Hyderabadghar/Do it your self/Relocating Existing Wiring

In most cases, a great deal of electrical wiring already exists in your basement. These wires feed circuits elsewhere in the house, and they may have to be moved depending on where they are and what you are planning for the basement ceiling.

If wires run through holes in the joists, there is no need to worry about them unless they come closer than 1-1/4 inch to the edge of a joist. If the wires are close to the edge, nail a protective metal plate to the joist to prevent the wires from being punctured by nails.

If a suspended ceiling is to be installed, the wires do not have to be relocated. However, if a drywall ceiling will be installed and wires run along the underside of the joists, the wires must be relocated.

PROJECT BASICS

Project: Easy
Estimated Project Time: AHalf-hour
Start Tips: Study the location of wiring to determine if it really does need to be relocated
Safety Tips: Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes
Recommendation: Do-it-Yourself

TOOLS & MATERIALS

Safety goggles	Saber saw or handsaw
Protective metal plates	Cable staples
Nails	Adjustable square
Hammer	Pencil
Nippers	Measuring tape
Power drill and 3/4-inch bit, as needed

Fig. 1

1) Loosen the wires
Use nippers to grasp one edge of each cable staple, and then lever out the staple. As this is done do not crush the cable beneath the nippers and do not nick the outer casing of the cable (Fig. 1). Move the wires aside temporarily and dispose of the staples.

Fig. 2

2) Cut the notches
Mark cut lines for notches where cable crosses each joist. According to building codes, notches in the bottom of a joist must be no more than one-sixth the depth of the joist, and they must not be located in the middle third of a joist's length. (If these criteria cannot be met, disconnect electrical power to the circuit and run the wires through holes in the joists. Use a power drill and 3/4-inch bit to drill the holes, placing each at least 1-1/4-inch away from the edge of a joist.)

To lay out each notch, set an adjustable square to the depth of the notch (making the notch just deep enough to contain the wires), and mark cut lines on the edge of each joist. Use a saber saw or handsaw to cut both sides of each notch. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 3

3) Complete the notches
The bottom of the notch will be parallel to the grain of the joist, so the waste wood can be knocked out easily by striking it with a hammer (Fig. 3). If necessary, use a chisel to clean up and smooth out the bottom of each notch.

Fig. 4

4) Relocate the wires
Move wires into the notches. (If necessary, use cable staples to hold them in place.) According to electrical codes, the wires must be protected by a metal plate that is at least 1/16-inch thick. Use nails to secure the plates to the joists. (Fig. 4)