I am planning to build a house near Charlotte, NC. I do not like air registers in the floor and prefer in the lower wall above the baseboard. (Have had 2 other houses that had them in the walls). I am being told that is not an option anymore because the codes will not allow you to cut thru the sill plate. Is this true?
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To me a "sill plate" is that pressure treated board that sits on top of the foundation wall, sometimes refered to as a "mud sill".
Cutting through baseplates in framed walls is usually ok, but if you plan to build, I would recommend you get the current applicable codes in your area and get real familiar with them. Non-structural members can be cut. There are baseboard diffusers intended to be installed next to the wall and not in the wall.
Talk to your inspector about it. There are too many variables that could come into play--like, energy codes that might not allow ducts in an outside wall, sitll plates 2 x 4 or 2 x 6, the structural strength that could be affected by cutting, etc.
Likely a local issue/rule.
And how do they get vents to the 2nd floor?
If you want to do it right, have the returns with both high and low locations on the wall on the same stud bay , covering the low one (they make magnetic sheets for this) in summer - so warm air is pulled from the ceiling; and cover the high one in winter - so cold air is pulled from the floor.
Likely a local issue/rule.
And how do they get vents to the 2nd floor?
If you want to do it right, have the returns with both high and low locations on the wall on the same stud bay , covering the low one (they make magnetic sheets for this) in summer - so warm air is pulled from the ceiling; and cover the high one in winter - so cold air is pulled from the floor.
Might be a fire code issue associated w/ having open cavities between floor systems and wall systems w/out fire blocking. That's what comes to mind for me. When building, you always have to fire block between elements of construction. That's why you can't just do kitchen soffit framing first and then drywall (at least w/out some barrier) ... as it allows fire communication between walls and attic or ceiling joists. Ditto around stairs ... can't allow communication between under and over a flight of stairs.
The other poster hinted at what you need .... discuss w/ your local inspector ... he calls the shots ultimately. You might be able to do it if you can install a fire block just above the register ... which may or may not be easy.