18
votes
Speaker Wires Through Wall
A small hole is totally adequate for this purpose.
If you drill neatly then a grommit is not needed. A ~3mm hole might be sufficient, just measure your wire first. A small beauty plate may help to ...
- 9,015
14
votes
What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak?
If four roofers could not find the leak, it's unlikely that we can find it from photos. So I'll tell you what kinds of things to look for, and answer the question, 'what kinds of tools' etc.
If the ...
- 25.2k
13
votes
What's the shear strength of a 5.0 x 50mm wood screw?
SPAX, on their web site, provides plenty of engineering information about their fasteners. It's not clear which exact product you are using but the "5.0 x 50mm" appears to be closest to ...
- 22.7k
9
votes
Speaker Wires Through Wall
Simplest standard approach would be to locate a "low voltage ring" (looks like a junction box, size-wise, but has no box) directly above your speaker locations so it's mostly hidden, and ...
- 166k
8
votes
Speaker Wires Through Wall
There are wall plates available with RCA jacks, 1/4" phono jacks, etc. (just listed as examples). As mentioned by @crip659, they do not require junction boxes.
Some have plaster ears, the tabs on ...
- 5,062
6
votes
Speaker Wires Through Wall
Assuming those speakers are passive (that is, don't have a mains plug and the amplifier built in), then you're going to have a relatively long cable run. It's worth using thicker than normal cable for ...
- 1,939
6
votes
Speaker Wires Through Wall
All of the speakers in my house just have a very small hole through the ceiling or wall with the wire coming through and attached directly to the back of the speaker and mounting the speaker over the ...
- 68.6k
6
votes
What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak?
Looking for from on top of a roof can be difficult, since the leak might flow someways before it leaks onto the ceiling.
Usually the best tool is your eyes looking at the bottom of the roof deck, ...
- 16.8k
6
votes
What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak?
Start at the point in the ceiling where it leaks and then trace it backwards from there. Get to the top side of the ceiling from inside the attic. The insulation in that area should be damp. You ...
- 1,485
4
votes
Speaker Wires Through Wall
However you make the hole, make sure to air seal (e.g. with caulk or expanding foam) around the penetration. If you make a small hole just to pass the wire through, you can seal directly around the ...
- 459
4
votes
Accepted
Is it OK to have multiple layers of faced insulation on an interior wall for sound deadening?
It will not be a problem. Condensation occurs where temperatures reach the dew point, and that's generally not going to happen in a floor cavity between conditioned spaces.
Be aware that sound ...
- 115k
3
votes
Accepted
Best way to install duplex receptacle in ceiling. 3" round box
To avoid doing more drywall I would swap that out for a 2 gang old work box and install two outlets. The box and outlet cover should cover the opening since the dimensions are 3.75" x 4". ...
- 96
3
votes
Ceiling leaks in driving rain -- how can I find source?
Given it's
happening at or near the junction between the original 2-storey house and the 1-storey extension.
And susvived past re-roofing, I'll suspect the flashing between the wall and the lower ...
- 166k
3
votes
Accepted
What are these faux tiles actually called?
That's "hardboard" or "fiberboard" (MDF/HDF), sometimes also called Masonite for external (siding) applications. It's pressed wood fiber. It offers great uniformity and strength in ...
- 115k
2
votes
Access wiring of ceiling can light without overhead access
The details will vary a bit with the specific can light, but you more-or-less disassemble the can in the hole to gain access to the junction box. At that point you have a 6" (or 4") hole to ...
- 166k
2
votes
Can I smooth a knockdown-textured ceiling with spackle?
No. My tub of DAP DryDex spackling, the most popular around here for DIY, says explicitly, in all caps and bold, "DO NOT USE AS SKIM COAT." They don't explain further, but I'm guessing it's ...
2
votes
Garage overhead storage installment
Your drilling into the bottom chord of pre engineered trusses. If you are positive that you hit metal, there may be a splice or mending plate there. Usually those are on the side of the chord, or ...
- 8,688
2
votes
Accepted
Can I hang drywall from strapping on an open slanted ceiling?
You can certainly support a ceiling that way, but I doubt 1x3 spanning 32" is going to be enough - you'll probably need 2x3, (or a metal support rated for the span) at minimum.
I'd suggest adding ...
- 166k
1
vote
Accepted
Ceiling drywall water damage repair - bulging seam
Some parts can be covered with paint.
The cracked one can not be covered with paint.
Those need to be scraped, the tape replaced and mudded
- 11k
1
vote
Ceiling drywall water damage repair - bulging seam
Without checking with a straight edge, I would assume that the board has swelled behind or around that split.
I did a similar repair and cut out a section - in my case about 2' long and across 3 ...
- 24.1k
1
vote
Ceiling fan will not turn off wall switch
The 1st thing you've done wrong is not taking note of how the old fan was connected - had you done do you could have connected the new fan the same way.
From your description, your wiring appears to ...
- 5,493
1
vote
Accepted
Ceiling truss uplift?
Given your info on the location and situation, that is most likely expansion and contraction of dissimilar materials.
- 8,688
1
vote
Seams visible on ceiling
I think this could end up just being 'opinion-based', however…
It's not a great job, but from what I can see of the door architrave & window beyond, that's an old build, Victorian perhaps, so your ...
- 7,094
1
vote
Accepted
Advice on creating an acoustic ceiling
You ask about the best method for attaching the 2x2s to the ceiling.
Fasten the 2x2 with 3in construction screws, through the drywall into the joists. Anything less might not hold the weight of the ...
- 15.2k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible