Short answer
In a brick wall or plasterboard wall, cabling can usually be concealed by cutting a chase or by using the cavity. In a load-bearing wall there are limits on the depth and direction of the chase. In listed buildings, in concrete walls and where it needs to be quick, neat surface-mounting in trunking or conduit is often the wiser choice.
Who this article is for Anyone choosing between chasing and surface-mounting. Assessing the wall is a job for a professional.
Concealed: how it works
In a wall of brick or sand-lime brick, a wall chaser cuts a chase into which a conduit or cable goes. It is then filled and plastered.
These rules are there for the structure and for whoever hangs a picture later.
The rules that apply:
- chases run vertically or horizontally, not diagonally, so the next occupant knows where not to drill
- vertically straight up or down from a switch or socket
- horizontally at fixed heights, usually just above the skirting or at switch height
- the depth is limited, especially in a load-bearing wall
That last one is not optional: cutting too deep into a load-bearing wall weakens the structure.
Plasterboard walls and stud walls
There it is simple: the cable goes through the cavity. Do take care with the penetrations and with fire resistance if the wall is a fire separation. In that case the penetration must be sealed again with material approved for that purpose.
When surface-mounting is better
| Situation | Why surface-mounted |
|---|---|
| Listed building or conservation area | chasing is often not allowed |
| Concrete wall or concrete floor | cutting is expensive and sometimes not structurally allowed |
| Cellar, garage, plant room | looks matter less, access matters more |
| Commercial premises | change later without chasing |
| Needs to be finished quickly | no plastering or drying time |
Neat surface-mounting does not have to be ugly: skirting trunking in the colour of the woodwork or a neatly fitted conduit in a plant room looks tidy. Sloppy surface-mounting is ugly, and that is something else.
The costs
Concealed means cutting, dust, making good, plastering and painting. That last part is often not included in my quote, and that is exactly where part of the money goes. Surface-mounting is usually considerably cheaper because those follow-up steps fall away.
That is why I often put both options in a quote, so you can see what the choice really costs.
What you can find again later
With concealed work I hand over where the cables run, with photos of the walls before they were closed. That is the most appreciated attachment I provide: the next time a mirror or a kitchen cabinet is hung, you know where not to drill.
From my own work
In a 1930s home in Sittard the owner wanted everything concealed. The outer walls had only half a brick of insulation and cutting would go straight through the cavity. It became a combination: inner walls concealed, outer walls with slim skirting trunking painted in the colour of the woodwork. You only notice it when someone points it out.
When to call an electrician
- You are not sure whether a wall is load-bearing
- It is a listed building or a home with a protected facade
- You need to go through concrete
- You want to know what concealed costs compared with surface-mounted
I look on site at what is possible and give both options in the quote. Request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can chases be cut into a load-bearing wall?
To a limited extent, and not diagonally. Depth and direction are bound by rules, because cutting too deep weakens the structure.
Is surface-mounting ugly?
Sloppy surface-mounting is. Skirting trunking in the colour of the woodwork or a neatly fitted conduit in a plant room looks tidy.
Will I get to see where the cables run?
Yes, I provide photos of the walls before they were closed. That is the most useful attachment you get if you ever hang something up.
Further reading
What does an electrician cost in 2026? Hourly rate and call-out charge explained
Hourly rate, call-out charge, material margin and VAT, without beating about the bush. Including what I charge myself and why a fixed call-out charge is fairer.
Electrics in the bathroom: what is allowed where
The bathroom is divided into zones. For each zone the standard sets what may be installed and how well it must be protected.
Electrics in a new kitchen: which circuits and where
A modern kitchen easily has four to six circuits. Induction almost always needs its own power circuit.
Questions and comments
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