How house

a
works
BEARING
WALL
NON-BEARING
WALL

Bearing wall rules

■ Notches may not
exceed 25 percent of
the stud’s width (7/8 in.
Non-bearing maximum in 2x4s;
wall rules 1-3/8 in. maximum in
■ Notches may not
2x6 walls).
exceed 40 percent of the ■ Holes may not
stud’s width (1-7/16 in. exceed 40 percent of
maximum in 2x4s; the stud’s width
2-1/8 in. maximum in (1-3/8 in. maximum in
2x6s). 2x4s; 2-1/4 in. maxi-
■ Holes may not exceed
mum in 2x6s).
60 percent of the stud’s ■ The exception: Holes
width (2-1/8 in. maxi- up to 60 percent of the
mum in 2x4s; 3-1/4 in. stud’s width may be
maximum in 2x6s). drilled through no more
than two consecutive
“doubled-up” studs.

by Spike Carlsen
ou get two benefits when
Yyou build or remodel with 1-1/4"

wood studs. The studs -pro

vide the strength and frame
-
work for the structure, and
REINFORCE-
the empty spaces
between the MENT PLATE
studs serve an important
function, too: They provide
the perfect place a veritable
vertical freeway to run pipes,
vents, drains, wires and- duct
work. The drawback? When
you have to run pipes, ducts
or wires horizontally through PROTECTIVE
PLATE Electrical rules
the studs, you often have to
■ Edges of holes for electrical wires must be
notch or drill holes some
-
1-1/4 in. from the edge of a stud.
times big ones to get them
■ Areas where edges of holes are closer than
to their destination. 1-1/4 in. must be covered by a protective plate.
But you can?t just drill and
saw away. There are rules you
have to follow for drilling and
notching studs. Some rules

144 JUNE 2000 THE FAMILY HANDYMAN