Drilling between floors - what's the best way?

einsatz · 07-23-2005, 10:33 AM

I've got a condo that I'm looking to wire up with cat6 for gigabit ethernet in every room. I'm looking for ideas on how to approach the laying of cabling between floors, and on horizontal runs.
I don't even have a drill yet, so I'm starting clean. The second floor has an attic which will let me do the horizontal runs on the second floor through it. So all cables will go up then down through attic.
The tricky part is how to run cables between the first and second floors. The only walls that align are the ones on the perimeter of the unit, so I will probably need to go down those, then do the horizontal runs somehow. What's the best way?
I've layed cable before, but in office environments only. This is quite a bit different! And no, wireless won't work for me. There's a total of 6 rooms, with 7 or 8 drops total.

JLatimer · 07-23-2005, 5:17 PM

A thing I have done is put all the holes behind the baseboard - I have 10" baseboard so it is easy, but with 3" the concept is the same. Pull off the baseboard and cut through your drywall and drill holes at will. You will want to get a auger bit of some sort - they are way more usefull than the blade bits. I have cut through 3 sistered 2x8s with an auger without even a strain.

Now that being said if you have to get from floor to floor a good place to start is the bathroom... If you have a main floor bathroom there will be an sewage vent running all the way to the roof - just run your fish tape alongside the vent and it will usually get you all the way to your basement. - just a thought.

chef chris · 07-23-2005, 5:51 PM

Ditto on the bathroom idea. Also, there is usually a apace built in to the 2nd floor to hold your HVAC duct work...normally some good areas around them to run the wires. In my first house, I used the HVAC trunk to run the alarm & cable wires(inside of it) because it was a straight shot to the basement. Just drill through & seal it well when you're through.

A 4' auger bit will run you about $20 and the fish tape(20') will run about $7...with these two tools, you can do just about anything.

I would recommend cutting into the wall about 18" above the floor though, instead of the baseboard...just make the hole right where your jack will be...so, cut in next to a stud, about 1" to either side will work, angle the auger bit down into the floor stud and drill away. The auger bits are flexible, so you shouldn't have a problem there. JUST BE SURE TO CHECK FOR PLUMBING IN THE WALL FIRST

Scottman111 · 07-27-2005, 1:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chef chris

Ditto on the bathroom idea. Also, there is usually a apace built in to the 2nd floor to hold your HVAC duct work...normally some good areas around them to run the wires. In my first house, I used the HVAC trunk to run the alarm & cable wires(inside of it) because it was a straight shot to the basement. Just drill through & seal it well when you're through.

A 4' auger bit will run you about $20 and the fish tape(20') will run about $7...with these two tools, you can do just about anything.

I would recommend cutting into the wall about 18" above the floor though, instead of the baseboard...just make the hole right where your jack will be...so, cut in next to a stud, about 1" to either side will work, angle the auger bit down into the floor stud and drill away. The auger bits are flexible, so you shouldn't have a problem there. JUST BE SURE TO CHECK FOR PLUMBING IN THE WALL FIRST

good advice chris. Also watch out that you don't drill through any electric wires while your watching for your plumbing. I'd turn off everything that you don't need in your panel since there might be (or most likely be) hot wires running from the panel all the way across the house. better safe than dead IMO

good luck

soopa · 07-27-2005, 8:22 AM

Why are you running CAT5 anyway? Why not wireless?

**eclipse23** · 07-27-2005, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soopa

Why are you running CAT5 anyway? Why not wireless?

**GreenMonster** · 07-27-2005, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soopa

Why are you running CAT5 anyway? Why not wireless?

But some oldschool guys like to go the hardwired route if they are throwing alot of data around...

clorich · 07-27-2005, 12:50 PM

Might want to check with your condo assn. manager before you go drilling into the perimiter walls - in FL you don't technically own that part of the building and you could get a nice letter from the condo board.

doopstr · 07-27-2005, 1:40 PM

<--- wonders why wireless is not good enough

**Scrib** · 07-27-2005, 1:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soopa

Why are you running CAT5 anyway? Why not wireless?

he did say gigabit, which wireless certainly can't achieve.

That's my only guess.

TBone2004 · 08-01-2005, 12:32 PM

They have wireless G routers now don't they?

07-23-2005, 10:33 AM	#1
einsatz I miss my 03 CL-S :( Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: NoVa/DC Area Posts: 4,473	Drilling between floors - what's the best way? I've got a condo that I'm looking to wire up with cat6 for gigabit ethernet in every room. I'm looking for ideas on how to approach the laying of cabling between floors, and on horizontal runs. I don't even have a drill yet, so I'm starting clean. The second floor has an attic which will let me do the horizontal runs on the second floor through it. So all cables will go up then down through attic. The tricky part is how to run cables between the first and second floors. The only walls that align are the ones on the perimeter of the unit, so I will probably need to go down those, then do the horizontal runs somehow. What's the best way? I've layed cable before, but in office environments only. This is quite a bit different! And no, wireless won't work for me. There's a total of 6 rooms, with 7 or 8 drops total. __________________ 2004 Carbon Gray Pearl TSX w/Navi 2003 Anthracite CL-S w/Navi & spoiler - RIP 5/25/04

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07-23-2005, 5:17 PM	#2
JLatimer Non Acura User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 39 Posts: 1,525	A thing I have done is put all the holes behind the baseboard - I have 10" baseboard so it is easy, but with 3" the concept is the same. Pull off the baseboard and cut through your drywall and drill holes at will. You will want to get a auger bit of some sort - they are way more usefull than the blade bits. I have cut through 3 sistered 2x8s with an auger without even a strain. Now that being said if you have to get from floor to floor a good place to start is the bathroom... If you have a main floor bathroom there will be an sewage vent running all the way to the roof - just run your fish tape alongside the vent and it will usually get you all the way to your basement. - just a thought.

07-23-2005, 5:51 PM	#3
chef chris Homeless Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern DEL-A-Where? Age: 35 Posts: 9,587	Ditto on the bathroom idea. Also, there is usually a apace built in to the 2nd floor to hold your HVAC duct work...normally some good areas around them to run the wires. In my first house, I used the HVAC trunk to run the alarm & cable wires(inside of it) because it was a straight shot to the basement. Just drill through & seal it well when you're through. A 4' auger bit will run you about $20 and the fish tape(20') will run about $7...with these two tools, you can do just about anything. I would recommend cutting into the wall about 18" above the floor though, instead of the baseboard...just make the hole right where your jack will be...so, cut in next to a stud, about 1" to either side will work, angle the auger bit down into the floor stud and drill away. The auger bits are flexible, so you shouldn't have a problem there. JUST BE SURE TO CHECK FOR PLUMBING IN THE WALL FIRST

07-27-2005, 8:22 AM	#5
soopa Alumni Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Albany, NY Age: 26 Posts: 137,698	Why are you running CAT5 anyway? Why not wireless?

07-27-2005, 12:50 PM	#8
clorich Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spring Hill, FL Age: 30 Posts: 653	Might want to check with your condo assn. manager before you go drilling into the perimiter walls - in FL you don't technically own that part of the building and you could get a nice letter from the condo board.

07-27-2005, 1:40 PM	#9
doopstr You get an F Join Date: Jan 2001 Age: 37 Posts: 10,572	<--- wonders why wireless is not good enough

08-01-2005, 12:32 PM	#11
TBone2004 Team Anthracite Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,272	They have wireless G routers now don't they?