I've started routing the wire for my alarm, and having seen a few dodgy installs where the wires are pinned up the walls & along the top of skirting boards, I want to make a real good effort at hiding the wires.

As it happens, we're also redecorating the whole house, so chanelling the wires isn't a problem.

Anyway as said, I've made a start at running the wires, and all my downstairs sensor wires have been ran to the upstairs & exit through the floor boards in various rooms. They need to all run to a cupboard at the end of the landing area, on the same floor level.

Bearing in mind that my house is only about 4 years old, and has the really wide, thick floor boards (that are difficult to pull up). I was thinking about using a router to cut channels in the boards, to lay the wires into, then fill over them to create a smooth finish.

Can anyone advise if I shouldn't do this, and why? and if so, what are the alternatives?

Many thanks in advance.

Stu

If you are having carpets laid then you can clip your cable dierctly behind the carpet gripper. If you do this you are better of using a staple gun than 'hit your finger clips'. You can run several cables along the same route but cut the under lay to suite, i.e. dont put the under lay straight over the cables otherwise you end up with a lumpy carpet. Hope that makes sense its a bit hard to explain in writing.

Kev

Edited June 21, 200619 yr by Truss and France

Using a router and burying the cables into the floorboards will make for a "clean" solution but have you thought about what would happen if you ever need to lift those boards - bingo snapped cables!

Under the floor boards would be much better, or could they fit behind a skirting board?

Like I said, I would have prefered to lift the boards, but they're HUGE!! and they also go under the walls from what I can tell. They're about 2 ft wide & pretty thick - made from chipboard.

I also think that running behind the skirts may be too much hassle, as they have to come out of the rooms, then cross other doorways before they reach the cupboard..

I can take photo's if it helps explain my situation?

,

Stu

If you are having carpets laid then you can clip your cable dierctly behind the carpet gripper. If you do this you are better of using a staple gun than 'hit your finger clips'. You can run several cables along the same route but cut the under lay to suite, i.e. dont put the under lay straight over the cables otherwise you end up with a lumpy carpet. Hope that makes sense its a bit hard to explain in writing.

Kev

mate! I understand what you're saying.. We're not having carpets fitted throughout the whole of the upstairs, but I could always cut the underlay to allow for the wiring.

Will consider it.

Find out where the joists are (easy) and cut a hole either side, fish the cables this way and there will be very little channeling to do (only the width of joist's), save the sawdust to mix with wood glue and fill the holes. voila. There is a tool available for cutting chipboard but it may be uneconomical for the one job.

Doh!.. I've started now.

Is this the tool you talk about?;

http://www.trendmachinery.co.uk/routabout/

Is this the tool you talk about?;

http://www.trendmachinery.co.uk/routabout/

That be the one.

One point on lifting chipboard floors, you can't just lift them up then screw them back down again. They need additional noggins and support on all the unsupported cuts.

This looks easier: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/sea/search...7885-81&x=0&y=0

That be the one.

One point on lifting chipboard floors, you can't just lift them up then screw them back down again. They need additional noggins and support on all the unsupported cuts.

Do you mean when lifting the whole board, or when using a Routabout?

Do you mean when lifting the whole board, or when using a Routabout?

Sorry, meant on whole boards or large sections thereof lifted via circular saw etc...

The routabout tool is designed to be used as is, i.e. cut hole, do the neccesary works underneath and then drop in the plug with the removed material in the centre. No additional noggins etc... required.

Sorry, meant on whole boards or large sections thereof lifted via circular saw etc...

The routabout tool is designed to be used as is, i.e. cut hole, do the neccesary works underneath and then drop in the plug with the removed material in the centre. No additional noggins etc... required.

Nice one...

Shame I made a start tonight, as I could have made a much better job of it with one of those I suppose. As it happens, I have run the wires from the kitchen, but still need to run all the wires from the front of the house.

I suppose if I buy one at the weekend, I could always re-lay the other wires under the boards?

Will have a think about it over the next day or 2.

for all the advice guys!!!!!