Re-wire Cable

[TangoJuliet]

Me and my wife just bought a home and we want to setup the living room a little differently then the previous owners.

In this picture they have the cable outlet hooked up to this wall

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l36/skyynet/IMG_1648.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l36/skyynet/IMG_1649.jpg

We want to put a flat screen TV on this wall here but there is no cable outlet and we dont want to run wires across the floor since it is hardwood.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l36/skyynet/IMG_1652.jpg

Who do we have to call to get a cable outlet moved from the one wall and put on the other wall? Do I have to call the cable company or do I have to hire an electrician? I dont want to do it myself. I dont have the time, tools or skills for it.

Thanks!

 

[FoBoT]

either, but if you get the right low voltage cable guy to do it, it should be cheaper than the cable company's guy

 

[sswingle]

Is there a basement below that room? If so, I would do it myself.

 

[dullard]

My cable company does it for $17 an outlet. Of course, they run the cable the way they want to run the cable. If you want it done your way, you can hire just about anyone, as it isn't very difficult.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

"I dont have the time, tools or skills for it. "
But, you have the time to post pics and lame problems on ATOT?
I reccomend calling 1-800-get-a-life

 

[Kelemvor]

Just do it yourself. It's just a cable line. Or find a friend who can do it. Doesn't take any skills. Just drill a hole.

If this is on the 1st floor and you have a basement it's super easy because you do it from below. Or if it's n upper floor you can go through the attic.

It'd cost you <$10 and a couple hours of work. Or probably $100+ for someone else.

But I'd just call a couple places and get a quote. Prices vary depending on where you live.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Its a second story condo. There are people that live below me and I doubt they'll let me into their home.

Magnus....I am posting here so I can find out who to call so they can do it. Thanks for the quality post...its people like you that make these forums great :rollseyes

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
Its a second story condo. There are people that live below me and I doubt they'll let me into their home.

Magnus....I am posting here so I can find out who to call so they can do it. Thanks for the quality post...its people like you that make these forums great :rollseyes

that was hard

 

[Gilligansdingy]

CAll the cable company they will do it...

BTW reminds me of my house... no furniture but a xbox 360 with the camera

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Zolty

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
Its a second story condo. There are people that live below me and I doubt they'll let me into their home.

Magnus....I am posting here so I can find out who to call so they can do it. Thanks for the quality post...its people like you that make these forums great :rollseyes

that was hard

Yes, google is my friend....not the point. I was asking do I call the cable company or do I call an electrician.

<reading comprehention people!!>

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Gilligansdingy
CAll the cable company they will do it...

BTW reminds me of my house... no furniture but a xbox 360 with the camera

haha....yep no furniture except some metal folding chairs but a tv, 360 and a camera
we actually just went looking for furniture and just have to look for an area rug before we make the order

 

[BigJ]

The cable company will more than likely not run it within the walls. What they will do is use staples and run it along the walls to the desired spot.

If you want it done professionally and looking nice, you will have to call an electrician or handyman to do this for you.

Hell, if you were closer I could've given my father a call and he could've done it for you. But alas, you're all the way out East.

 

[xboxist]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
"I dont have the time, tools or skills for it. "
But, you have the time to post pics and lame problems on ATOT?
I reccomend calling 1-800-get-a-life

So. Funny. ...

Because the 89 seconds it takes to host those pictures and create a thread really compare to the hours of research and work, the frustration of mistakes, and the cost to buy the necessary tools. Jackass.

 

[xboxist]

To answer the OP's question:

If you live in a condo, there's a good chance that this will be a long battle for you. Each unit of those condos likely have cable feeds that run and meet in a centralized location on the outside of the building (in what they call a lockbox, or something similar). This is where the cable company "turns your cable on/off" for each resident in a condo/apartment. If that is the case, then you're talking about rewiring from that access point, all the way to your desired location in the condo. Wiring like that is usually done as the unit is being built, as it's an extreme hassle to rewire later on when ceiling/floors are finished and residents are moved in.

You could do a partial rewire. Take the existing wire in that room, extend it up through the walls (usually via the basement or attic; in your case attic -- I really hope you don't have a third floor tenant), feed it up behind the wall you want, cut a small hole, wire it into a new cable jack. The problem with this is that if the old wire that you extended off of is faulty or damaged, this relocation of the wire won't help any.

A general contractor should be able to take care of this. However in my experience they are HORRIBLE at putting the ends on cable wire (the metal, screw part). You might have the cable company come and put new fittings on your cable, for the cleanest possible connection.

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK

Originally posted by: Zolty

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
Its a second story condo. There are people that live below me and I doubt they'll let me into their home.

Magnus....I am posting here so I can find out who to call so they can do it. Thanks for the quality post...its people like you that make these forums great :rollseyes

that was hard

Yes, google is my friend....not the point. I was asking do I call the cable company or do I call an electrician.

<reading comprehention people!!>

either will do it, call them for prices.

 

[edro]

On a side note, how do you like that Sony Widescreen CRT? Is it 32"? HDTV?

Do you like your flat screen better?

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: xboxist
To answer the OP's question:

If you live in a condo, there's a good chance that this will be a long battle for you. Each unit of those condos likely have cable feeds that run and meet in a centralized location on the outside of the building (in what they call a lockbox, or something similar). This is where the cable company "turns your cable on/off" for each resident in a condo/apartment. If that is the case, then you're talking about rewiring from that access point, all the way to your desired location in the condo. Wiring like that is usually done as the unit is being built, as it's an extreme hassle to rewire later on when ceiling/floors are finished and residents are moved in.

You could do a partial rewire. Take the existing wire in that room, extend it up through the walls (usually via the basement or attic; in your case attic -- I really hope you don't have a third floor tenant), feed it up behind the wall you want, cut a small hole, wire it into a new cable jack. The problem with this is that if the old wire that you extended off of is faulty or damaged, this relocation of the wire won't help any.

A general contractor should be able to take care of this. However in my experience they are HORRIBLE at putting the ends on cable wire (the metal, screw part). You might have the cable company come and put new fittings on your cable, for the cleanest possible connection.

Thank you so much for your post. It was exactly what I was looking for....why is it that everybody has a smart ass remark here? Its people like you that make these forums great. Thanks again!

Now, to answer some of your questions....we do not have any tenants above us. I dont believe we have an attic either though. I've never been up there or seen any type of entrance to get up there. Now I have to find a general contractor to do all of this....where can I find one that does good work? Is it usually by word of mouth or is it just hit and miss by looking in the yellow pages/google.

I really want it to look professional because its our first home....and well its ours
I'll take your advice with the fittings and call the cable company once the contractor is done.

Thanks again

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: edro
On a side note, how do you like that Sony Widescreen CRT? Is it 32"? HDTV?

Do you like your flat screen better?

Its a 30" Widescreen TV. I got it 2 years ago and really like it. I was the first of my friends to get a HDTV and everyone was really impressed. Its 720p and 1080i capable...so it suits my 360 and HD cable really well. However since we moved....its a little small for the living room so we want to get something a little bigger.

We havent picked out a flat screen TV out just yet. I have some business deals that need to come through before we make the purchase otherwise we'll just move the CRT there until we can afford the flat screen. I was debating about going with the sharp aquous 42" LCD 1080p TV at first and possibly if all my deals go through a 50" that can do 1080p.

 

[MasonLuke]

ghostbusters???

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: MasonLuke
ghostbusters???

huh??

 

[FP]

I am in the same situation you are. I tried calling a couple electricians but they would only do the cable run, they wouldn't fix the drywall that they needed to remove. So I tried calling a GC. They wanted $$$ just to come out and look at the wall.

I know how to do this in theory but actually executing the plan is a whole different story. The moment the wife walks in a sees drywall cut out of her ceiling she is going to kill me unless it is fixed in a few days. Plus I absolutely suck at patching drywall on a finished wall.

My plan is to wait until she is gone for a week and do the whole thing in one shot. The pisser is I have to run the cable in the ceiling perpendicular to the 2nd floor joists. I think I counted about 10 joists between the walls. That means a bunch of notching and drywall work.

Good luck.

 

[rhino56]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
"I dont have the time, tools or skills for it. "
But, you have the time to post pics and lame problems on ATOT?
I reccomend calling 1-800-get-a-life

LOL dude thats just harsh, he obviously doesnt know how to do stuff like this. why you so mad at him? or just mad in general?

 

[rhino56]

the way it should go is hire a handyman type guy , preferably an older retired electrician.
maybe one who was even a fire fighter also, hopefully you have no problems finding one.

but they should be able to cut a hole in the drywall and insert the box and wire without making any mess on the wall. if you require drywall repair after the job you hired the wrong guy.

 

[uberman]

I know you said you don't want to do it, but you will do the job right because it is your house. I've just seen such funky work by contractors. If you do the work you can scan for improvements you may wish to do in the future. I made about 8 trips into one of my house's attic over two years. I dropped numerous phone lines into the walls and installed a signal amplifier and cable to all rooms. Be forward thinking and get some wall plates with extra plugs and drop some Cat 5 so you're networked. While you're in there you might want to add a few phone lines. This is all based on whether your wire runs are accessible meaning attic or under house. I had electrical work contracted out before and I had to hire tapers and texturers to fix the wallboard destroyed by the electricians.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: uberman
I know you said you don't want to do it, but you will do the job right because it is your house. I've just seen such funky work by contractors. If you do the work you can scan for improvements you may wish to do in the future. I made about 8 trips into one of my house's attic over two years. I dropped numerous phone lines into the walls and installed a signal amplifier and cable to all rooms. Be forward thinking and get some wall plates with extra plugs and drop some Cat 5 so you're networked. While you're in there you might want to add a few phone lines. This is all based on whether your wire runs are accessible meaning attic or under house. I had electrical work contracted out before and I had to hire tapers and texturers to fix the wallboard destroyed by the electricians.

I know if I did it myself it would be cheaper and possibly better then a contractor but I just dont have the time to do it. If I screw something up my wife would probably kill me. As for Cat5 and extra phone lines....they really arent needed. I have a wireless network in the house and VoIP for the phones. I just use an expandable phone unit so there is no need for phone wires.

On a side note: what is the best way to find good contractors, electricians? Is it just looking them up in the yellow pages/google and speaking to them directly? Also, since it is a rather small job wouldnt the better contractors not really want to bother with it...theyd rather be in the house for months and rake in the big $$$