Upvc windows and best way to deal with tv cables?

justaquestion

Hi folks,


Going to replace the existing windows with Upvc ones.
Just thought about it this morning, as we have tv aerial cable and sky magic eye cable coming in through the existing window in two rooms at present, (can't really see any other way of doing it) do you think it will be easy enough for the installers to cut a small notch in new windows bottom corner of sill. to accommodate these cables.


I really hate doing this but really can,t thing of any alternative.
Thanks for any advice.

Head_The_Ball

My Satellite cables go through the walls, not the windows.

Can you not drill holes in a suitable place in the wall?

Drill the hole or holes sloping slightly downwards towards the outside to prevent water ingress. You can seal the exterior entry point with silicone or similar.

leveller2911

They can sit under the new window frames if you don't want to undo the cables joints where they meet the TV,Sky box.

Just chisel out one of the vertical pug (sand/cement) joints in a brick under the frame.

Cables should never ever have been drilled through the old windows but the cowboy arial/sky installers can't be bothered to spend 5 minutes extra doing it the correct way.

PasturesNew

Drill through the wall .... you can do that close to the windows, or pick a random spot that's handier now you've got the choice.

Rodders53

Going through wooden window frames was also common entry process... Likely cable(s) will be damaged when old windows removed... If not it may be possible for the cable to be routed in mortar joint and sealed when the new window is fitted (should be no need to cut any of the plastics, except perhaps some of the decorative cover strips inside which are used to hide the damage to plaster etc..,.

If cables need replacing and then the usual way is to drill hole(s) through the wall. Ensure a 'drip loop' is installed to avoid water soaking the outer wall if it runs down off the cable. Use quality copper-copper-copper cable (eg WF100) even for UHF TV cable and definitely for satellite.

FreeBear

justaquestion wrote: »

do you think it will be easy enough for the installers to cut a small notch in new windows bottom corner of sill. to accommodate these cables.

Depending on how sloppy the fit is, they may well be able to route the cables through between the wall & frame and fill the gap with foam - Have heard that some fitters use nothing more than expanding foam to secure uPVC frames in place.... There is a reason it is called bodging foam.

If the frames are a good fit, then it is possible to put a small notch in to clear the cables and then seal it with mastic.

Having the cables coming through the wall and terminating in a wall box (either flush or surface mounted) may look better.. But the connectors are usually crimped on which means a bigger hole through the wall. Drilling a long hole, fitting a suitable wall box, and making good any damage can get expensive unless you are keen on a bit of DIY.

katejo

justaquestion wrote: »

Hi folks,


Going to replace the existing windows with Upvc ones.
Just thought about it this morning, as we have tv aerial cable and sky magic eye cable coming in through the existing window in two rooms at present, (can't really see any other way of doing it) do you think it will be easy enough for the installers to cut a small notch in new windows bottom corner of sill. to accommodate these cables.


I really hate doing this but really can,t thing of any alternative.
Thanks for any advice.

My Virgin cables go through the wall (lower than the windows and just above the skirting board).

Head_The_Ball

FreeBear wrote: »

..Having the cables coming through the wall and terminating in a wall box (either flush or surface mounted) may look better.. But the connectors are usually crimped on which means a bigger hole through the wall. Drilling a long hole, fitting a suitable wall box, and making good any damage can get expensive unless you are keen on a bit of DIY.

I didn't bother with a wall box and used complete runs of cable with no connectors.

We have five satellite cables. Three come through the downstairs living room wall behind the TV stand. The entry point is behind a curtain so cannot normally be seen. Two come through the wall in an upstairs TV room just above the skirting board.

All five cables are continuous runs from the satellite dish LNB to a Sky+ box and a Humax receiver.

JAQ, can you find suitable wall locations behind or near to the TVs or receivers to drill through? Low down near the skirting should be less visible and neater and tidier than through a window frame.

Check carefully for electricity cables, water or central heating pipes etc before drilling.

justaquestion

Head_The_Ball wrote: »

I didn't bother with a wall box and used complete runs of cable with no connectors.

We have five satellite cables. Three come through the downstairs living room wall behind the TV stand. The entry point is behind a curtain so cannot normally be seen. Two come through the wall in an upstairs TV room just above the skirting board.

All five cables are continuous runs from the satellite dish LNB to a Sky+ box and a Humax receiver.

JAQ, can you find suitable wall locations behind or near to the TVs or receivers to drill through? Low down near the skirting should be less visible and neater and tidier than through a window frame.

Check carefully for electricity cables, water or central heating pipes etc before drilling.

Thanks again for replies. I think I will get someone to drill a hole in the cavity wall and then run the cables through the wall as above, just above the skirting board. There is a radiator near here but surely the pipes for that are running along the floor, not in wall, don't want any major disasters like a water pipe burst?


Thanks once again for advice.

Head_The_Ball

justaquestion wrote: »

Thanks again for replies. I think I will get someone to drill a hole in the cavity wall and then run the cables through the wall as above, just above the skirting board. There is a radiator near here but surely the pipes for that are running along the floor, not in wall, don't want any major disasters like a water pipe burst?


Thanks once again for advice.

You can never be certain without checking where pipes might run so make sure that whoever drills the holes carefully checks the wall with a decent detector before drilling.

justaquestion

Thanks again for reply. Well both walls (where I need to drill into to move cables have radiators directly underneath the windows) the radiator outlets at both ends are going into the floor.


I would have to drill into wall just about six inches to right side of rad.
I do intend to get a tv and satellite installer to do this for me, but is there any sure way for him to make 100% certain that the cavity wall he is drilling through to the outside has got no pipes in it?
I have heard about detectors but don't know if they are any good.


Thanks again very much.