Looking for unobtrusive wire for an Insteon relay

[fasttimes]

I want to run some wire along the baseboard that will be connected to a low voltage Insteon relay (2450). Obviously I want it to make it look as hidden as possible. Any suggestions? Most of the stuff I’ve seen has white lettering on the cable and I’d prefer not to have to use a sharpie to black it out.

[Teken]

I want to run some wire along the baseboard that will be connected to a low voltage Insteon relay (2450). Obviously I want it to make it look as hidden as possible. Any suggestions? Most of the stuff I’ve seen has white lettering on the cable and I’d prefer not to have to use a sharpie to black it out.

 

Can you provide an image of the area in question and some data points as to the length and project goals? You can go from ghetto to spend what ever meaning it could be what ever cable and just paint over it.

 

From installing wire mold  . . .

 

Keep in mind the distance and the amount of current (voltage drop) dictates what wire (AWG) gauge that must be used for X. Depending upon your reply and needs there are countless wire applications available to you. Comes down to costs and meeting those visual needs and what you're willing to sacrifice.

[Scottmichaelj]

Is the floor carpet or hardwood? Could use standard cat5 or telephone wire and carefully shove it under the base and between the carpet and you wouldn’t see it. Usually the tack strip for carpet it a bit from the wall leaving a small space. But as Teken says longer runs could be an issue so before you install make your cut and test the length first to make sure it works. You probably know this but some people don’t think about length issues. Also plastic putty knife works well so you don’t damage the wire. Just a thought.

[G W]

I want to run some wire along the baseboard that will be connected to a low voltage Insteon relay (2450). Obviously I want it to make it look as hidden as possible. Any suggestions? Most of the stuff I’ve seen has white lettering on the cable and I’d prefer not to have to use a sharpie to black it out.

If it's two conductor then look at wire tape. I've used it in the past and it's almost invisible.

[fasttimes]

Wood floors with wood trim.

[fasttimes]

If it's two conductor then look at wire tape. I've used it in the past and it's almost invisible.

I’ve looked, but didn’t see any examples of wire tape. Got lots of images of women in bras, so it wasn’t a wasted search.

[apostolakisl]

I’ve looked, but didn’t see any examples of wire tape. Got lots of images of women in bras, so it wasn’t a wasted search.

well the half naked women thing is nice, this is nicer.

 

https://sewelldirect.com/ghost-flat-led-extension-25-ft?stm_type=ppc&stm_source=adwords&product_id=SW-32874-25&campaignid=201733323&adgroupid=15135391923&creative=64184576403&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4bzSBRDOARIsAHJ1UO4LkqGO1eboG7yWAiB2yGVCCdkyTe3X_ysffw5YJ7EgfWUa6jXdpusaAtHOEALw_wcB

 

OK, maybe not nicer.  

[ScottAvery]

you can likely pry off the quarter round shoe mould and find a channel underneath the baseboard.

[G W]

you can likely pry off the quarter round shoe mould and find a channel underneath the baseboard.

He may not have quarter round. I have wood floors with quarter round.

[MWareman]

Most wood floors have quarter round at the edge, to cover the expansion gap (to allow the wood to expand and contract)...

[G W]

Most wood floors have quarter round at the edge, to cover the expansion gap (to allow the wood to expand and contract)...

I have only seen that in very very very old houses where wood was added after a house was built. In every house I've ever seen the expansion area is either under the Sheetrock or covered up by the baseboard.

 

None of the many houses I have lived in during the past 60+ years have ever had quarter round.

[apostolakisl]

I have only seen that in very very very old houses where wood was added after a house was built. In every house I've ever seen the expansion area is either under the Sheetrock or covered up by the baseboard.

 

None of the many houses I have lived in during the past 60+ years have ever had quarter round.

If you have ever had the floor refinished, typically you need the quarter round since you can't sand the last mm against the baseboard, especially in the corners.

[MWareman]

I have only seen that in very very very old houses where wood was added after a house was built. In every house I've ever seen the expansion area is either under the Sheetrock or covered up by the baseboard.

 

None of the many houses I have lived in during the past 60+ years have ever had quarter round.

My new (2 years old) has it... and my prior house (built 2002) had it - so it’s still a common thing, at least in this neck of the woods. I’ve seen it this way across multiple builders where construction was in the last 25 years...

[MWareman]

As built.

[G W]

If you have ever had the floor refinished, typically you need the quarter round since you can't sand the last mm against the baseboard, especially in the corners.

Oh hell no. I just did and I removed all the old baseboard. I'm not so cheap or stupid as to pull that kind of BS stunt.

[G W]

As built.

Wow. That's just sad. I've never seen that stunt on a house as built.

 

Why such a large expansion space? I can only guess the builder didn't fit the floor to the wall and didn't cut the flooring to fit closer to the wall.

[MWareman]

I’ve been in many houses in this area over the years. It’s everywhere. Very, very standard where wooden floors are installed.

 

It’s even ‘correct’ in the UK..

[G W]

I’ve been in many houses in this area over the years. It’s everywhere. Very, very standard where wooden floors are installed.

 

It’s even ‘correct’ in the UK..

I don't know what to tell you. I suppose it's a way the builder can save money. As for the UK, that speaks for itself. LOL

 

Let's ask the OP what he has.

[apostolakisl]

Oh hell no. I just did and I removed all the old baseboard. I'm not so cheap or stupid as to pull that kind of BS stunt.

I wouldn't let anyone pull off my baseboards.  They would be trashed.  You'd need all new ones.  If you have anything uniqe it would be very difficult to replace.  Assuming your baseboards are caulked and painted to the wall, you'll have buggered up your wall and need to float it and repaint the walls (or I guess you could get taller baseboards).  It's already enough of a mess to have the floors refinished, why make it that much worse.

 

Personally, my hardwood floors do not have quarter round.  They were finished and then the baseboars were installed new construction.  But when the day comes to refinish, I'll have quarter round installed.

 

Quarter round is just one more detail to your baseboards.  I guess you find it offensive, but I think most people don't and in fact I bet a lot of people like the extra detail.

[G W]

 

 

I wouldn't let anyone pull off my baseboards. They would be trashed. You'd need all new ones. If you have anything uniqe it would be very difficult to replace. Assuming your baseboards are caulked and painted to the wall, you'll have buggered up your wall and need to float it and repaint the walls (or I guess you could get taller baseboards). It's already enough of a mess to have the floors refinished, why make it that much worse.

 

Personally, my hardwood floors do not have quarter round. They were finished and then the baseboars were installed new construction. But when the day comes to refinish, I'll have quarter round installed.

 

Quarter round is just one more detail to your baseboards. I guess you find it offensive, but I think most people don't and in fact I bet a lot of people like the extra detail.

That's where you and I are different. My house is 12 years old and if looks like it was just built and we just moved in. I keep my house ready to sell in a week. I also don't take any short cuts.

 

As for what most people like, neither of us are qualified nor have the facts to speak such.

[MWareman]

I for one like the quarter round.

 

To be honest, any house I was looking at with wood floors and no quarter round I would immediately be suspicious of improper expansion strips/gaps being present. An immediate red flag to me. But that’s mainly because I’ve never seen it any other way!

[G W]

That's a reasonable thought. But having quarter round there is no guarantee that there is sufficient space. Mostly it all comes down to personal preference.

 

Builders build as cheap as possible as they can unless told otherwise. The whole purpose of baseboard and molding is to hide flaws and imperfections.

[TrojanHorse]

I’m glad you guys now agree

Still waiting to hear the color for the OP. But if the wood is dark brown, perhaps regardless of trim, I’m staring at 18-2 brown thermostat wire that has Edit: small black writing on it. Far from revolutionary but cheap and easy to find. Personally I’d find a way to conceal this wiring project though.

 

Edit: it has black writing on one side. Of course. But one would lay it flat anyway and put the “writing on the wall”.

 

 

 

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[stusviews]

Whether or not a shoe is installed is usually a matter of what's common in that particular area. Sometimes it's dependent on the era, that is, what was common at time the flooring was installed. It definitely costs more.

 

Edit: spelling error corrected.

[G W]

Whether or no a shoe is installed is usually a matter of what's common in that particular area. Sometimes it's dependent on the era, that is, what was common at time the flooring was installed. It definitely costs more.

I don't wear shoes in my house.