Sometimes I wonder if it’s just one of those “sleep better at night” things, like earthquake insurance... nice to have, but you hope you never need it.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I did the same thing when we added a sunroom—ran two empty conduits “just in case.” Fast forward six years and they’re still capped off behind the drywall. Meanwhile, WiFi’s gotten so much better that I barely even think about running new cables anymore.
But honestly, I wouldn’t call it wasted effort. Having those conduits tucked away is like a little insurance policy for future tech upgrades or, who knows, maybe a solar inverter down the line. Plus, it’s way easier to add low-voltage stuff later without tearing up finished walls.
I do sometimes wish I’d gone with conduit in more places, especially after seeing how much easier it made things for a neighbor who wanted to add EV charging. You never know what’s coming next—fiber-to-the-home, PoE lighting, whatever. It’s not glamorous, but future-proofing feels pretty smart once you’ve lived through a few tech cycles.
Having those conduits tucked away is like a little insurance policy for future tech upgrades or, who knows, maybe a solar inverter down the line.
Couldn’t agree more about the “insurance policy” angle. I’ve seen too many projects where folks regret skipping conduit—especially once new tech rolls around. WiFi’s great now, but who knows what’ll be standard in five years? I’d rather have the option than rip up drywall later.
I’d rather have the option than rip up drywall later.
That’s exactly it—future-proofing just makes life easier. I’ve worked on a few remodels where people skipped conduit, and it always turns into a headache when they want to add something new. Curious, did you run the conduit along baseboards or hide it in the walls? I’m always torn between easy access and keeping things seamless visually. Sometimes those little details make all the difference in a space.
I totally get the struggle between hiding conduit for a clean look and keeping it accessible for future tweaks. Have you ever tried using those paintable surface-mount raceways? I’ve found they can blend in surprisingly well, especially if you’ve got tricky corners or older walls. Did you have to work around any weird angles or existing trim? Sometimes those little quirks end up being the most memorable part of a project.
Sometimes those little quirks end up being the most memorable part of a project.
Couldn’t agree more. When I ran ethernet out to my pool house, I had to route around some ancient crown molding—ended up using paintable raceways and a bit of caulk. Honestly, once painted, you barely notice them unless you’re looking for it. The trickiest part was getting the corners tight without gaps, but a little patience (and painter’s tape) did the job. It’s not invisible, but it’s clean and way easier to access than buried conduit.