Conduit under floor

Gti · 25 May 2019 at 09:07

I use my pc to game on my tv, problem being it's on the other side of my living room. The mrs doesn't want the room configuration changed so currently am running HDMI round the room at the skirting. This is around 35-40ft distance. This seems fine for 1080p but i'm sure I'll have problems when I go to 4k 60fps.

As it happens I'm about to lay new laminate on top of old parquet finger blocks. I'm thinking this would be an opportunity to cut a channel in the parquet in a direct line across the room to the tv and put a conduit in. How big and what type of conduit would be best?

whitecrook · 28 May 2019 at 13:30

Gti said:
lay new laminate on top of old parquet finger blocks

You monster.

. cut a channel in the parquet

You MONSTER!!

do you really have to put laminate on parquet? and damage the parquet ? a sq ft of that parquet is probably worth more than all the laminate for the room. Any way I wouldn't advise what you're doing. What's wrong with just running it round the edge of the room ? Are you going to lay the laminate under the skirting (i'm guessing not) and finish it properly ? No body professional would do what you are suggesting. And then what if the lead fails ?

Gti · 29 May 2019 at 22:14

The parquet is the original from 1965 when the house was built, it's already damaged. It's stuck down with a bitumen backing which doesn't last forever...Parts of it are lifting and there's gaps between the blocks, I know these can be filled with sawdust then varnished but it doesn't look the same. It's also missing in various places and I can't find new or reclaimed matching replacements. I would have to buy similar size and cut them to the size of the existing ones...

Yes the laminate will run under the skirting and door frames, I'll surprise you even further by telling you I'll be using good quality thick underlay too. It's costing £30 per sqm, so no, some old, damaged parquet won't be worth more.
The lead would be in a conduit, the whole idea of a conduit is you can take out the original cable and thread a new one through if there is a problem. As I said in the first post, to run a Hdmi cable around the room would be around 40ft. At that distance things get unreliable.

lucid · 30 May 2019 at 00:20

Fit the biggest size of mini trucking that the floor will accommodate. 16x38mm rectangular is probably the smallest profile I'd consider. Have a look if you can get away with a 25mm depth and see what width options are available in that.

Planning ahead pays dividends with any concealed channels. The issue you'll have getting new cabling through is stiction between the PVC of the trunking and the PVC jacket of the cable where it has to pass any sort of bend. 90 degree bends are a no-no. Create a softer radius curve of 3x 30 degree bends instead. Even then things can be tricky. The more space you have inside the trunking then the better chance you'll have of pulling new cable through when it's attached to the redundant lead.

Hades · 30 May 2019 at 21:23

I just couldn't wreck the parquet even if it's in poor condition (no doubt it could be refurbished with a bit of effort). If it were me then I'd have to lift a section of parquet and run the trunking under that. Then refit the parquet and, regrettably, refit the laminate.

EDIT: Is there any kind of wifi or wireless HDMI transmitter/receiver that you could use instead?

Hades · 30 May 2019 at 21:27

lucid said:
Fit the biggest size of mini trucking that the floor will accommodate. 16x38mm rectangular is probably the smallest profile I'd consider. Have a look if you can get away with a 25mm depth and see what width options are available in that.

Planning ahead pays dividends with any concealed channels. The issue you'll have getting new cabling through is stiction between the PVC of the trunking and the PVC jacket of the cable where it has to pass any sort of bend. 90 degree bends are a no-no. Create a softer radius curve of 3x 30 degree bends instead. Even then things can be tricky. The more space you have inside the trunking then the better chance you'll have of pulling new cable through when it's attached to the redundant lead.

Maybe smear the trunking with a grease? It shouldn't affect the cable but would help if he ever has to pull the old one out and a new one in.