How to Move a Cable Outlet

If you are installing a home theater or entertainment center, it may happen that one of your cabinets fits right in the middle of a cable outlet. This can be a pain in the neck, as cutting down the cabinet will make it look less attractive.

Without moving the cabinet right to the other side of the room, it is possible to shift the cable outlet a few inches along the surface of the wall. Often, homeowners will call in professional electricians to do this job for them, and pay for the work.

If you are unwilling to spend money on a job that you would like to try yourself, and you have the basic home improvement skills needed to move the cable outlet, then by following a few simple rules, you should be able to complete this project quickly and easily.

Step 1 - Get Rid of the Cable Outlet

Before you can remodel the cable outlet, you will have to remove the one which is causing you problems. This should be a simple matter of unscrewing the box and pulling the cable away from the walls. Before you touch any of the wires, remember to turn off the electricity at the mains.

Remove the cable from the outlet box, and leave it hanging through the opening in the wall. Take away any mounting plates and other accessories that were sited with the outlet and discard. This sounds easy, but you may have to struggle for a few minutes to pry the outlet box away from the wall and to get rid of the supporting board.

Step 2 - Cut a New Hole

You will now need to cut a hole in the wall to the same dimensions as the opening you just removed the outlet box from. Calculate how much distance you need between the box and the cabinet, and cut through the drywall using a keyhole saw and a drill. Ensure that there are no studs in the wall behind the new position of your cable.

Step 3 - Install the New Cable Outlet

Now, pull the cable cord out of the previous hole, and along to the one you have just created. Cut a piece of backer board and use this as the mounting plate for your work junction box. Screw this into place, ensuring that the cable is still sticking through the hole.

Place the cable into the old work box, and screw this into the backer board you have just installed. Then, you will need to place a piece of board over the edge of the workbox, so that it forms a suitable cable outlet.

The cable should stick through this, so you now have the box, and your cable, in much the same state as before, just further away. Cover over the old hole with some drywall cut from the new opening and using drywall tape and plaster, cover with a few coatings, sanding between each one.