Title: How to Run Electrical Wires in a Finished Wall
Headings: How to Run Electrical Wires in a Finished Wall
How to Run Electrical Wires in a Finished Wall
Fishing Electrical Cables Through Walls
Code Issues
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
Materials
Instructions
Plan Your Route
Pro Tip
Cut Box Openings
Drill Holes in the Wall Plate
Warning
Locate the Drilled Hole
Thread the Fish Tape
Attach the Cable to the Fish Tape
Fish the Cable
Complete the Cable Run
Pro Tip
Watch Now: How to Pull Electrical Wire or Cable Through a Conduit

Content: Cut Box Openings
With the cable routes and box locations planned, the next step is to cut the openings for the electrical boxes in the drywall. Start by marking the desired location for the box on the walls. When installing them in finished walls, electrical boxes should be located between studs. To do this, you must find the location of the wall studs, using a stud finder. Once the studs are located, outline the position of the old-work electrical boxes on the wall. Make sure the position of the new wall boxes is consistent with the location of other outlets in your house. Outlets, for example, are typically between 12 and 18 inches above the floor. Cut out the box openings along the outline, using a drywall saw or jigsaw. It is important to make sure you are not cutting into existing electrical wires, plumbing pipes, or other mechanicals, so be careful as you start cutting to inspect what's inside the walls. The cutout should exactly fit the outline of the electrical box.