Just put back one large piece of sheetrock
rather than patch
a bunch of small holes. Thanks

> BTW it would be a much easier project if you can get the feed from an
> existing ceiling box.
Unfortunately there are no other ceiling fixtures in these two rooms.

Thanks alot for the reply.

Posted by Speedy Jim on August 21, 2008, 3:51 pm


Mash wrote:
> We have a large family/living room area and I want to put two ceiling
> fans in this area. So the fans will be on the same floor about 25 feet
> apart or so.
>
> I'm going to add a new circuit for these fans/lights. I'm comfortable
> with the electrical wiring part of the job but I'm not actually sure
> how to run the wire.
>
> The room in question is on the 1st floor. Above that is the 2nd floor
> with our bedrooms, Above the 2nd is an attic.
> How do I run the wire through the 1st floor ceiling? Obviously I have
> to cut a hole in the ceiling where the lights will be mounted. Do I
> also have to cut holes in the ceiling so I could drill a hole in the
> joists and run the wire through them?
>
> To complicate things we have a ceiling with a popcorn finish so I
> don't know how hard it will be to patch any holes I make. I'd like to
> minimize the destruction to my ceilings...my wife would appreciate
> that too :)
> Thanks


Hmmm. 25 Feet apart. Assuming the joists run perpendicular
to the line between the 2 fans, that means running the cable
thru nearly 20 joists! 20 ugly holes to patch.

Instead, consider running a cable from each fan to the wall space,
*in* the joist spaces. There will be 1 or 2 holes to get from the
ceiling into the wall.

Once in the wall, join the 2 cables at some point where the
power can be fed to them. Or, don't join them, if 2 feeds
can be made.

Plan B: Run a surface raceway and have no holes to patch.

Lots and lots of unknowns in this concerning the structural details...

Jim

Page 1 of 4       1 2 3 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Clog in main sewer line or drain lines running to main line. May 30, 2007, 4:10 pm
Drop Ceiling Cost for my almost finished basement December 23, 2006, 10:01 pm
Disconnect Ice Maker When On/Off Valve is Hidden in Finished Ceiling??? April 11, 2006, 6:03 am
Pre-finished vs sand/stain wood floor January 23, 2007, 5:59 pm
Clear finished hardwood floor with possible rubbing alcohol stains December 25, 2005, 11:04 pm
Running wire to outside June 1, 2006, 6:13 am
Running wire to detached garage October 29, 2006, 1:28 am
Running wire to freestanding building October 30, 2006, 7:42 am
Running wire through block wall? November 9, 2008, 12:59 am
Plumbing, Main drain in floor of basement July 18, 2006, 12:41 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap