Getting through sole plate

[Hefferl]

What method do you use to get cables up through the sole plate of an existing lathe & plaster/dry wall, causing minimal damage?

 

[ProDave]

Mark pencil line along top of skirting

Remove skirting

Cut hole in plasterboard, keeping just below pencil line

Drill through sole plate (will be at an angle)

Fish cables through and up.

Replace skirting.

Alternative, on a rewire, where you are not constrained by silly socket height regulations:

Cut a hole for a socket box immediately above skirting.

With a long drill bit, you should be able to drill down (again at an angle) through the socket box hole and down through the sole plate.

Fish cables through.

Fit accessory, or just back box and blanking plate to cover the hole.

 

[kerching]

F long drill bit on a F steep angle [and a couple of prayers doesn't go amiss sometimes!!]....... :coat

 

[NozSpark]

F long drill bit on a F steep angle [and a couple of prayers doesn't go amiss sometimes!!]....... :coat

and a bit of PVC conduit to sleeve the drill so it doesn't rub the wall where you don't want it to

 

[ProDave]

and a bit of PVC conduit to sleeve the drill so it doesn't rub the wall where you don't want it to

That's a VERY good tip, I must try that next time. I just rely on being careful, that doesn't always work.

Another good tip is look under the floor if you can. I was once unlucky when drilling "blind" (i.e had no access to look due to laminate flooring) and drilled straight through a cable as the drill broke through the floor. It meant I had to pull TWO cables through, one for the new circuit I was installing, and one to replace the leg of the ring final I had just drilled through.

 

[kerching]

the Yanks use 'flexible drill bits' and have a special tool for positioning the drill bit within the wall. Looks very good, but not available in the UK. Superrod have brought out a drill bit that is flexible with a built in 'guiding ball'..not seen one in the flesh but if it is anything like the rest of their stuff then it will be worth having as a 'self administered carp extraction and repatriation tool'...... :coat