Can a PVC Conduit Be Used in a Brick Wall?

Consider Surface Mounting

• Before undertaking a project that will require cutting into an existing brick wall, consider surface mounting your conduit. A surface-mounted length of PVC conduit can be painted to blend in better. Furthermore, many commercial conduit products are designed to blend in and resemble brick mortar.

New Wall

• Installing PVC conduit in a new brick wall is easier than working with existing construction. Bricks can be cut or drilled before the wall is assembled to make installing the conduit quick and easy. Cut channels into each brick with an angle grinder before it is mortared into place.

Low-Cost Method for an Existing Wall

• The cheapest option when working with an existing brick wall is to use an angle grinder to cut a channel carefully into the back of your brick. This method will enable you to thread the conduit through the channel so that it is hidden from view. Be careful not to cut the brick too deeply, and be especially careful when cutting horizontal channels, as you are cutting pieces of brick that are supporting the weight of the wall.

More Expensive Method for an Existing Wall

• A more expensive alternative to free-handing a channel using an angle grinder is to use a diamond wall chaser. Wall chasers resemble circular saws but are designed to run along the surface of a wall, cutting a channel for pipes and electrical conduit. These are typically expensive pieces of equipment, so check with your local hardware or equipment rental companies to see if one can be rented for the duration of your project.