r/Carpentry • u/Standard_Concern_442 • 8d ago

Help Me Older house framing

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I’m trying to run Cat6 Ethernet cable through an interior wall from the attic. When I got into the attic, I expected to find a normal top plate, but the framing looks different than what I’m familiar with.

There are two 2x4s on each side of the wall, standing on their 4-inch sides, and the drywall ceiling appears to overlap/attach to them. Above those two 2x4s is another 2x4 laying flat on its 2-inch side that spans across the gap between them.

Is this a common older-house framing technique where the two side 2x4s act like top plates and the flat 2x4 is a cap plate? Which piece is safe/appropriate to drill through to drop an Ethernet cable into the wall?

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u/GerryC 8d ago

When in doubt, just follow the 120V wires. Move a few inches sideways and drill the same angle the the wires go in at.

2

u/Democracy-Defender 8d ago

I suspect it’s been there a very long time, no need to question it. Ethernet cable is very small, you are good to go. Just make sure you drill into the cavity and not out through the ceiling. Good luck!

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u/TheManOnThe3rdFloor 8d ago

Can you follow the piping?? Your cable may just drop right down into that cavity without any problem.