What’s behind this brick? (Need to put electrical socket)

[Dignan 355]

So, I’ve had this tv (in photo) on our backyard patio awhile, but as you can see, the only outlet is near the ground. I’ve put a socket for a tv in diff rooms, but NEVER tried to do it on brick. Thought I’d ask the pros here. YouTube is good, but, I didn’t see a wall exactly like this. Saw a fireplace, etc etc. behind this wall (tv wall) is our bedroom. Drywall on our bed room wall. I’ll prob get romex, splice and add another near tv, but unsure how to cut/do that part. Can I run Romex behind brick? I’m an idiot when it comes

To this. Thanks!

 

 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21866]

The drywall is fastened to the inside of the studs. The outside of the studs should have some kind of house wrap, like Tyvek.  There should be a 1 1/2-inch air gap between the brick and the wrap, with brick ties fastening the brick to the studs.  I doubt the electrical code would allow you to run Romax behind the brick.  I'm neither an electrician nor a builder, but I did frame houses in Houston during the summers in high school.

Edited August 21 by NeverMarryAStripper

[0xdeadbeef 1645]

50 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

The drywall is fastened to the inside of the studs. The outside of the studs should have some kind of house wrap, like Tyvek.  There should be a 1 1/2-inch air gap between the brick and the wrap, with brick ties fastening the brick to the studs.  I doubt the electrical code would allow you to run Romax behind the brick.  I'm neither an electrician nor a builder, but I did frame houses in Houston during the summers in high school.

Exactly as NMAS said:

Patching or replacing drywall is easy; replacing chipped/cracked exterior bricks seems quite a bit harder.  

If it was me, I think I'd put the power line in a (metal or plastic) conduit mounted to the brick.  Not as nice as a hidden cable, but a step cleaner than a dangling power cable.  

[Gil Bang 25907]

open up the drywall.  Get a masonry bit.  Run EMT through the brick and install a surface box behind the TV. 

[HOOKEM4 5036]

I would buy a new house. One with an acceptable outdoor partying setup. Also, let's get a bigger TV. Can't see shit on that thing.

 

 

Serious answer, who cares about the cords? The wife? If you try to run romex behind the brick, it won't be to code and it will be a nutroll. Not to mention repairing/sealing the brick. Hire someone or deal with the cords.  But please buy a giant TV and tell your wife it is needed bc you can't see good no how.

3 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

open up the drywall.  Get a masonry bit.  Run EMT through the brick and install a surface box behind the TV. 

This.

[luke duke 6412]

open up the drywall.  Get a masonry bit.  Run EMT through the brick and install a surface box behind the TV. 

Use a hammer drill or you’ll be there all day.

[Gil Bang 25907]

7 minutes ago, luke duke said:

Use a hammer drill or you’ll be there all day.

Nope.   Hammer drill might crack the brick.  Straight masonry rotary bit. 

[Dignan 355]

12 hours ago, HOOKEM4 said:

I would buy a new house. One with an acceptable outdoor partying setup. Also, let's get a bigger TV. Can't see shit on that thing.

 

 

Serious answer, who cares about the cords? The wife? If you try to run romex behind the brick, it won't be to code and it will be a nutroll. Not to mention repairing/sealing the brick. Hire someone or deal with the cords.  But please buy a giant TV and tell your wife it is needed bc you can't see good no how.

This.

haha. That TV was the designated "outdoor tv" because it is old as shit. We put another one out there before but it, even though the patio is covered, did not make it. That ol bird was been through thick and thin! Plus, I have our "game room" that has two 50-inch tvs side x side to watch/play xbox on.  That was an upgrade after using a 32-inch smart tv that I moved all over the house or into the living room to watch college football. ANYWAY, eh, I kind of care about the cords. I've done all of our tvs on the inside, so thought, why not here?!?

[ROFL BOX 6647]

Use a hammer drill or you’ll be there all day.

Not at all.  Go through the mortar joint or you will either crack the brick as [mention=1111]Gil Bang[/mention] said or even worse, dislodge an entire brick (or two).
My question would ild be the (small) possibility of some wiring on the other side of this specific location.
Typically you will have receptacles set max 18" up from the floor & switches @ 48".
In Texas, ceiling fans & can lights will be wired down from the attic however (as noted) you need the controls on the wall @ 48" & there is always a possibility something was run horizontally... ¿Why?  Who knows.

[luke duke 6412]

Who doesn’t go through the mortar?

[ROFL BOX 6647]

6 hours ago, luke duke said:

Who doesn’t go through the mortar?

Who joins the aggy CofC if they aren't going to actually accept a commission & join the military?

Why does an athletic program & mascot identity that celebrates the theft of Native American land actually have a law program offering a Master's degree for Indigenous People's Studies?

[Orale 1087]

I second the run metal conduit with an outlet on the exterior of the brick. Spray paint it black or something close to the brick color if you'd prefer to camouflage it. 

[Bevo&Pevo 5120]

Hidden wires are worth the effort, but it will not be easy.  

[thunderlounge 7813]

Easy or cheap, you can't have both.

[Orale 1087]

1 hour ago, thunderlounge said:

Easy or cheap, you can't have both.

South Austin's mom?

[thunderlounge 7813]

You think something that easy is cheap?

[ROFL BOX 6647]

16 hours ago, thunderlounge said:

You think something that easy is cheap?

Does this include Rx's & doc visits?

[woohorn 1131]

IANAE, but I fished a new Romex from existing patio outlet up into the attic, down the wall from the attic to my TV and cut out a piece of brick that was the size of the box. Don't know the term for the wood header in the attic but I had to drill two new holes down through the wood at the top of the wall. It was really tight in the attic that close to the end of the roof and it was a pita, but you don't want exposed conduit.

[Gil Bang 25907]

40 minutes ago, woohorn said:

IANAE, but I fished a new Romex from existing patio outlet up into the attic, down the wall from the attic to my TV and cut out a piece of brick that was the size of the box. Don't know the term for the wood header in the attic but I had to drill two new holes down through the wood at the top of the wall. It was really tight in the attic that close to the end of the roof and it was a pita, but you don't want exposed conduit.

"top plate"

[RDCanecutter 26377]

The simplest solution I can think of would be to ignore the wiring, and replace the TV with a large painting of some favorite moment in sports. That feeling is what you're looking to recapture every time you watch a new game, and let's be honest, they usually disappoint. So go for a 100% chance of happiness with your favorite sports painting.

Maritime plywood oughta do the trick. I would not frame it or otherwise cover it, because june bugs will get up inside it, try to eat their way back out, then die.

[Gil Bang 25907]

1 hour ago, RDCanecutter said:

The simplest solution I can think of would be to ignore the wiring, and replace the TV with a large painting of some favorite moment in sports. That feeling is what you're looking to recapture every time you watch a new game, and let's be honest, they usually disappoint. So go for a 100% chance of happiness with your favorite sports painting.

Maritime plywood oughta do the trick. I would not frame it or otherwise cover it, because june bugs will get up inside it, try to eat their way back out, then die.

 

[Bevo&Pevo 5120]

On 8/25/2024 at 6:59 PM, thunderlounge said:

Easy or cheap, you can't have both.

Skilled labor isn't cheap and cheap labor isn't skilled.