Im getting central air installed right now. They drilled out a stud while running lines for the outside unit. I think it’s a double stud. What should I do?
Did they drill a hole through the d-s, or did they take a whole section out?
d-s?
They drilled a hole throught the lenght of the stud from outside to inside
How big is the hole? They drill through studs all the time to ‘lectric wires and such, but that’s usually done through the 4’ part of the 2x4. If its professional installers, I wouldn’t sweat it.
The hole is to run the pipes to the outside compressor. It basically cuts the entire stud no wood on one side and about 1.5 inches cut through the long way of the stud
They drilled from outside to inside all the awy through - cutting about 1.5 inches into a stud from one side of it (so there is no wood on one side and wood still on the other). They cut through the stud the long way (as you would normally do drilling outside to indide). The size of the hole is like what you would use to drill a doorknob.
Is the double-stud (d-s) near a window or doorframe? If no, like Munch said, don’t sweat it.
If the pipe runs through the hole in the stud and mostly fills it, don’t worry about it. The pipe itself will support the stud.
If you just have wires going through the hole, such that the two pieces of stud can still settle toward each other, it’s a very minor concern. You could find a metal strap somewhere and span the gap with it, using wood screws to hold it to each piece of stud.
Did you point this out to the a/c contractors? If they did it and shouldn’t have, they’ll have to fix it for you.
Again I’m now sure it’s a double. No windows or doors. It’s on the ground floor (actually 1/2 u/g) about 1 ft above the concrete. The upper floor actually extends out beyond the downstairs about 1.5 ft. If I follow the stud up (there is sheetrock in the way) it gets to one of the only double ceiling 2x8 (2x10?) joists.
I did point it out and they said that it wouldn’t effect anything (so no fixing needed). But I know contractors know what to tell people to re-assure them everythings ok when something went wrong.
Sheesh. What dorks. Don’t they have a stud detector?
A standard stud is only 1.5 inches thick, so if they really took out 1.5 inches, they effectively cut it. So the stud is history. Now let’s figure out how bad the situation is.
You don’t say where the stud was, but if it was a double, then it might have been a jack stud for a window. This wouldn’t be great, because this would mean that the stud that distributes the weight above the window is no longer in place. In the very long term, the weight of the plate above the window could cause it to sag, possibly forcing the window out of plumb, causing problems with opening and closing, or even damaging it. If it’s the inner stud that supports the window itself, I’d actually be less worried, because the window should be redundantly supported by cripple studs.
If it’s a double stud for no apparent reason in the middle of a wall – well, maybe you got lucky, but I’d wonder why the builders chose to put the stud there.
Personally, I’d probably insist that they “sister” the stud (hammer on an adjoining piece to support it), but it would be a messy job, involving removing drywall, remudding, painting, reinstalling trim – pretty ugly.
A possible alternative would be to use epoxy resin to rebuild out the stud to its original dimensions. You’d probably lose some structural integrity, but maybe not enough to lose sleep about.
In current construction there are studs every 16 inches and you can lose one or two without worrying too much about it.
** change that then cut almost totally through a single stud 1 7/16" through **
Why would they double this stud? I keep wondering whether it has to be there to support the cantilevered first floor, for whatever reason.
Durn, Finagle, I was making a list of points to cover, and you covered them all, and said it more clearly than I could besides.
it’s not a double. that was a mistake. It is a single. and now its cut almost all the way through.
I’m sorry to be coming in to this so late, k2dave, but my advice to you would be to get your self covered with documentation (a signed statement from the person in charge of the work that this damage was done by them on this date in the process of doing such-and-such work, photos and/or video of the damage as is, preferably with the signee of the above statement included and explaining how the damage was done) then get your insurance adjuster out there post haste.
This is damage done to your house by (I hope) licensed, insured businessmen and you shouldn’t have to think twice about what to do. Have it fixed and have the bill sent to them.
That’s why you do business (I hope) with licensed, insured businessmen.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
They are licensed according to their papers and web site and have come highly recommended by our neighbors. There papers don’t mention insurance though (or at least not that I can see).
All the better reason to get your insurance adjuster involved. If you have to, file a claim against your insurance. Then your insurance company can either settle with their insurance company or they can handle suing them. Either way, you’re out of it.
The contractor agreed to sister the stud and wrote it on the receipt.
everthing else is cool (pun intended).
thanks
I still would rather have steel put in to “sister” it. Like 2 pieces of angle iron on opposite corners, bolted into the wood. But that’s just me.