Architecture - big notches
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : big notches
rf1031
12-20-06, 10:16 AM
I won't say who did it (to protect the guilty), but prepping for recessed ceiling speakers, they really "notched" bottom of a joist:
Joist is 2x10 (old, behind plaster and lath, so is the full 10").
Span is 13'.
Two notches, each located 3' in from end of span.
Notches are 2 1/4" deep, 7" wide.
Sawzall mistake made one cut (blade's width) overshoot top of a notch by almost 1 1/2".
So joist is effectively a modern 2 x 8 with a 1" deep, 1/8" wide cut.
Joist is in ceiling of dining room under mostly bedroom with a bit of hall.
QUESTION:
Is it safe? Seems so overengineered to begin with that I shouldn't worry. Should I squirt pl400 into the cut? Even if it is not quite code, is it dangerous? Or just squeaky or some other annoyance? Or nothing at all?
Thanks
Randy
Joist is 2x10 (old, behind plaster and lath, so is the full 10").
Span is 13'.
Two notches, each located 3' in from end of span.
Notches are 2 1/4" deep, 7" wide.
Sawzall mistake made one cut (blade's width) overshoot top of a notch by almost 1 1/2".
So joist is effectively a modern 2 x 8 with a 1" deep, 1/8" wide cut.
Joist is in ceiling of dining room under mostly bedroom with a bit of hall.
QUESTION:
Is it safe? Seems so overengineered to begin with that I shouldn't worry. Should I squirt pl400 into the cut? Even if it is not quite code, is it dangerous? Or just squeaky or some other annoyance? Or nothing at all?
Thanks
Randy
Jack the Contractor
12-20-06, 07:36 PM
Randy:
Just so you know, your 2x10 is not over engineered. In fact 13' is about the length of the sapn you can have for code. The joist you cut will probably not break, however it will get a sag in it, not big but a sag or deflection as we call it. Not a good deal to make those big cuts. Alot depends on the size of your house and exactly where this joist is, but it is something that you need to watch. Do not take this lightly. Good Luck
Just so you know, your 2x10 is not over engineered. In fact 13' is about the length of the sapn you can have for code. The joist you cut will probably not break, however it will get a sag in it, not big but a sag or deflection as we call it. Not a good deal to make those big cuts. Alot depends on the size of your house and exactly where this joist is, but it is something that you need to watch. Do not take this lightly. Good Luck