Drilling and Pulling

The physical act of wiring is largely a matter of getting power from point A to point B in a manner approved by the code. Point A might be your main service panel (where the power enters your house), or it might be a receptacle on an adjoining wall. Either way, you have to figure out the best route to run your wire so A and B can be connected. How do you define the best way? That depends on your circumstances:

• Are your walls and ceilings open with the studs and joist exposed?
• Do you have to work around old plaster and lath or newer drywall?
• Is there basement, attic, or crawl-space access?

Much of an electrician’s time is spent drilling holes in wall studs and floor joist and pulling electrical cable from one fixture or receptacle to another. This work is tougher in a finished house, especially one with old plaster walls or limited access from either a basement or attic crawl space. This is timeconsuming work, and its cost can be difficult to estimate. In my opinion, these are perfect jobs for homeowners who can take their time drilling and “fishing” wires even if they don’t want to do the final connections or fixture installations. A couple of weekends or evenings with a commercial-quality drill and a roll of electrical cable can greatly reduce the time an electrician spends in your house—and can greatly reduce your costs.