How to Snake Wires Through an Exterior Brick Wall

How to Snake Wires Through an Exterior Brick Wall

Running electrical wire through a brick exterior wall requires drilling through both the brick exterior and the interior framing. The approach depends on whether the wall is a solid brick construction (common in older Ontario homes) or a brick veneer over a wood frame. For brick veneer, you drill through the brick, cross the cavity, and then through the wood framing — the brick is the outer layer and the cavity or insulation layer is behind it. For solid brick construction, you are drilling through multiple wythes of masonry, which is a much harder and slower task requiring a hammer drill with masonry bits.

Steps for Brick Veneer Walls

• From outside, core-drill through the brick using a hammer drill and masonry core bit at the desired location — choose a mortar joint where possible, as drilling through brick face is harder and weaker
• From inside, drill through the interior wall framing (drywall and stud) to meet the exterior hole
• Use a conduit sleeve through the brick to protect the cable and prevent moisture entry — seal the exterior with weatherproof caulk around the conduit
• Pull the cable through the sleeve and seal the interior side with fire-rated foam or caulk to maintain the building envelope

Important Considerations

Penetrations through the building envelope must be sealed to meet the Ontario Building Code’s air barrier requirements. Electrical penetrations through firewalls or fire-rated assemblies require fire-rated caulk or intumescent sealant. Any new circuit run through an exterior wall requires an ESA permit. EZSMART runs exterior circuits and conduit through brick and masonry walls across Ontario for EV chargers, outdoor outlets, generators, and landscape lighting.

Amir Azimipour

Electrician Since 2008 Journeyman Electrician Designated Master Electrician at EZSMART Corp