DIY Newbie: My guide to chasing solid walls

[Pisto_Grih]

Hi Everyone,
I've just successfully cut up my walls with an angle grinder prior to laying the cables for TV and speakers. Thought I would put up some do's and dont's for anyone considering doing the same.

Do's and Dont's:

Do...

• ...protect yourself: Goggles, dust mask, heavy duty gloves, long sleeves, shoes. Unless you are cutting through metal, the only thing flying around should be dust, but you will get the occasional chips of concrete or plaster - get one of these in your eye and there'll be no point in that lovely TV.
• ...protect your loved ones: Other halves, children, pets, AV equipment etc. If you can't move things out of the room, cover them in dust sheets/polythene, and make sure there is someone around in case of emergency.
• ...prepare for dust. There will be a lot of dust. Lots and lots of dust. It will get in your hair, up your nose, cover your clothes, get under the furniture, and find a way under your door and into your hall, up the stairs, pretty much everywhere. Minimise this by either sealing up doors and emptying the room, or creating a canopy of polythene around your work area, like I did.
• ...measure everything first and mark it clearly: you don't want to find you've cut the wall where you didn't mean to. It just means extra work after.
• ...plan the attack. Don't rush the job as you'll either mess it up or hurt yourself.
• ...take frequent breaks and get some fresh air.
• ...take extra care when using a hammer and chisel to clear out the waste.

Dont...

• ...be afraid of power tools. If your anything like me, using a power drill is about as daring as you get, but after a sore wrist and a banging headache from drilling about a hundred holes and only moving 12 inches, get yourself an angle grinder or a wall chaser. I picked up a B&Q special for £16 with an included masonry cutting disc, and it cut through plaster and concrete render like a knife through butter.
• ...remove your mask or goggles until you're outside/in fresh air.
• ...forget to check for hidden pipes or cables. Use a stud finder/cable detector. They're not expensive and will save you a whole lot of bother, if not your life.
• ...worry if your cuts aren't perfectly straight. You'll presumably be plastering over and painting/papering them anyway so hopefully you shouldn't notice.
• ...expect any help from your other half, especially if they're not that bothered about having cables hidden in the wall!

I hope this helps anyone who's considering chasing their cables into the wall! If you've got any additional tips, do leave them below!