Hey everyone! I'm looking to move the location of my ethernet cables' termination in my house, and I need to run about 15 cables through the wall next to my staircase, from the attic down to the first floor via the second floor. I'm considering cutting a hole in the drywall on the 2nd floor to help with this process. However, I'm curious about potential issues—like fire safety—when running that many cables through two floors. Should I make one large hole for all the cables, or should I drill several smaller holes? Also, since this is my first time working in a wood-frame house (I've only done this in concrete ones), any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
4 Answers
Hey! Instead of running all 15 cables, you might want to consider running one wire down and using a managed Ethernet switch. This can simplify things a lot—just run a single high-quality Cat 7 or even fiber cable that can handle 10 Gbps, then connect switches on each floor. It keeps the setup neat and prevents clutter down the line.
That’s exactly what I ended up doing! Keeps things tidy and future-proof for faster speeds.
Remember to check the fire blocking in your holes! You’ll want to seal them well. I recommend using red fire blocking caulk instead of spray foam; it’s much more effective. Just smooth it out after you apply it to get a good seal.
I recently did a similar setup, but instead of going through the walls, we ran it through the exterior to keep interference down. You could potentially go through your basement wall to the outside and then up into the attic if that’s an option for you.
You should really consider using conduit for your cables; it makes pulling them much easier. As for the holes, going with multiple smaller holes is usually better for managing the cables. If you stick to a 1" conduit, you could potentially fit several cables in one run, too. Just make sure to label each termination point so that anyone in the future (including yourself!) knows what's what.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely label them—it’s always a pain to trace cables later.
Good point! A managed switch will definitely help streamline the process. Just make sure the one you put in the attic is well-ventilated so it doesn't overheat during the summer.