I am about to enter negotiations with a couple of electricians to rewire a house I am restoring in the mountains of NC. The house was added on to one room at a time and some of the walls are solid wood – 3 layers of 1 inch rough sawn boards. I discovered this when cutting new doors and windows. What options are there to install outlets on these walls that look somewhat unobtrusive?
Bill
Replies
One option is integrated baseboard. There is a company that makes baseboard with a channel in it for a wiring chase. If you check the Old House Journal web site, you can probably find. If you don't send me an e-mail and I'll look it up.
I've never used it myself, but I was in a hotel room that had it once. Ok, as long as you want painted baseboard.
For areas where Bryan's idea won't work, there are many surface mount conduits that look OK, but no better than OK.
Are the walls painted? If so, you might be able to rout channels, install wire, cover with a thin metal plate, mud, sand, paint. Check with the local electrical authority about this.
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
Can you run romex under the floor and come up through here and there for surface-mount outlets or monuments?
You say you are restoring the house, so you want to keep the rough walls as is? If not, you could fur out the walls to create a void and drywall one side.
"...3 layers of 1 inch rough sawn boards."
I've never heard of such a thing. Can you explain more about it? How are they anchored at floor and ceiling? Is there a name for this type of construction?
It's known as a plank house. http://books.google.com/books?id=oC4zG5aR4rwC&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=%22plank+house%22+construction&source=web&ots=7DTEAd4C61&sig=_gcYrCb3QB6aVfxH_IS4S3O4lkM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result#PPA24,M1