Wiremold - Surface Raceway for Retrofit Wiring Guide

Wiremold is a surface-mounted raceway system used to route electrical wiring along walls or ceilings without opening finished surfaces.

What It Is

In contractor and homeowner use, "Wiremold" is often used generically for paintable surface raceway, even though it is also a brand name. The system consists of a shallow channel with fittings and a snap-on cover that protects conductors while keeping them accessible for alteration.

Wiremold-style raceway is commonly used when a new receptacle, data line, or low-voltage cable is needed in a finished room and opening the wall would be disruptive or expensive. It provides a cleaner and more code-appropriate path than running exposed loose cable across the surface.

Types

Common options include metal raceway for line-voltage circuits, nonmetallic raceway for lighter-duty applications, multi-channel raceway for power and data separation, and matching elbows, tees, couplings, and device boxes. The raceway must be listed for the wiring method and use involved.

Where It Is Used

Wiremold is used in offices, basements, workshops, garages, masonry buildings, and retrofit situations where concealed wiring is impractical. It is also common in older homes where adding a receptacle to plaster or concrete walls would otherwise require significant patching.

How to Identify One

Identify it as a narrow rectangular channel mounted on the face of a wall, baseboard, or ceiling, usually with fittings at corners and boxes where devices are mounted. It looks more finished than exposed cable and is mechanically fastened rather than simply adhered in place.

Replacement

Replacement or extension should be done with compatible fittings and with attention to conductor fill, grounding, and circuit type. Line-voltage raceway additions are electrical work and may require a permit depending on the scope and local rules.