Debate: drilling holes for wires in a finished wall vs. surface mounting everything

I’ve been doing more retrofit jobs lately and I’m torn. Punching holes and fishing wire looks cleaner but takes twice as long, while surface mounting is faster but customers sometimes complain about the exposed conduit. What’s your rule of thumb for when to go one way or the other on a standard single-family home install?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee_butler23d ago

Honestly, I feel this one in my soul. I've definitely done the surface mount thing and then had a customer look at it like I just ran exposed wiring through their living room on a dare from a coworker. It's always a gamble between saving time and not having them call you back asking if you can "just tuck it behind the wall real quick." My rule of thumb is if it's a rental or a basement, surface mount all day; but in a finished living room, I'll spend the extra hour fishing wire just so I don't have to hear about it from their spouse later. Tbh, my back already regrets every hole I've drilled, but my pride hates exposed conduit more.

allen.amy23d ago

@lee_butler pretty much nailed it. Surface mount in a living room is like wearing a neon sign that says "I gave up halfway through." At least with the extra fishing time, you get to pretend you're on some kind of noble mission instead of just praying the conduit doesn't look too ugly from the couch.