In short
- One Ottawa-area installer lists cord concealment at $59–$99 and soundbar installation at $49, on top of mounting from $89.50.
- Two routes exist: external concealment (a cover on the wall) and internal concealment (cable fished inside the wall).
- Power is a separate job: Ontario's electrical code says an installation may not be concealed until an inspector has authorized it.
- Power work needs a contractor holding an ESA licence, and ESA hears about it through a notification.
- TaskRabbit Ottawa says cable management may need more time than the mount itself.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cord concealment | $59–$99 | One Ottawa-area installer’s published add-on |
| Soundbar installation | $49 | Same installer’s published add-on |
| TV mounting, 32 to 60 inches | from $119.50 | Same installer; cables priced as an add-on |
| TV, shelf or artwork mounting | $80–$250 | HomeStars Gloucester (Ottawa) page, undated; cable work not listed |
| Electrical work: outlet, switch or fixture | $55–$175 per fixture | HomeStars Ottawa handyman guide, updated 21.08.2026 |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: Auxe, TV mounting Ottawa (add-on rates, concealment options); TaskRabbit, Wall mount TV in Ottawa; HomeStars, Handyman in Gloucester, Ottawa; HomeStars, How much does a handyman cost in Ottawa?. Rules: ESA, notifications and inspections; ESA, Ontario Amendments to the Canadian Electrical Code Part I, rule 2-004 on concealment.
Start with the devices
A bare TV on a wall has one power cord and one or two signal cables. A TV with a soundbar, a console and a cable box has five or six. The route depends on where those devices sit. The company needs to know if they are under the TV, on a shelf across the room, or in a closet. One line in the request does the job: “box and console on the shelf left of the window, 2 metres from the TV”.
Two routes: cover or inside the wall
Auxe, an installer with a published Ottawa page, lists external and internal cord concealment. External means a channel on the wall. Internal means the cables go through the wall cavity between an upper opening behind the TV and a lower one near the devices.
An external channel is the simpler job. The internal route looks cleaner, and the opening has to be patched, which links to drywall repair. The two are priced differently, and the table above shows the add-on.
Power is a different job
Signal cables and power cables follow different rules. Ontario’s code amendments state that an electrical installation shall not be concealed or rendered inaccessible until it conforms to the code and an inspector has authorized the concealment. ESA’s homeowner page reserves paid electrical work for a Licensed Electrical Contractor and has almost all of it reported through a notification of work.
For that reason a new outlet behind the TV is a separate line in the request, answered by a company that holds the right licence. The Skilled Trades Ontario rules for who may do what are summarized on handyman or trade.
What the price covers
The Auxe list is the one published Ottawa figure: cord concealment at $59–$99 and a soundbar at $49, alongside its mounting rates by screen size. The HomeStars handyman guide puts electrical work at $55–$175 per fixture, a different trade with its own price. For walls of brick or concrete, see TV on brick or concrete. The full table is in TV mounting cost in Ottawa.
TaskRabbit Ottawa warns that cable management may take longer than the mount. If the company bills by the hour with a minimum, the cable run uses up part of the visit; see TV mounting and assembly for how a list fits a minimum.
What a written quote should show
- The route for each cable, and which devices connect where.
- Whether any wall opening is patched and painted, and by whom.
- Whether power is included or handled by a separate electrical contractor.
- The cable lengths and covers supplied.
Who runs the cables
Ottawa Handyman Desk is a request service. Your request goes to one independent company in Ottawa, which calls, asks about the wall and the devices, and prices the route. Ask it on the call who handles power.
Questions to ask the company
- Which route do you propose for my wall: surface cover or inside the wall, and what does each cost?
- Where will the cable box, console or soundbar sit, and how long are the cables you run?
- If I need an outlet behind the TV, who does it and is it in this quote?
- Do you cut into the wall, and who patches and paints the opening?
- Will you keep the HDMI and power runs separate?
Have this ready for the call
- A sketch or photo: TV position, outlet position, and where the box, console or soundbar sit
- The list of devices that connect to the TV, with the cables you already own
- The wall type, and what is behind it if you know: a closet, an exterior wall, a bathroom
- Whether the wall is a shared one in a condo or townhouse
- The paint colour and sheen, if the opening needs touching up
Questions people ask
What is the difference between outside and inside cord concealment?
An external route runs the cables in a channel fixed on the wall surface. An internal route fishes low-voltage cables through the wall cavity between two openings. Auxe names both options for Ottawa. The internal route involves cutting into the wall, so ask who patches and paints it.
Does the power cord go inside the wall too?
Power is the line to ask about. A power run inside the wall is electrical work that an inspector must authorize before it is closed in, so a power outlet behind the TV is an electrician’s job. Raise it on the call and let the company say how it handles power.
Who may add an outlet behind the TV?
An electrical contractor with an ESA licence, which you can check on the ESA site. Almost all such work is reported to ESA through a notification of work. A handyman who offers it without a licence is a reason to ask more questions.
Why does cable work add time?
TaskRabbit Ottawa says cable management may require more time than the mount alone. The route has to be measured, the wall checked for what is inside, and each device connected. The Auxe list prices concealment as an add-on of $59–$99, which shows the extra line.
Can the soundbar and console be hidden too?
Yes, if you say where they will sit. A soundbar is a separate line on one Ottawa-area installer’s list at $49. A console or box on a shelf across the room needs a longer cable run, so give distances and device names in the request.
Does hiding wires work on a brick or concrete wall?
A solid masonry wall leaves little room for a hidden run, so a surface channel is the likely answer. The company that sees the wall decides, so send a photo and say the wall type.
