Do I need to get an electrician to search for wires in the wall cavity before I drill to erect a wall cabinet?

Answer 1

Billhag is correct. Wires are run up or down or from side to side from switch and receptacle boxes. Vertical wires will be directly above or below the box and horizontal wires will be within a half foot of the box above or below in a straight line. If your drilling is outside those areas you will be fine.

Do not take the bad advise about the metal plates. Those are only required when the wire hole in the stud is closer to the face of the stud than 1 1/4 inches. A hole drilled in the center of the stud needs no metal plate in most jurisdictions, and we electricians don't put them in unless we have to.

Answer 2

You should be OK but there are some flaws in the answers. If you are on a wall the might have several outlets there is a very good chance that there might be a wire running horizontal from plug out let to another.
The other thing is don't count on wall plates where the wire might be. Not everyone does that and I wouldn't count on the wall plates.
It's pretty basic like they say hit the stud and just remember if there might be a wire running horizontal it will be about waste high from plug to plug because that is a comfortable area for the electrician to drill. Don't forget it wouldn't be that unusual to hit a duplex plug outlet on the other side of the wall if there is a room there.

Answer 3

Electrical wiring mostly runs vertically, either down from an attic or up from a crawl space, along the studs where the light switches and outlets are mounted. There may be horizontal runs, too. But, they would be at the same height as the light switches (about 3-1/2 feet from the floor) and outlets (about 18 inches from the floor).

As long as you avoid drilling directly above or below switches and outlets, or at the same height as the switches and outlets, there's very little chance that you'll hit an electrical wire.

If you really want to be sure, you can pick up a combination laser level - stud finder - wiring detector by Stanley at the Home Depot for about $30.

Answer 4

No, you can do it yourself.

Before you start TURN OFF THE ELECTRICITY!

1) You should try to figure out where the studs are. If you have a studfinder it's much easier.
2) Make a small hole in the wall where you want the cabinet.
3) Now expand the hole from the center to the studs. Once the hole is a few inches wide you can see if there are any cables in the way.

The problem you may face is if there is a cable running across the area you want to put your wall cabinet, then you may need an electrician to move it.

Answer 5

You'll be connecting the cabinets, at least I hope you will, to a stud, not an empty wall. Put at least three screws in each stud.

Believe this or not, I was doing "pick-up" work on a new home and, the cabinets fell out of the walls while the new owners filled them with dishes.
The carpenters put them in the wall board instead of the studs, it's funny they stayed that long.

Answer 6

You will be alright. you will need a stud finder if you want to make sure the unit is fastened to the wall correctly. Wiring is fastened to the side of the studs if it is running vertical. If you have outlets on the wall the wire will usally run horizontal between them but this will be down low on the wall.

Answer 7

Start by carefully cutting and enlarging an inspection hole in the wall that will be concealed by the new cabinet. Than you can see where you are going.

Answer 8

no you can either see for yourself or buy a cable locater

the easist way is to look for switches/sockets are any in a vertical or horizontal line of where you are drilling if not then you should be fine

Answer 9

as long as you hit a stud, you'll be okay. they put steel plates on studs that cover wires that run horizonally.

Answer 10

no, just be careful