Since the invention of electricity and the advent of electronic media, people have tried many creative tricks to hide wires, cords and cables. Homeowners resort to sometimes dangerous camouflage techniques to avoid puncturing walls and working with wiring.
To solve this problem, entrepreneur Robb Sexton thought outside the box (and stayed out of the wall, too). He wondered why wires had to be bulky and rounded rather than flat like tape — and invisible on the wall. Thanks to his vision, anyone can add lights and audio or video cabling without invading their home’s walls or sacrificing quality. As Sexton puts it, “Finally, DIYers can design the rooms of their dreams around their dreams instead of their outlets!”
After seeing the lighting kit at the International Builders’ Show, I decided that FlatWire was just what I needed to add decorative wall sconces in my home. The process is simple, and the manufacturer’s video and written instructions are so clear that anyone can use the system to install sconces in a finished space. Here are the basic steps:
1. Choose a location for one, two or three lights in a room or hallway, and use a pencil to mark the spots where you want to install fixtures as well as the path (in vertical and horizontal lines) to a nearby electrical outlet.
2. After turning off the electrical power to the area, mount a wall bracket where each fixture will go. (The brackets fasten to the surface with anchors and screws; no holes or electrical boxes are required.)
3. Remove the faceplate from the closest electrical outlet.
4. Clamp one end of the FlatWire tape to the connector provided; then slide the connector into the FlatWire Ready faceplate. Fasten the new faceplate to the outlet box. (The FlatWire Ready tape will extend from the bottom of the faceplate and adhere flush against the wall.)
5. Apply FlatWire Ready Spray Adhesive along the pathway that you marked, spraying just beyond the first turn. Wait 60 seconds for the adhesive to become tacky; then use a plastic smoother to press the tape against the wall.
6. At the 90-degree turns, create mitered folds in the tape, and spray adhesive into the folds. Use the plastic smoother to firmly press out any air bubbles or extra adhesive. This will create sharp creases in the tape (photo 1). Continue along the path this way until you reach the first wall bracket.
7. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for folding the tape over the wall bracket and clamping the connector onto the tape (photo 2). At the final wall bracket, you’ll cut the tape and create a loop over the connector.
8. Once the FlatWire is adhered to the wall and the connectors are in place (photo 3), it’s time to test the system.
9. Insert the brass tabs from the light fixture into the connector and attach the fixture to the wall bracket using the washers and nuts provided (photo 4). IMPORTANT: Because oils from skin will damage halogen bulbs, wear cloth gloves when assembling the bulb, globe and ring and attaching the bulb cover to the fixture.
10. Plug the transformer into the faceplate and turn the power on to check that the fixtures will light.
11. To finish the wall surface (and conceal the FlatWire path), you’ll need to turn off the power and disconnect the sconce fixture and faceplate; then cover the brackets, outlet and connectors with masking tape.
12. Apply mesh tape over the FlatWire tape and then mud over the mesh with joint compound (photo 5), sanding after each layer to create a smooth surface. Finally, paint the walls and reattach the connectors, light fixtures, wall plate and transformer.