I get the appeal of surface-mount raceways—definitely less mess and you don’t have to patch up a bunch of holes. But I keep hesitating because I’m worried about how they’ll look in the long run, even with paint. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like once I notice them, I can’t unsee them. I’ve been trying to fish wires through existing cavities, even if it takes longer. It’s a pain, but I like the cleaner finish. Anyone else find that the “quick fix” sometimes ends up bugging you more later?
I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve used surface-mount raceways in a couple of rental units, mainly for speed and to avoid tearing up walls, but I’ll admit—they’re never truly invisible, even with a good paint job. Over time, they can yellow or just start to look dated. Have you ever tried the ultra-slim raceways? They’re a bit pricier, but I’ve found they blend in better, especially in corners or along baseboards. Curious if anyone’s had luck hiding them behind crown molding or other trim—seems like it could be a decent compromise without going full demolition mode.
- I’ve looked at those ultra-slim raceways, but honestly, the price tag always makes me hesitate.
- Painting them helps a bit, but I agree—after a while, they just don’t disappear into the wall like you hope.
- Never tried tucking them behind crown molding, but I’ve wedged some behind baseboards with decent results (as long as you don’t mind a little extra fiddling).
- Anyone figured out a way to run wires through old plaster walls without making a mess? The “smart” stuff is great until you’re staring at another cable run...
I get the hesitation on the raceways—some of those prices are wild for what’s basically a bit of plastic. But honestly, I’ve found that even with paint, they never really “disappear.” The light catches them just enough that you always notice something’s there, especially if your walls aren’t perfectly flat (which, in my 1950s place, they definitely aren’t).
About running wires through old plaster: I know it sounds risky, but using a flexible drill bit and a fish tape has worked for me. The key is to go slow and use a stud finder that can actually detect lath. I’ve had better luck with the magnetic kind, since the electronic ones seem to get confused by the wire mesh in some walls. It’s not totally mess-free, but with painter’s tape and a shop vac right under the drill spot, you can keep the dust down. Patchwork is inevitable though, especially if you hit a rogue chunk of wood or old nail.
Anyone figured out a way to run wires through old plaster walls without making a mess?
Honestly, “without making a mess” might be wishful thinking. I tried snaking a cable behind baseboards once, but my baseboards were so tight to the wall that I ended up cracking the plaster anyway trying to pry them off. Crown molding seems like it’d be even trickier unless you’re already removing it for another reason.
One thing I’d add: if you’re dealing with an exterior wall, watch out for insulation (or the lack thereof). I poked a hole once and realized there was literally nothing but air between the plaster and brick. Ended up having to rethink the whole run and patch two holes instead of one.
Smart stuff is great, but sometimes it feels like the house is fighting back...
It’s wild how much trouble a “simple” wire run can cause. I tried to be clever and run ethernet through an old closet wall—figured it’d be hidden, right? Ended up discovering a weird pocket of insulation that looked like it was stuffed in by hand, and then my drill bit hit what I think was horsehair plaster. Made a mess and the dust smelled ancient. Ever wonder if there’s a less invasive way to retrofit these old places, or are we just doomed to patch and repaint forever?
