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Drilling-joists how many is too many?

madmadscientist | Posted in General Discussion on May 20, 2008 12:21pm

Hello All,

I’m familar with the general rules of thumb for drilling-notching joists scene here in this handy info-graphic.

View Image

I want to make sure I’m clear on a couple of things-as I’ve got a ton of holes to drill in my floor joists and I’m pretty darn nervous about swiss-cheesing them.

I’ve got 2by10s that are 22′ long with a bearing support wall in the middle.  Does this mean that the no notching in the middle third of the joist occurs in the middle third of each 11′ span?

I’ve got to drill holes for electrical, gas lines, plumbing lines and pex lines for the radiant heating.  I will follow the size and spacing rules for drilling holes but what about the number of holes?

I’m worried that I’ll seriously comprimise the joists even by following the rules with how many holes I’ve got to run? 

Its possible that I could do a soffit along the center bearing beam and cut down almost all the holes I’d have to run-what I’m trying to figure out is if it’d be worth it to do it this way or what?

thanks,

Daniel Neumansky

Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA.  Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/ 

Oakland CA 

Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer


Edited 5/19/2008 5:22 pm by madmadscientist

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  1. User avater
    madmadscientist | May 20, 2008 04:15am | #1

    Sorry I guess the infographic isn't so easy to read...its huge actually...still though I would like some feedback...

    Daniel Neumansky

    Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA.  Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/ 

    Oakland CA 

    Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer

    1. mike_maines | May 20, 2008 04:31am | #2

      Greetings Daniel, I've been wondering how your house was coming along. 

      The fact that you have continous joists means the bending stresses are spread out a bit in the center, but essentially you should treat them like two 11' spans.  Leave 1 1/2 to two times the diameter of any hole before drilling the next hole. 

      Edited 5/19/2008 9:39 pm ET by Mike_Maines

      1. User avater
        madmadscientist | May 20, 2008 07:19am | #4

        Hi Mike,

        Its been going slow...we've been stalled out for a while. Your question did spur me to do an update post though... W

        We had a little pregnancy scare here last week and well....it made us realize that we are a lot farther away from having a baby livable house than we should have. 

        We're fired up to at least finish the bottom floor so we'll have one clean-heated space for a baby. 

        If we can get with a kitchen designer we'll knock out the kitchen-middle floor next and leave the top floor till later.

        Daniel Neumansky

        Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA.  Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/ 

        Oakland CA 

        Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer

    2. User avater
      Ted W. | May 20, 2008 04:33am | #3

      If there is a bearing wall in the center, you've essentially got two 11' joists.--------------------------------------------------------

      Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com

      1. User avater
        madmadscientist | May 20, 2008 07:19am | #5

        Okay gotcha any ideas on how many holes is too many??

        Daniel Neumansky

        Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA.  Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/ 

        Oakland CA 

        Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer

        1. User avater
          Ted W. | May 20, 2008 07:29am | #6

          I couldn't say to be honest. That's something you have to look into acceptable code in your area. Just wanted to point out that the joist span is only half what the actual joist is, so you have a lot more flexability.

          Nice blog, by the way. I'll check it out later when it's not so close to my sleepy time. And congrats on the upcoming addition to the family. :)--------------------------------------------------------

          Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com

          1. User avater
            madmadscientist | May 20, 2008 07:50am | #7

            No NO NO it was a 'scare' no addition coming soon!!!

            Daniel Neumansky

            Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA.  Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/ 

            Oakland CA 

            Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer

          2. User avater
            Ted W. | May 20, 2008 08:40am | #8

            Oh, I read that as expecting, and that you thought it was an early bloomer. Well.. congrats on it being only a scare. :D--------------------------------------------------------

            Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com

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