Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Hello you guys we are taking out our carpet and installing floors in our two story home when we took out the carpet we found some thin wires and we are not sure what they are can anyone tell me what they are ? And also if we can install the hard wood flooring on top of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Pictures and a bit more info would help. Given the snarkiness (good natured, but snarky) here, someone is likely to answer "good chance it's copper." Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 It's copper, most likely. To where do they trace? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 My guess: the doorbell. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 Sorry you guys took me a min to resize 😂 thank you guys for you help! Do you guys think I can put the hardwood floor on top of them? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 36 minutes ago, Thaddeus Smith said: It's copper, most likely. To where do they trace? I posted a pic on the comment sorry first time using this site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 45 minutes ago, Mallette said: Pictures and a bit more info would help. Given the snarkiness (good natured, but snarky) here, someone is likely to answer "good chance it's copper." Dave I posted a pic on the comment sorry first time using this site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 53 minutes ago, Nour said: when we took out the carpet we found some thin wires and we are not sure what they are My guess would be telephone wires. Usually they are 4-strand and very thin. Edit: I saw where Dean suggested a doorbell wire. That's a solid guess. If it is a doorbell wire you might take it out and go wireless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 (edited) Okay Edited July 9, 2019 by Nour 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 @wvu80 we have Vivint door bell anyways it’s Wires do you think it’s okah if we cut them out ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, Nour said: @wvu80 we have Vivint door bell anyways it’s Wires do you think it’s okah if we cut them out ? I think you are safe taking them out. I've taken out all the phone wires in my house and I've never had a doorbell. Everything is wireless these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 @Mallette and @Thaddeus Smith and @Deang I posted pic of them sorry I am learning 😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 @wvu80 okay thank you so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Last pic above ... seems like it is a phone line plugged into an outlet. Probably was used as an extension for a land-line phone. Do not leave it there when installing hardwood. Even with a "mat," it will give you an uneven surface ... and problems laying the hardwood. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nour Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 @Emile yes it will be much better to just cut them out , I don’t want uneven hardwood 😭 thank you so much for your feedback 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC39693 Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 I was going to ask ... it looks like 2 runs of wire? Was there 2 locations for phone extension or is there any chance these were low gauge speaker wire? Where did they run from / to ... common point to two different locations and why not just tuck them in the gap between floor board and carpet/wall board? Definitely don't leave them under hardwood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Those could also be wires for a "wired" security system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glens Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Rather common method for a lazy person running signal wires in a slab-floor home, or finished basement. Maybe they did it while they had the tile up to go carpet, and maybe they went to carpet so they could do it. You wouldn't have to take up the tile to go carpet, so it seems like a remodel, but if they were doing that, why didn't they go thru the attic or ceiling with the wires? Is it a basement or main floor (ground level)? Is the wall they disappear into in the second pic an outside wall with maybe a box mounted there, and if so, what does the box look like? I wouldn't have suspected doorbell; phone or speakers would be first guesses for me. Obviously you're not going to need them if it was speaker wire (or perhaps intercom), and most likely unnecessary to you for phone. I've done floor covering professionally and have "laid rug" over wires like that when found under what was being replaced (wasn't getting paid to do it correctly). You could rent a concrete saw and cut some shallow channels for the wires (either a lot of dust and/or water to contend with) or you could put down thin underlayment with the necessary runway gaps if moisture won't be a problem. Either way more expense/effort for something you don't need, if you don't. What are the wires for? :^) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinmi Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 When I ripped up the carpet in my 75 year old home, I found wires also. Turned out to be from an old alarm system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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