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Access means not restricted by blocking or complicated with
electrical, plumbing, ducting, etc.
First, choose the desired location for your stereo equipment center head-out.
This is usually against a wall.
Ascertain that there is access from the head-out location either up to an attic
or crawl space or down to a basement crawl space. Depending on the scope
of the installation and various access aspects, you may want to, or have to,
gain access to the volume control/speaker locations via both the upper attic
and the lower crawl space areas. Check them both.
The major part of this is to go up into the attic space and down into the
basement space. Once up and down into these areas, you will have to find
the area above or below the desired head-out location. Look for wires,
plumbing, ducting, etc., anything that will complicate or preclude access
into the wall where the head-out J-box is to be located. Remember where
these potential obstructions are so you do not drill or cut into them at
any time during the installation process.
Insulation may impede your ability to see all of what you need to determine
access. It is advisable that you wear a respirator so as not to breathe in
insulation fibers that are hazardous to your health.
In most single story frame construction homes, there will be differing
circumstances between the upper attic and lower crawl space areas.
In the upper attic area, you should have a fairly clear view of the ceiling
joists or roof trusses to which the ceiling drywall is fastened. You should
also have a reasonably good view of the top plates of the various walls
throughout the structure. If the home has "blown-in" type insulation, you
may have to brush it aside to see the top plates of the walls you are looking
for. Likewise, if you have insulation "batting", you may have to lift it up in
various areas to reveal the wall top plates. You should also have a clear
view of any ducting.
As you navigate around the upper attic area, you must be very careful not to
step or place any weight on what is the topside of the ceiling drywall. If
you do, you may damage the ceiling and may possibly fall through it
causing serious bodily harm.
As you make your way to the area above the desired head-out location, you
will have to step on the topside of the ceiling joists, the topside of the lower
member of the roof trusses, and/or the tops of the various walls.
The tops of walls are very strong and can support your full weight without
any worry of collapse or flexure. The ceiling joists are quite strong and can
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