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Hiding wires but lateral studs?

#1
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11/24/08 at 9:00pm
  • Joined: November 2008
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I am just hanging a tv on the wall in my new place and I am finding that there are lateral studs in the walls. I have opened up a slot to run the wires through, but they are stopped up on the lateral wires. It appears to be flush up through a center partition making it unable to run through. Would I need to drill a hole through the stud (may cause partial wall structure instability) or something else? Not sure how to get around this. hanging the tv along with the lateral studs is too low.

Any ideas and or help?
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#2
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11/25/08 at 6:14am
  • Joined: August 2000
  • Location: Southaven, MS
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Re: Hiding wires but lateral studs?

Drilling a hole through the horizontal stud (I've heard them also called firebreaks) won't hurt anything. You have hundreds of holes already in your studs to run existing wire. 1 or 2 more won't hurt anything. Parts Express has installation equipment including extremely long, flexible drill bits.

-Robert
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#3
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11/25/08 at 2:43pm
  • Joined: November 2006
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Re: Hiding wires but lateral studs?

Those horizontal studs are unusual in newer construction. I'd be sure what they are there for before drilling into them. But, it's true that a hole to run wires through doesn't substantially weaken a 2x4, and I would think especially not for a horizontal one because it wouldn't be bearing any weight.

Could it be there as a stop for a cold air return? Is there something on the wall that's screwed into it? I saw a stair rail install that had large pieces of wood nailed between the studs as mounting points (before the drywall was installed). Maybe there's something on the other side of the wall that would give you a clue. Or, maybe this is just old construction and that's the way they did it. Assuming it's drywall (not lath and plaster) you could always cut a decent sized hole and find out for sure. You'll need space to get a drill in there anyway.

There's always surface-mount conduit. Not the prettiest but it'll keep you from making a problem. The person who invents wireless power will be a multi-millionaire!

Brian
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#4
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11/28/08 at 9:45am
  • Joined: August 1999
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Re: Hiding wires but lateral studs?
Quote:
Originally Posted by vanald04
Any ideas and or help?
Check the detailed in-wall wiring article link in my signature. There is a section on dealing with in-wall cross braces.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
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“A nice mid-fi system,” according to an audiophile acquaintance.

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#5
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11/30/08 at 10:08pm
  • Joined: November 2008
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Re: Hiding wires but lateral studs?

It is new construction, so I'm not sure the rationale behind it. Sounds like it is going to be messy, but thanks for the input. Hopefully I'll be able to get it fit through quickly. Sounds like I'll have to do some patching to get it through. If there are metal studs, the braces are most likely metal as well, correct?
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#6
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12/1/08 at 10:40am
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Re: Hiding wires but lateral studs?

If you have metal studs you will find that they already have lots of holes in them. Poke around and you'll eventually hit one. The holes are there to save metal in places it is not needed.

--ignore the man behind the curtain

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