Raymond WhitneyEven if the cables are neatly arranged, they can still be a visual nuisance.
Outside, hiding cable wires is even more difficult because they are more vulnerable to wear and tear and there are less effective hiding locations.
When it comes to installing electric cables, you’ll find aisles of your local Home Depot devoted just to the subject at your fingertips.
You can use these pointers to get started with anything from installing a security camera to running power to your new fountain.
Easiest Ways to Hide Outdoor Cable Wires
To hide outdoor cable wires, you will have fewer alternatives if you do not have many cables to run or if you are laying the lines directly on the exterior of your property.
Cables can be concealed by painting them or their coverings the same color as the wall, or by running them behind the walls themselves.
Even if your wires are hidden, don’t take a chance by plugging in just any old extension cord or wire. If you’re utilizing cables, be sure they’re watertight.
In order to avoid future malfunctions or short circuits, it is important to take this easy step. Water will find its way into any crevice or crack.
1. Painting Your Cable Wires or Cable Raceway
Consider painting the cable wires or the tubing they are housed in to match the color of your home’s exterior if they are going to be attached to the outside.
For the best coverage, bring a chip of your house’s paint to any paint store.
When painting your wires, you’ll not only be able to hide them, but you’ll also be able to protect them from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet light rays.
A sponge, outdoor spray paint primer, outdoor paint to match, and a refillable paint spray gun are all you need if you want to paint your wires. In that sequence, here are the steps:
- To start, scrub the length of the wiring lightly with a sponge. This will enable the paint to stick better and not run as much.
- Coat the length of your cable with the primer spray.
- If using canned paint, mix 1/10 part of water with 9/10 part of paint. Put the mixture into the spray gun and coat your cable wire.
- Let the paint dry, and then install it!
Cable raceways may also be coated with chemicals or ultraviolet radiation before they’re installed, so be aware of this when purchasing your raceway.
You can save yourself some time and effort by purchasing these in a hue that matches your home’s.
2. Cable Wire Ground Protector
In order to prevent your cable wires from being run over or ripped, a floor cable raceway is the best option if aesthetics aren’t important to you.
In a variety of sizes and shapes, they are manufactured of plastic.
Raceways that are thinner and follow the cord’s length are used in some applications.
A car might drive over some of the others since they are sturdy and substantial. Make your choice based on the level of adaptability or protection your cable wires require
3. Cable Boxes
In order to avoid an unsightly mess of tangled cables, you might want to invest in some sort of cable box.
It is possible to buy a simple, waterproof plastic box, or to drill one into the side of your house.
This box can also be painted to match the color of your home so that it is more difficult to spot.
4. Special Mounting Base
A licensed electrician can assist you in selecting and installing a metal or plastic mounting base large and deep enough to conceal all of the exposed wires outside the house near a mounted light.
Using a plastic tie or tape, the electrician secures the wires in a coil before inserting them into the base.
Pathway lights connected to underground wiring can also be mounted on a box-style foundation.
5. Decorative Outdoor Cover
In many cases, people are able to successfully conceal wires by placing beautiful items in their homes or offices. String lights, for example, can be hidden beneath the beautiful molding on the porch roof.
There are also attractive boxes created by manufacturers to hide the wiring of security keypads, circuit breakers, and other electrical equipment.
Faux rustic and modern decorative designs are popular among do-it-yourself enthusiasts.
If you want to conceal wires and cables behind a stone pedestal, sculpture, lighthouse, birdhouse, a little shed, or even a small closed door and walled entryway like in a park, you can do so.
Hiding Cable Wires On Your House
When using electric equipment outside your home, you should treat the cords in the same manner as you would within your home.
See which of the following house plans you like and can put to good use:
These are the things to look out for:
- Roof overhangs
- Siding panels
- Deck
- Walls
For further security, it is recommended that you utilize a guard or cable tube to stow away your cable wires under a roof overhang; this option is available if you have a roof overhang.
Using the lip of a house’s side panel to conceal cable wires is quite similar.
You can also run your cable lines along the bottom or vertical edges of your walls by drilling holes in the wall.
In order to run the power and ethernet connections into the attic or house, you just need to make a small hole in the siding, making this electrical method ideal for security cameras.
Hiding Cables in Your Yard
If you’re adding a pond, fountain, lighting, or any other electric feature to your yard, you’ll undoubtedly require longer cable lines to provide adequate coverage.
Bury your cable lines underground if you want to keep them hidden.
Soil composition and cable length should be taken into account while planning a dig. You may just need to dig 6 inches deep if you’re dealing with really hard ground.
The deeper you can dig, the lighter and less solid the dirt is. Plus, the deeper you bury your cable wires, the cheaper the conduit.
Choosing Cable Wire Conduits for Digging Underground
You’ll need to choose the right conduit if you want to run cable underground.
Conduits and cables must be watertight, no matter what. To get you started, here is a handy table.
| Cable Depth | 6 inches | 12 – 24 inches |
| Conduit Material | Rigid Metal Conduit – Galvanized Steel | PVC Pipe |
Steel is utilized for shallower depths to prevent the conduit and wire from melting in the event of a fire or explosion, as the damage from either can reach below ground.
Depending on the type of cable and the depth, you may not need to utilize PVC pipe past 6 inches. Consult a specialist or research more into the kind of coating your cables have, such as:
- Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant Nylon-coated (THHN)
- Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter protection (GFCI)
Since you probably do not want to go the extra distance of burying your wires if they will only be there for a few months, consider some easier options for hiding them, both for protection and aesthetically.
While it might not seem as crucial to hide temporary cords, it might be a smart idea, especially if you are aiming to make things appear as visually beautiful as possible.
Match Your Cable Colors to the Surrounding Area or Use a Cable Wire Ground Protector \sExtension cords and cables, if non-specific, come in a variety of colors, which are usually created with the purpose of “blending in.”
The simplest technique to limit cable wire visibility is to think ahead about where you will be placing your wires. Here is an easy table to follow:
| Surrounding Area | Grass | White Walls/Trim | Dirt/Garden/Shade |
| Cable Color | Green | White | Brown |
It’s important to think about whether you’ll be conducting any yard maintenance when you’re blending your cables into the landscape.
If you have a weed-whacker or a lawnmower, don’t put cable lines where they could get tangled or torn.
Cable runways for the ground are a good option if you want to protect your cables for a short period of time but don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Hiding More Heavy-Duty Cable Wires
There will be more factors to consider if you decide to upgrade to industrial-grade wiring. To hide more substantial volumes of exterior cable lines, consider the following:
- Cable weight
- Cable length
- Cable strength
Cable runway systems built of steel are often required when running larger or more numerous cables along the exterior of a building.
As long as your wires are adequately protected from corrosion, you can utilize steel brackets, but more delicate varieties like fiber optics cables will require additional steel tubing protection.
