How close can holes be in top plate?

2 inches





Holes shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the top or bottom of the member, or to any other hole located in the member. Where the member is also notched, the hole shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the notch.

Can you drill through a top plate?

Flex drill bit up from where ever you are running wire from exterior. They bend enough to feed up through the opening into wall cavity and drill up through the top plate from below.

Can you drill into many stud holes?

Holes in bearing wall studs (exterior and interior walls that bear the weight of the roof and/or other stories above) may not exceed 40 percent of the width of the stud. Notches in bearing wall studs may not exceed 25 percent of the stud’s width. Holes in non-bearing walls can’t exceed 60 percent of their width.

Can you drill through a header?

Yes you are fine. A hole can be up to 1/3 of the width meaning you are good for about 3″. I would try to center them and space them out if you go the full 2″. Also whenever I drill larger holes in joists I like to add a crosser right in the area going perpendicular from that joist to the next.

What is the maximum hole size for a load-bearing wall?





6 Drilling and notching-studs. Any stud in an exterior wall or bearing partition may be cut or notched to a depth not exceeding 25 percent of its width.

Does drilling into a stud weaken it?

Only a small fraction of the stud is necessary for the bearing strength of the wall. Every plumbing and electrical run in your house goes through much larger holes drilled through studs. If your cabinet is solid, your stud is fine.

Does a double top plate mean load bearing?

I know a double top plate usually means it’s load bearing, but parallel with trusses means it’s usually not load bearing.

How do I reinforce top plate?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So first example here would be to simply nail a strap over the top plates to make the connection. And this here is a 12-inch strap you could always use smaller straps or longer straps.

Can you cut top plate load-bearing wall?



STUDS/TOP PLATE-Drilling and notching of studs shall be in accordance with the following: 1. Notching. Any stud in an exterior wall or bearing partition may be cut or notched to a depth not exceeding 25 percent of its width.

How do you run wires on top plate?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: In your attic use the spade bit to drill a hole through the top plate.

Can you run electrical wire through a header?

Use your hand-held router to notch a groove into the header wide and deep enough so your power wires can pass through. Only cut as much as necessary, and start with a shallow and narrow cut, expanding as needed. Attempt to fit the wire after each attempt to avoid over cutting.

Can you drill into a load bearing wall?



The general rule for cutting holes in a load bearing wall is that the diameter of the hole cannot exceed 1/3 the width of the stud.

Is it OK to mount TV on load-bearing wall?

Load bearing walls are not needed for mounting a tv They ARE needed for supporting a higher floor(s) and/or roof; that is the load they are bearing. The keys to successful wall mounting are following directions and ensuring the mount is rated strong enough for your tv.

How many holes can you drill in a stud for wiring?

Never put a hole and a notch at the same height. Multiple holes (except 2 side-by-side holes only) must be drilled in the centerline of the stud. Side-by-side holes require steel plates on both faces. Holes should not be bigger than 40% of the stud width (max 1 3/8″).

How much can you notch a load-bearing stud?

Notching. Any stud in an exterior wall or bearing partition may be cut or notched to a depth not exceeding 25 percent of its width. Studs in nonbearing partitions may be notched to a depth not to exceed 40 percent of a single stud width.

Can you cut one stud on a load-bearing wall?



As pointed out in the comments, you can’t simply cut a load bearing stud without any issues. Some sort of temporary support must be put in place to carry the load before you cut into existing structure and not removed until the new structure is in place.

Is it safe to notch a stud?

Any A stud in an exterior wall or bearing partition shall not be permitted to be cut or notched to a depth not exceeding 25 percent of its depth width. Studs in nonbearing partitions shall not be permitted to be notched to a depth not to exceed exceeding 40 percent of a single stud depth width.

What are the codes for drilling or notching joists?

IBC 2308.8.



Notches on the ends of joists shall not exceed one-fourth the joist depth. Holes bored in joists shall not be within 2 inches (51 mm) of the top or bottom of the joist, and the diameter of any such hole shall not exceed one-third the depth of the joist.

How many holes can you drill in a joist?

Holes up to 4 in. can be drilled in the middle of the I-joist, away from the ends and load-bearing wall. Keep the distance between adjacent holes at least twice the diameter of the largest hole.

How far apart should joist holes be?



No holes closer than 2 inches to the top or bottom edge. No holes closer than 2 inches to any other hole or notch. No notches in the middle 1/3 of the joist, but holes are permitted here. No notches deeper than 1/6 the joist depth.