Difficult speaker installation advice needed please

[allen363]

I want to install a surround sound system into my great room but have run into a problem. There is no chase to the attic, nor is there any room beween the floors and the plumbing vent. Other than tear down the drywall, is there any other way that the speakers can be installed without resorting to wireless?

Thanks,
Allen

 

[sic0048]

1) Install crown molding and put the wire behind that.

2) Drop wires down to floor (in the wall if that is possible) and run behind the base boards to an area where you can get access.

I assume the great room has a vaulted ceiling and this is why it is a struggle? I assume you've checked, but most times even vaulted ceilings have a gap between the ceiling and roof. You may not think there is any space, but there usually is a small amount. Here is what I faced at my house. You can see the two speaker wires that I ran. It was not fun to get through there, but it worked.

 

[123]

Hide the wires in paintable plastic conduits. There's no escaping that fact that they will be visible, but if painted the same color as the walls they won't be too obtrusive.

Add decorative wall moldings (large vertical rectangles) and hide the cabling in the molding. Kind of elaborate and the look may not be to your taste.

Hire professionals; their experience, and clever tools, allows them to fish wires through seemingly impossible situations.

 

[allen363]

I do have a professional installer pulling the wires since I don't have enough confidence or patience to do that myself. I'll talk with him tomorrow about the attic drop down.

Thanks,
Allen

 

[nov0798]

I use tools like these.
http://www.pushpullrods.com/Merchant2/merc...egory_Code=PPRA

You can find them at Lowes, and HD

 

[CORT]

I do have a professional installer pulling the wires since I don't have enough confidence or patience to do that myself. I'll talk with him tomorrow about the attic drop down.

Thanks,
Allen

Don't sweat it too much. A good professional installer can get a wire absolutely anywhere.

 

[mustangcoupe]

there is always the thin flat speaker wire which I believe is paint able.

 

[maknoll]

there is always the thin flat speaker wire which I believe is paint able.

Yep. Slimmer than a business card. Paint or paper right over it. Never used it myself, but I have seen it.

I'd go with the pro installer. They really can get it anywhere!

 

[IVB]

how do you deal with right angle turns with that flat cable? Rarely will the equipment be directly below the speakers, so it's gotta do a turn somewhere sometime.

 

[maknoll]

how do you deal with right angle turns with that flat cable? Rarely will the equipment be directly below the speakers, so it's gotta do a turn somewhere sometime.

This guy just creased it!

 

[IVB]

dang, that's pretty cool.

 

[mustangcoupe]

dang, that's pretty cool.

If using the flat wire I'd bring it back into the wall and make my final terminations there and use another wall plate.