How to add cable, phone, etc. outlets to a wall?

[StageLeft]

When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

 

[Kalvin00]

Use a jigsaw to cut away the sheetrock to get a hole that you need?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
Use a jigsaw to cut away the sheetrock to get a hole that you need?

Yeah I'm on that, but then I need to mount the box behind which holds the wires...and the face plate screws into it.

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

Buy a remodel box. It has "ears" that flip out and hold onto the back of the sheetrock. Careful as it's not as secure as a stud mounted box, but as long as you don't bang the hell out of it you'll be fine.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Hafen

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

Buy a remodel box. It has "ears" that flip out and hold onto the back of the sheetrock. Careful as it's not as secure as a stud mounted box, but as long as you don't bang the hell out of it you'll be fine.

i was afraid I'd need to do something like that! So there is no easy way to get this bad boy on to a stud?

While I'm on topic, what happens if you take a large chuck out of sheet rock? Besides replacing that entire panel, how do people generally fix?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

Does Mrs Skoorb know about this (see bold). Which end is the stiff box holding?

Most of those boxes have pop-out holes to run a wire through it.
You will have to drop the needed wire(s) down the back of the wall and then try to fish (catch) the wire and feed it into the box.

Should you not have enough room to manuver, cut a larger hole repeat the steps and then cover the hole that was cut, properly.

 

[Bitek]

looks like this. aka "old work" box.

EDIT:

Bah, stupid home despot. It's under elec / boxes/ old work box.

 

[MustISO]

I would use a drywall or key hole saw and not a jig saw. Use a studfinder that can also locate AC to check for live wires. Cut a small circle out and feel around with any wires (with your finger). Then trace the box with the hole in the center and cut out the outline. You'll need to cut some notches for the "tabs". It's pretty easy to do.

 

[EagleKeeper]

When you cut the sheetrock out, you should bevel the edges so the slope toward the hole.

The cut a slightly larger piece than the hole and put the same type of taper on the edges.

Place the new peice over the hole, and trim the angles to have the new peice sit flush.

Spackle the seams, sand and paint

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Hafen

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

Buy a remodel box. It has "ears" that flip out and hold onto the back of the sheetrock. Careful as it's not as secure as a stud mounted box, but as long as you don't bang the hell out of it you'll be fine.

i was afraid I'd need to do something like that! So there is no easy way to get this bad boy on to a stud?

While I'm on topic, what happens if you take a large chuck out of sheet rock? Besides replacing that entire panel, how do people generally fix?

Its really nothing to be afraid of. Trying to tap a stud may be more trouble then its worth. You can prob be selective where you mount the box (ie next to a stud) but you would have to put two screws horizontally into the stud through the box. In a single gang this would be a PITA.


What do you mean by "chunk out of the wall?"

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
When you cut the sheetrock out, you should bevel the edges so the slope toward the hole.

The cut a slightly larger piece than the hole and put the same type of taper on the edges.

Place the new peice over the hole, and trim the angles to have the new peice sit flush.

Spackle the seams, sand and paint

I would also recommend putting some sort of backing to give the new piece some strength. Use a small peice of wood, say like a paint stirrer, behind the sheetrock and mount with a screw on each side of the hole (~2-3" away.) Put the plug in and attach w/ screw to wood. Spackle over screwholes.

 

[dmurray14]

yeah get an old work box, and get your wife off the end of the one that's currently there!

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Hafen

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

Buy a remodel box. It has "ears" that flip out and hold onto the back of the sheetrock. Careful as it's not as secure as a stud mounted box, but as long as you don't bang the hell out of it you'll be fine.

i was afraid I'd need to do something like that! So there is no easy way to get this bad boy on to a stud?

While I'm on topic, what happens if you take a large chuck out of sheet rock? Besides replacing that entire panel, how do people generally fix?

You could get it on a stud if you took out a very large chunk of drywall, but I've never done it and can't say anybody should have to do so.

For larger holes I'll make the hole in the wall square. Then cut a piece of dry wall to fit in the square hole leaving 1-1 1/2" of the paper of the drywall that's on one side sticking out from the drywall piece. Butter the edges of this piece and set it in the hole. The paper will hold the piece in place. You'll have to blend in the edge like you would do regular drywall edges (three coats of compound, blending each a little further out).

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: Hafen

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
When you cut the sheetrock out, you should bevel the edges so the slope toward the hole.

The cut a slightly larger piece than the hole and put the same type of taper on the edges.

Place the new peice over the hole, and trim the angles to have the new peice sit flush.

Spackle the seams, sand and paint

I would also recommend putting some sort of backing to give the new piece some strength. Use a small peice of wood, say like a paint stirrer, behind the sheetrock and mount with a screw on each side of the hole (~2-3" away.) Put the plug in and attach w/ screw to wood. Spackle over screwholes.

Home despot also sells patch repair kits as well. Basically a square metal plate w/ sticky fiberglas tape on the edges to make the seam. Still needs to be spackled/sanded/ painted. Haven't used one yet so I cant say how ez thare are to use. For 2-8" holes BTW.

 

[Pepsi90919]

ehind, which holds the end of the wife.

hm.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

Does Mrs Skoorb know about this (see bold). Which end is the stiff box holding?

Most of those boxes have pop-out holes to run a wire through it.
You will have to drop the needed wire(s) down the back of the wall and then try to fish (catch) the wire and feed it into the box.

Should you not have enough room to manuver, cut a larger hole repeat the steps and then cover the hole that was cut, properly.

You didn't bold the whole line.

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Strangone

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

Does Mrs Skoorb know about this (see bold). Which end is the stiff box holding?

Most of those boxes have pop-out holes to run a wire through it.
You will have to drop the needed wire(s) down the back of the wall and then try to fish (catch) the wire and feed it into the box.

Should you not have enough room to manuver, cut a larger hole repeat the steps and then cover the hole that was cut, properly.

You didn't bold the whole line.

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud.

Did not want to give his wife any ideas on other options.

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Strangone

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud. Given that, how can a box be added if sheetrock is already over the studs? It seems like limited room would be a big problem. What's a person do, besides paying somebody with a clue to do it? Thanks

Does Mrs Skoorb know about this (see bold). Which end is the stiff box holding?

Most of those boxes have pop-out holes to run a wire through it.
You will have to drop the needed wire(s) down the back of the wall and then try to fish (catch) the wire and feed it into the box.

Should you not have enough room to manuver, cut a larger hole repeat the steps and then cover the hole that was cut, properly.

You didn't bold the whole line.

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When I take a face plate off for one of those I see that stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud.

Did not want to give his wife any ideas on other options.

So would that be a single, double, or the infamous (and rarely seen) quadrouple gang box?

 

[StageLeft]

Yes, I meant wiRe

Thanks all. I should have enough info now to get myself in trouble!

Actually also while i'm at it I have a suspicion that there is a coaxial cable running down one of the walls I'm going to be doing this one, with no end coming out into a socket - ie, it's just hanging there. I have an extra cable from the outside of the house and I think that's where the other end goes - probably so that if somebody wanted to do what I'm going to be doing (running another coaxial by the TV) they wouldn't have to play around. How can I easily find this wire that's just hanging down there (if it is)?

I don't have a chunk out of the drywall yet but had wondered how one repairs it, if they screw things up badly, which is why I asked about that.

I will not bother with the stud and will get one of these other remodel boxes to sit on it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Actually also while i'm at it I have a suspicion that there is a coaxial cable running down one of the walls I'm going to be doing this one, with no end coming out into a socket - ie, it's just hanging there. I have an extra cable from the outside of the house and I think that's where the other end goes - probably so that if somebody wanted to do what I'm going to be doing (running another coaxial by the TV) they wouldn't have to play around. How can I easily find this wire that's just hanging down there (if it is)?

Trace the wire.
Most wires are run above the ceiling and then drop down the back of the wall to the outlets.

Climb up into the attic/crawl space and locate where the wire comes into the house.
Then follow the wire to where it heads down behind the wall. Do not put holes in the ceiling, can be a pain to patch and climb out from.

Do this before it gets warm. Certain types of insulation used in the attic can become very scratchy when you have sweated.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Actually also while i'm at it I have a suspicion that there is a coaxial cable running down one of the walls I'm going to be doing this one, with no end coming out into a socket - ie, it's just hanging there. I have an extra cable from the outside of the house and I think that's where the other end goes - probably so that if somebody wanted to do what I'm going to be doing (running another coaxial by the TV) they wouldn't have to play around. How can I easily find this wire that's just hanging down there (if it is)?

Trace the wire.
Most wires are run above the ceiling and then drop down the back of the wall to the outlets.

Climb up into the attic/crawl space and locate where the wire comes into the house.
Then follow the wire to where it heads down behind the wall. Do not put holes in the ceiling, can be a pain to patch and climb out from.

Do this before it gets warm. Certain types of insulation used in the attic can become very scratchy when you have sweated.

Unfortunately the "mystery wire" is next to 4-5 other wires, all which go through the outside wall of the house and emerge from a raw hole that the builders cut. Other than cutting them all in the attic and then running a TV to each one to see which is which I'm kind of not able to figure out which in the attic is which.

That's a lot of whiches!

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Yes, I meant wiRe

Thanks all. I should have enough info now to get myself in trouble!

Actually also while i'm at it I have a suspicion that there is a coaxial cable running down one of the walls I'm going to be doing this one, with no end coming out into a socket - ie, it's just hanging there. I have an extra cable from the outside of the house and I think that's where the other end goes - probably so that if somebody wanted to do what I'm going to be doing (running another coaxial by the TV) they wouldn't have to play around. How can I easily find this wire that's just hanging down there (if it is)?

I don't have a chunk out of the drywall yet but had wondered how one repairs it, if they screw things up badly, which is why I asked about that.

I will not bother with the stud and will get one of these other remodel boxes to sit on it.

You've got me on that one! Without knowing exactly where the wire was (if at all) I don't know how you'd easily find it.... Are you even sure one is there? Maybe you would know if the wire went to an upstairs outlet and you could guess one was dropped strait down the wall. but...


Also, I don't think you want to notch the wallboard for the ears. The gypsum itself doesn't have much strength w/o the paper and would be likely to crumble if you tighten the ears down much. One side sits on top the wall, another ear flips out behind then is tightened down gripping the wall. They are designed to hide under the wall plate, so its not really necc. Squisher's method for repairs is the most proper way to do it, but i still like to put a backing piece if the hole is sufficiently large. You don't want the paper tearing if someone puts any pressure on it.

 

[StageLeft]

I found where the other wire goes. It goes to an outlet in a stupid area which we'd actually covered up with a picture last year

I've found all the wires now and it looks like there is enough space in the main cable drop for the tv to drop at least another one down there Damn it's hot up there!

 

[PlatinumGold]

"stiff metal box behind, which holds the end of the wife. I presume that it's screwed into a stud."

freudian slip there perhaps? i'm not sure i want to imagine mrsskoorb screwed to a stud.

 

[StageLeft]

plate.JPG that's the plate off an existing setup. I need to drop into another room also - is it possible to get the cable into this box? It looks like an excercise in frustration - any tricks on how to do it easily/ I can't see how to take the box off and feed it in easily, so ideally I'd need some way to get the cable in that hole - maybe tie a heavy small weight on to it, but it still sounds tricky!