Preparation
Figure 12
Running the cord up
through the attic
Figure 13
Running cord around a cor-
ner with nail plates for pro-
tection (a) and cutout
pieces as patches (b)
14
Getting started
Choose a path for the cord that avoids impediments to drill through. Use a stud finder to
identify inaccessible studs.
It is common to run cord from the speaker location in a wall or ceiling to the attic and through
the wooden top plate that runs horizontally across the top of the vertical studs. From the attic,
you can then run the cord to the spot above the junction box near the receiver or amplifier.
Drill through the top plate at that point and route the cord through the hole and down into the
wall (Figure 12).
If you must route cord around a corner, you will need to cut out a rectangular piece of wall-
board on either side of the joist at that corner. Use each regular-shaped cutout as the patch
for the wall when you finish. By reaching through the cutout, you can notch the joist to make
room for the cord and use nail plates to cover the cord in each notch (Figure 13a).
To patch the wall, reposition the cutout pieces (Figure 13b) and use joint tape and joint com-
pound to hold them in place. When they are dry, sand and paint the area to match surround-
ing surfaces.
(a)
Nail plates
Top plate
Open-backed
junction box
(b)
Ceiling
Wall
Wall
Cutout pieces
Ceiling
Wall
Wall