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Installation of
Brackets, Frames
and Grilles in
Existing Walls
Important: Before you cut into any
wall, review the sections on running
wire and speaker placement.
1. Drill a 1/8” pilot hole just barely through
the wallboard or dry wall (1/2” to 5/8”
deep in most homes) about an inch
below the center of your proposed
speaker location (an inch to the side if
you are mounting the speaker horizon-
tally). BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO
DRILL THROUGH EXISTING WIRES,
PIPES, OR STRUCTURE. If you feel any
extra resistance as you are drilling, STOP.
Cut a piece of coat hanger equal to the
width of the bracket. Bend the wire in
half creating a right angle. Poke the “L-
shaped” wire into the pilot hole and turn
it in a complete circle. If it turns freely,
repeat the procedure from a hole about
an inch above the center of your pro-
posed speaker location (See Figure 16).
If the wire's movement is obstructed by a
pipe or cable, fill the hole(s) with spackle
or other patching compound and try
another location.
2. When determining the final location of
the cutout, keep in mind that the frame
and bracket will extend beyond the
cutout. Make sure that you do not place
the edge of the cutout directly next to a
stud. Locate the studs by using a stud
sensor or by hand-knocking. Once you
have determined the correct position for
the cutout, hold the supplied template
up to the wall surface. Level the template
in either the horizontal or the vertical
position and mark the wall with a pencil.
Drill the four corners with a 1/4” drill bit.
3. If you are cutting painted or wall
papered drywall, use a sheetrock or key-
hole saw. Cut the hole with the saw at a
45 degree angle. That way, the drywall
section can be replaced cleanly if there
is an unseen obstruction behind the
wall. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SAW
THROUGH EXISTING WIRES, PIPES,
OR STRUCTURE. If you feel any extra
resistance as you are cutting, STOP.
4. If you are cutting into lath and plaster
walls, use masking tape to outline your
penciled marks, drill the four corners
with a 1/4” bit and use a razor to score
the plaster down to the lath beneath.
Then use a chisel to remove all of the
plaster within the taped outline. Finally,
insert a metal cutting blade into a sabre
saw and very slowly and carefully saw
the lath. Sawing the lath can easily
vibrate plaster off the wall. If you have
the patience, use a pair of tin snips to
slowly nip away at the lath instead.
There is no risk with this method, it is
just time consuming.
5. Fill the wall cavity with insulation at this
point. Remember to use equal amounts
of insulation for each speaker.
6.
Slip the mounting bracket through the hole
and pull it toward you so that its front edge
slides into the hole and stops in place.
Installation of Brackets, Frames and Grilles in Existing Walls
Figure 16
16
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