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Electrical Wiring

Any ideas for drilling down through outside wall top plate ?

17 years ago

Doing some rewiring on a 3rd floor apartment I own. Not much experience w/ wiring here. How can I drill down through outside wall top plates w/ very little clearance between top plate and roof. No one in my area seems to rent a right angle drill or hole hawg.

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Comments (8)

hendricus
17 years ago
If this is an apartment that you rent out, are you even allowed to do this work. In Kalamazoo MI. licensed trades are only allowed to work on electrical, plumbing or heating.
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normel
17 years ago
If you are adept at patching walls, try drilling up from the room below after cutting a hole in the wall covering.

hendricus has a good point.
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kudzu9
17 years ago
Put down a couple foot square piece of loose plywood so you can lie on your stomach and scoot your way out to the location where the roof meets the wall. If you drill carefully at an angle, you may be able to make it through the top plate and into the wall space without penetrating the outside wall. It would help to have a right angle drill, and I'm surprised you can't rent one. Alternatively, I think the only option you have is to cut out the sheetrock near the ceiling and do the hole. Or you might be able to get by with a smaller hole in the wall if you get yourself a 4' drill bit with a flexible shaft (these are available, for example at some electrical supply places and places that sell security system supplies). However, if you not experienced using these, you may end up piercing the roof.
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fix_it
17 years ago
--However, if you not experienced using these, you may end up piercing the roof.--

Amen to that. I once drilled up through the top plate and then through the roof. I knew there was a problem when I pulled the drill out of the hole and it had tar paper stuck to it. This was with a regular spade bit. The decking was so close to the plate that the piont of the bit hit the decking before the bit broke completely throught the plate. I expected to feel it come through, and just kept drilling. Oops! Just be carefull, and you should be alright. Drilling up from the bottom is about the only way in some cases.
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seano815
Original Author
17 years ago
I am working w/ an apprentice electrician w/ 3 yrs experience and am trying to do as much of the grunt work as I can for him. Haven't been able to contact him for his tips on how to do this, so I posted here. Yeah, I'm suprised I can't rent the drill either. Guess I'll try going at at angle carefully, and see how it goes. Thanks for all the help!!
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brickeyee
17 years ago
More than once I have simply resorted to lifting a few shingles and drilling through the roof and then the top plate.
This happens on very low pitch roofs that when you cannot get within a couple feet of the top plate usually.
Drilling inside is a better option unless you have a wall finish that is difficult to repair.
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normel
17 years ago
Brick, I had thought of offering that suggestion also, but he stated it was a third floor apartment. Not the ideal place for a novice (or professional) to be working. I have used that trick before too, but only on a single story building.
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ionized_gw
17 years ago
Have you thought about doing it from the outside after cutting a small opening in the eaves?
0

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