Keep the hole at least 2 in. from the top and the bottom if it’s a dimensional lumber joist. The hole cannot be larger than one-third the depth of the joist, so the maximum hole size for a 2×12 joist (actual size 1-1/2 x 11-1/4 in.) is 3-3/4 in. diameter—plenty big enough for running cable!

Where should you not drill holes in joists?

7) are:

  1. Don’t make any holes with a diameter greater than 1/3 the depth of a joist. …
  2. No holes closer than 2 inches to the top or bottom edge.
  3. No holes closer than 2 inches to any other hole or notch.
  4. No notches in the middle 1/3 of the joist, but holes are permitted here.
  5. No notches deeper than 1/6 the joist depth.

Can you put holes in floor joists?





You can put holes in floor joists anywhere along the length of the joist, but you can’t put them any closer than 2″ from the top or bottom edge of a joist. The maximum size of a hole is 1/3 the depth of the floor joist.

Can I drill a 3 hole in a 2×10 floor joist?

Simply following building code, you’ll only be allowed to bore a 3-5/64″ hole through a 2×10 joist. A 2×10 is actually only 9-1/4″ deep, and building codes set the maximum hole size to 1/3 the depth of the member (9-1/4″ / 3 = 3.08333″).

Can you drill holes in I-joists?

In engineered I-joists, you can drill holes up to 1-1/2 inch diameter almost anywhere in the web area between the flanges, provided they are at least 6 inches from the end of the I-Joist or load-bearing wall. You can drill holes up to 4 inches in diameter in the middle of the I-joist.

What are the requirements for holes and notches in joists?

Joists and rafters





The maximum allowable diameter of holes is one-fifth of the joist or rafter depth or 32 mm, whichever is the lesser (see Figure 1). The maximum allowable depth of notches is one fifth of the joist or rafter depth or 32 mm, whichever is less.

Can you notch the bottom of joists?

Notches can only be made in the top OR bottom of the joists, (not both) within the permitted area to a maximum of 35mm. Holes may only be made on the joist’s centreline within the permitted area to a maximum diameter of 65mm. Additional holes must be at least three diameters (centre to centre) apart.

How big of a hole can you cut in an I joist?

According to WIJMA, Holes not exceeding 1/3 of the depth of the web in any dimension are acceptable in most I-joists, and they may be round, square, or rectangular. Holes must be placed in the center third of the vertical depth of the web.

What size hole Can I drill in a 2×10 floor joist?

The maximum allowable diameter of a hole in any solid-lumber joist is one-third of the joist’s depth. Notches can’t be deeper than one-sixth of the joist depth. In the case of your 2×10 joists, the maximum diameter is 35⁄64 in.

Can you put waste pipe through joists?



Can a waste pipe go through a joist? Running waste pipes through joists should be avoided where possible, as any drilling of joists (also known as notching joists) may weaken them and compromise the structural integrity.

What is not allowed when cutting holes in joists?

8.2 Engineered wood products. Cuts, notches and holes bored in trusses, laminated veneer lumber, glue- laminated members or I-joists are not permitted unless the effects of such penetrations are specifically considered in the design of the member.

Can you cut a hole in an I beam?

With which drill can I drill in steel beams? As mentioned above, you can use high-speed steel (HSS) drills. Typical drilling is with an twist drill, core drill or hole saw, in the tool steels HSS, HSS-Co 5 and tungsten carbide. Hole saws can also be used as they do not drill fully into the workpiece like core drills.

Can you drill through TJI joists?



In fact, you can put holes that go almost all the way from the bottom to the top of the joist. TJI, for example, say you just need to leave 1/8″ of webbing remaining! For people used to looking at dimensional lumber, these holes look very, very wrong… but they’re actually fine.

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 big of a hole can you drill in a LVL?

Whenever possible, avoid drilling vertical holes through LVL beams unless the beam width is at least 3-1/2 inches.

Can you cut a hole in a load bearing beam?

Structural Beams / Load Bearing Support Beams:



Do not drill through these! These are sometimes different colors, and can be termed as LVL (Laminated veneer lumber), or Engineered Support Beam.

What size LVL Do I need to span 16 feet?

What size LVL header size for 16 foot span:- as per general thumb rule and guidelines for a 16 foot span, size of LVL header or GLULAM should be 14 to 16 inches deep and 3.5 inches wide, thus you need something like 2- 1.75″× 16″ (2- 1 3/4″× 16″) GLULAM or LVL header to span upto 16 feet.

Can you screw into the bottom of an LVL?

Drilling holes in IB (International Beams) LVL (laminated veneer lumber) is generally discouraged. However, small diameter round holes, appropriately located in the wide face of the LVL, are permitted as indicated in the table and notes below.

Where do you drill holes in LVL beams?

Avoid over-cutting at the corners of the notch. Drilling a pilot hole in a member at the interior corner of a notch as a stop point for the saw blade provides both a rounded corner and minimizes over-cutting at the corner. Permissible horizontal round hole locations for LVL beams under uniform loads.

What are the codes for drilling in studs load bearing?



1. Notching. 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.