Funny you mention the corners—those are always where my patience gets tested. Ever tried to run cable through a 1920s bungalow? I swear, every time I think I've got a straight shot, I hit some weird old brace or a surprise bit of lath-and-plaster. Sometimes I wonder if the original builders were just having a laugh at future renovators.
Curious, did you consider going wireless at first, or was hardwiring always the plan? I keep seeing folks try mesh systems for sheds and pool houses, but I've had mixed results with those, especially when you start dealing with thick walls or metal siding. Hardwired is definitely more work upfront, but like you said, it's reliable and easy to troubleshoot down the line.
Also, how’s the caulk holding up in the heat? I’ve had it shrink and crack on me before—might just be our wild temperature swings here.
Ever tried to run cable through a 1920s bungalow? I swear, every time I think I've got a straight shot, I hit some weird old brace or a surprise bit of lath-and-plaster.
That hits home. My place is from the '30s and every wall hides a new mystery—half the time I end up fishing wire for hours just to dodge some ancient crossbeam. As for wireless, I gave mesh a shot but the metal siding on my garage just killed the signal. Hardwiring was a pain but now it’s rock solid.
The caulk...yeah, same story here. Our summer heat turns it brittle fast. I switched to a high-flex exterior type last year and it's holding up better, but not perfect. These old houses definitely keep you on your toes.
As for wireless, I gave mesh a shot but the metal siding on my garage just killed the signal. Hardwiring was a pain but now it’s rock solid.
That’s been my experience too—mesh systems are great until you throw old construction or metal into the mix. I ended up running conduit along the fence to get ethernet out to my shed. Not pretty, but it works. The quirks of these older homes really do force you to get creative. And yeah, caulk never seems to last as long as it should... I’ve started checking it every spring just to stay ahead of the cracks.
Running ethernet outside is definitely the way to go if you can swing it, but man, the cost of outdoor-rated cable and conduit adds up fast. I tried those powerline adapters first—mixed results, honestly. Sometimes they’re decent, sometimes they just drop out for no reason. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind a little DIY, I’ve seen folks use PVC pipe as cheap conduit. Not perfect, but it keeps the cable protected and doesn’t look too awful if you tuck it behind some bushes.
- Honestly, I’d push back a bit on the PVC-as-conduit thing.
- Sure, it’s cheap, but regular PVC isn’t UV-rated, so if any of it’s exposed, it’ll get brittle over time.
- Also, moisture can still get in unless you seal the ends really well—ask me how I know... had to redo mine after a year.
- If you’re running a short distance and can keep it totally hidden, maybe it’s fine, but for anything longer or more permanent, I’d save up for proper outdoor conduit.
- Sometimes spending a bit more up front saves headaches down the line.
