How To Hide Security Camera Wires Outside (Quickly & Easily!)
Thanks to advances in technology, installing security cameras outside of the house is no longer a tough job. Some of the latest models on the market are simply plug and play, making it easier than ever to keep your home properly surveilled.
Leaving the wires hanging out can provide an unsightly scene, however. So, how do you hide security camera wires that are outside? You can go with wires of a similar color to the wall, use plastic casing, paint the wires, bury the wires under your porch or garden, and so many more options.
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Why Hide the Wires?
It is important to note that you do not have to hide the wiring if you don’t choose to. They are built to be exposed to the elements and hiding them isn’t to protect them from wear and tear. The reason behind hiding those wires is for purely aesthetic reasons.
Simply put dangling or hanging wires that seemingly look random against your home can be less than appealing. Tucking the wires away is to create a neat aesthetic. It can also be good for concealing the presence of those cameras as well.
Step 1: Paint the Wires
This is probably the easiest and most effective way of doing things. No complicated conceal methods, and you won’t need anything more than some paint to get the job done. Moreover, the process is quick and painless.
- Hold the wires together. Start by either clipping or taping the wires together so that they stay together neatly. Moreover, having them taped together will make it easier to paint them all in one single pass.
- Paint. With all of the wires in place, all that is left to do is paint with the color that most closely matches the wall. Flat camera cables are the best to go with because they won’t stand out even when painted and definitely won’t be noticed by intruders.
Step 2: Pick Similarly Colored Wires
If you don’t feel like painting or making any changes to the wiring of your security cameras, the easiest thing to do is to choose the colors that best match your wall. For the most part, you can choose the color of the wires when you purchase your security camera.
While this method may not provide an exact match (or a close one at all), it is easier than taking the time to paint the wires. This is easily the lowest effort option but provides the least amount of customization or matching.
Step 3: Use Plastic Casing
This step is a bit more difficult to pull off because it needs to be done while the home is being constructed. Using this method, a plastic tube can be run through the wall with the security cables being carried through at a later date.
The upside of this method is that the wires are completely hidden. It protects the camera wires from intruders and animals while giving off a very net, tidy aesthetic. The downside to this method is that accessing the wires will be quite difficult. You may need a professional to get to them in the event of a problem with the wiring.
Step 4: Bury the Wires
This is one of the more difficult options available though there is a little more flexibility to it than the prior method. You can implement this method on your own, but it will take quite a bit of effort to get the job done.
If you have the option, bury the cables during construction as things should already be torn up. Should that not be an option, you will have to dig out a deep enough spot to bury the wires. Even then, that won’t conceal them against the wall, creating a less than ideal situation.
Step 5: Go Wireless
If you don’t feel like painting, digging, or otherwise messing with the possibility of concealing wires, why not just skip the wires? There is a wide array of wireless cameras out there that can save you the trouble of having to deal with hiding the wires.
- Battery-powered. These are the most common options out there and generally will last for quite a while. The only downside here is that you have to buy batteries and replace them from time to time. Still, you won’t have to stare at any unsightly wiring, and you won’t have to worry about providing concealment.
- Solar power. Don’t want to mess with the cost of batteries and having to replace them? Go solar. Light from the sun can keep your security cameras going all day and night since the batteries within store the solar power in their reserves. These can be a little more expensive upfront but may be worth it in the long-term.
How Do I Hide Security Camera Wires Inside of the House?
For various reasons, people install cameras inside of their home. Whether it be to keep an eye on the kids remotely, check in on the pets to make sure they’re okay, or simply provide an extra layer of protection, cameras can be a great addition to the inside of a home.
That begs the question of how to conceal wiring when the cameras are installed indoors. They present the same problems as they do outdoors. The aesthetic impact is felt even more so indoors, requiring the need to hide the wiring.
Hide Wires Inside the Baseboards
If you are looking to hide security camera wires within your home, perhaps the best measure – aside from painting the wires – is to hide them within your baseboards. If you have enough doorways in your home, this can be a relatively easy way to hide those wires without too much trouble.
- Remove baseboards. Start by removing the baseboards near your camera. Make sure to keep all nails nearby as they will need to be reapplied.
- Fish the cables. Fish the cables in the gap between the floor and the wall. Make sure that they sit securely so that the baseboards can be reapplied.
- Reapply the baseboard. Now that the wiring is in place, it is time to reapply the baseboards. Use patience and caution to ensure that the wires don’t hang out or your time will be wasted.
Use the Furniture as Coverings
Not everyone feels like pulling off the baseboards to hie wires. If that is the case, you can use some of the furniture in your home to provide natural masking. You can hide your security camera wires behind large mantels and bookshelves, underneath carpet, and so on.
You can also plan out the wiring route before you begin. Doing this allows you to use binder clips where possible like the aforementioned large pieces of furniture.
Can You Run Wires Under Siding?
The more adventurous do-it-yourself types may have gotten the idea to run their security camera wires underneath of their siding. Under no circumstances should you attempt to do this. Not only can it potentially damage your siding, but it is typically against most building codes.
The only type of wiring that can be run under siding is metallic cable or NMD romex with a steel protector over it. Even if you successfully manage to run your security camera wires under the siding, there is a chance that the city could catch wind and force you to undo your work.
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How Do You Cover Exposed Wiring?
From time to time, damage can occur to the security camera wires. When this happens, it is possible for the wires to remain functional, but they will be exposed. Exposed wiring has a greater chance of shorting due to moisture and exposure to the elements.
The good news is that, in most cases, you can perform a pretty quick fix in the short-term. You will want to find a more secure method for covering the wires, but this works to bridge that gap.
- Unplug the camera. Start by cutting the power to the wires. Working with live wires is dangerous and should be avoided.
- Locate all the exposed areas. There is a chance that multiple areas have become exposed. The last thing you want is to take the time to cover one area only to leave another.
- Wrap with electrical tape. Cover the exposed areas using electrical tape. It’s a great short-term solution that will give you time to find a more permanent fix.
Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.
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