- 1). Inspect your attic. Find which direction the joists are running. It is best to run the wire between the joists, however if it needs to run perpendicular, holes can be drilled in the middle of the joists along the path of the wire for feeding the wire through. Find the most direct path toward the intended wall, but avoid obstacles such as pipes or vents.
- 2). Find the top, horizontal framing stud for the wall you need your wire to go through. You may need to peel back some insulation. Drill a hole between the two studs for guiding the wire to the switch.
- 3). Turn off the main power source before beginning the wiring job.
- 4). Install the wire along its path in the attic, from the light box to the hole in the wall's framing stud.
- 5). Attach the end of the wire to a line of fish tape. Fish tape is a stiff wire that can be hooked to an electrical wire, then extended and used to feed the wire through walls.
- 6). Feed the fish tape with wire attached through the pre-drilled hole, and along the inside of the wall, between the drywall and insulation. If you encounter a cross bracing board that obstructs your path, you will need to cut a small section out of the drywall using a utility knife, and notch out a section of the underlying cross brace. A stud finder is helpful in finding the brace. Make a notch by making two cuts, and then hammering out the middle section. Cover the notch with a nail plate. Continue to feed the wire through the notch with the fish tape.
- 7). Continue to feed the wire to the back of the switch box.
- 8). Patch the drywall if you had to cut it out to make a notch. Cement the previously cut out square of drywall with drywall adhesive. If the drywall is still not intact, a new piece of drywall will have to be cut to fit. Spread joint compound over the area with a putty knife. Allow the compound to dry, then sand with 200-grit sandpaper and paint.
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