Ended up running conduit along the top of the baseboard and painting it to match. Not invisible, but it blended in well enough and kept me from tearing up the walls.
That’s usually the best call with old plaster—trying to fish wires behind those walls is just asking for trouble. I’ve seen folks try wireless sensors to avoid the mess, but battery life can be hit or miss. For moisture, have you tried using polyurethane caulk instead of silicone? It sticks better on damp surfaces, especially in basements. Dummy cameras are a decent deterrent, but I’d still put at least one real camera at the main entry. Even a cheap one can make a difference if something actually happens.
Title: If You Had To Rig Up Your Own Home Security On A Tight Budget, What Would You Do?
Running conduit along the baseboard and painting it is honestly a smart workaround—especially with old plaster. I’ve seen way too many folks try to fish wires, only to end up patching holes for weeks. Sometimes the “invisible” route just isn’t worth the headache.
I’m with you on the dummy cameras—they can make people think twice, but yeah, having at least one real camera at the main entry is a solid move. Even an inexpensive one with cloud backup can be surprisingly helpful if something ever goes down.
Interesting call on polyurethane caulk. I’ve always defaulted to silicone, but now I’m curious if I’ve been missing out, especially in damp basements. Have you noticed it holding up better long-term? Moisture’s always the wild card in older homes...
Wireless sensors are tempting for sure, but swapping batteries gets old fast. I’ve heard of folks using rechargeable AAAs in those, but it’s still another thing to remember. Sometimes “good enough” and practical wins over perfect and complicated.
Sometimes the “invisible” route just isn’t worth the headache.
I get the appeal of running conduit, but have you ever tried those adhesive raceways? They’re not as sturdy, but for rentals or quick setups, they’re a lifesaver. Curious if anyone’s had luck with those holding up over time.
On the wireless sensors—yeah, battery swaps are a pain, but I’ve seen some solar-powered options lately. Not sure how reliable they are indoors, though. Anyone tried those in a basement or shaded spot?
I’ve actually used those adhesive raceways in a rental before—held up for about a year, but eventually the adhesive started peeling in the summer humidity. Not a deal-breaker, just needed a few extra clips. I’ve wondered if painting them helps blend in or just makes the peeling worse... anyone tried that? As for solar sensors, I tried one in my garage and it barely charged unless I left the lights on all day. Maybe works better near a window, but basements seem tricky.
I’ve wondered if painting them helps blend in or just makes the peeling worse... anyone tried that?
I actually painted over some raceways in my last place, and honestly, it looked better for a while but the paint seemed to make the peeling more obvious once it started. Maybe it depends on the paint type? I used regular wall paint, not sure if something more flexible would help.
About solar sensors—has anyone tried those battery-powered stick-on motion lights instead? I’m skeptical about solar anything indoors unless you’ve got a sunroom or something. Wondering if batteries are just less hassle overall, even if you have to swap them out every few months.