How to Make Outlets in Log Walls

Log walls are solid, so the hidden electrical components are different from those in standard walls.

Ideally, electrical wiring is installed in log walls as the house is constructed. Unlike hollow drywall or plaster walls, logs are solid. The spaces that house the wiring and the outlet box -- called a gang box -- must be carved, drilled, chiseled or otherwise opened in the logs. Homes with basements or crawl spaces are the easiest to manage, as the wiring can run under the floor, up through a couple logs and into the outlet. Homes without basements can still avoid surface-mounted wiring, although wiring will run near the floor and requires disguise.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• 1-inch auger bit
• Power drill
• Old work gang box
• 1/2-inch drill bit
• Wood chisel
• Hammer or mallet
• Wood cutting blade or bit
• Rotary tool
• Screw or nail fasteners approved by gang box manufacturer

Instructions

1. Mark the location for the outlet on the floor with a pencil in front of the wall. When the wall is two logs high, or when it's slightly taller than the height where you want the outlet, pause the construction while you mark and create the outlet opening.

2. Fasten a 1-inch auger bit to a power drill. The bit should be slightly longer than the height of the partially-built wall.

3. Drill straight down through the center of the top log directly above the mark on the floor until the auger bit drills through the subfloor and into the crawlspace or basement. Wiring will run from the crawlspace, up through the drilled hole and into the gang box opening that you'll cut for the outlet.

   If there is no crawlspace, the bottom of the drilled hole should come out of the front side of the wall's bottom log and into the room near the floor. To manage this, drill the hole at an angle, instead of straight down, until the tip of the auger bit comes out of the front side of the bottom log near the floor. Alternatively, drill straight down through the logs to the floor level, then drill horizontally, straight into the bottom log, working near the floor, until you reach the vertical hole.

4. Place an old work gang box against the front of the top log at the location where you want the outlet, centered over the spot where you drilled the hole. Trace the gang box outline on the log with a pencil. Old work gang boxes are made for walls with limited installation access.

5. Exchange the auger bit in the drill for a large drill bit; 1/2-inch is sufficient.

6. Drill a hole into the log inside each corner of the traced outline to a depth that equals the depth of the gang box. Drill more holes inside the perimeter of the outline and across the center. Do not drill outside the outline, as this will make the opening too large. Drilling holes opens access for chiseling or cutting.

7. Cut or chisel out the remaining material inside the traced outline, stopping at a depth that equals the depth of the gang box. To chisel, place the sharpened tip of a wood chisel at an angle against the wood and tap it lightly with a hammer or mallet, chipping out the wood in small pieces. Neaten the sides of the opening by chiseling straight down instead of at an angle.

   To cut the opening instead of chiseling, fasten a wood cutting bit or blade to a rotary tool and slowly cut away the wood inside the outline. Chisel or cut until the opening is large enough for the gang box to fit inside with the front edge of the box flush with the front of the log.

8. Pop out or open the tab or hole on the side of the box in which the wiring will enter. The location of the drilled hole inside the opening that you cut will show you which side the wiring will enter the gang box.

9. Push the gang box into the cut opening. Fasten it to the wall using the manufacturer’s approved fasteners, which are usually nails.

Tips & Warnings

• If you aren't an experienced electrician, it's wisest to hire one for all electrical work.

• Most electrical work requires a permit before beginning and an inspection after the project is complete.

• You can anchor an old work gang box to the wall from the front. New work gang boxes require access from inside the wall which logs don't allow.

• If you drill at an angle, creating an opening near the floor on the bottom log, the wiring must run along the edge of the floor. Finish trim molding or decorative conduit will cover the opening and wiring.

• If the house is already built, you can drill up through the logs from the crawlspace instead of down from the top.

• An easier alternative to outlets and wiring fitted into the logs is surface-mounted wiring throughout the home. Surface mounted wiring includes a series of conduits -- or electrical wiring tubes -- and gang boxes that are mounted to the surface of the wall instead of being recessed.

• Check the electrical code for your area, and the national electrical code, before installing electrical components.

• Wear protective goggles or safety glasses when using power tools.

• Check the basement or crawl space before drilling to ensure there are no obstacles below the outlet.

References

• Log Cabin Connection: Wiring Log Cabins: Tricks of the Trade
• Hometime How-To: Log Homes