Chat with a homeowner yesterday changed how I think about attic runs

Guy stopped me while I was running a new drop in his attic and asked why we don't just use those flat ribbon cables that go under baseboards. I told him about signal loss and interference, but then I thought about it later - he's got a point for basic internet setups, maybe I'm overcomplicating some jobs. Anyone else ever had a customer point out something simple that made you question your whole approach?

3 comments

3 Comments

green.iris4d ago

Had a guy once ask why I didn't just use a coat hanger to fish a wire through a wall. Told him it would bend too easy and break, but he was already halfway done before I could stop him. Worked fine for that one outlet, still bugs me sometimes.

robinp894d agoMost Upvoted

Green.iris, you're not wrong to be bugged by it. A coat hanger works in a pinch for one simple straight shot, but the moment you hit a stud or have to turn a corner, that's when it kinks and leaves you in a jam. Better to just grab a proper fish tape or one of those fiberglass rods. Saves you from having to patch drywall later.

jenny_lane124d ago

Yeah, I've been there. I had a buddy insist on using a straightened wire hanger to pull some Romex through a tight crawlspace. It worked for that one run, but he snapped the wire off inside the wall halfway through the next one. Had to cut open a section of drywall to get it back out. Ever since then, I just buy those fiberglass fish sticks? They bend but don't break, and they're worth the fifteen bucks for how much time they save.