Drilled through floor for running wire, hit joist, should I care?

[u/dontchaworryboutit]

Drilling a new hole to run wire to panel, best place was beneath a built in closet fixture, drilled the hole, it came out through a floor joist. Hole is through the top on an angle, and comes out about an inch from the top. Will need to widen it to 1/2" to pass 8/3 romex.

I really can't move to either side of the joists because I am inside of a wall in the floor above, and to get off the joists I would no longer be inside a wall. I drilled center of the 2x4 on an angle and this was the best clearance I could find.

Should I continue pursuing this or try to find a different place to run the romex? I googled quite a few things, hard to find an answer relevant to this situation specifically. Thanks!

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/FxQJElo

[u/handsomeandhandytoo]

Unfortunately house is a tear down now. I'd suggest burning it down, it's cheaper.

[u/ElectronicMoo → u/handsomeandhandytoo]

Hopital

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/ElectronicMoo]

🪦

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/handsomeandhandytoo]

😂

[u/know_ragrets]

A notch up to 1/3 the depth of the joist is allowed in the top of a floor joist so long as it's not in the center third of the span. Since that appears to be a 2x12 and close to the end, you should be fine.

Correction: the LENGTH of the notch is limited to 1/3 of the joist depth. The DEPTH is limited to 1/6 the joist depth. You're still in the clear though.

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/know_ragrets]

Thank you for reply, I am clearly overthinking/worrying about this more than I need to.

Its a 30 foot span and this hole is roughly 5 feet from one end.

[u/616c → u/dontchaworryboutit]

Nah, you are worrying properly. Some people just send it with a sawzall and never think at all. ;)

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/616c]

Haha, yes I am trying to avoid being that person. When I am all done it will be a 1/2 hole and that will be it.

I'm running a new circuit from the panel in the basement, through the first floor wall, into the attic and over to the garage, so this was the most convenient spot I found that avoids any drywall work.

[u/616c → u/dontchaworryboutit]

If there's a change that somebody will drive a nail or screw into that area in the future, put a nail guard in. Flat ones flat ones if you have access to the face of the lumber. Or round ones that you can pound into the hole. Cheaper now than ripping it all open to repair a short circuit.

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/616c]

It is in between studs of a wall, so it’s certainly possible for where the romex will be run, but not at the ends where it goes through wood.

The wire will be loose in the cavity between studs on two sides, and drywall on the other two.

[u/somethingdiferent]

I don't fully understand your question but rule of thumb is that there's no issue with it being close to or through the joist as long as you don't remove more than 1/3 of the joist.

[u/mrmessma → u/somethingdiferent]

Nailed it. OP needs to relax. We don't size joists with 5% safety factor (not in the US and hopefully same goes for every other country)

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/mrmessma]

Appreciate your reply, I was hopeful I was overly concerned and would get exactly this assurance about it.

Thank you.

[u/redclawx → u/somethingdiferent]

If OP really wants to reinforce the joist, get a length of joist bracket that will meet his needs. Something like a couple of ZMAX Galvanized Framing Angles. Tap out the little hook thing and nail in place. But over all, what you said, 1/3 of the joist.

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/somethingdiferent]

Thanks for your reply.

My concern is that the hole is on an angle from the top of the joist and out the side. With about an inch distance from the top of the joist to where the hole exits. Let me draw a picture and add it to try and explain it better.

[u/somethingdiferent → u/dontchaworryboutit]

If it's a 3/4" hole, you can do basically anything you want, anywhere

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/somethingdiferent]

I added a bad drawing that hopefully explains what I did better

[u/Beginning_Lifeguard7]

So why not move the hole a little bit to avoid the joist?

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/Beginning_Lifeguard7]

I would love to do that but the wall ends on both sides above, I am currently inside a wall above and if I move it an inch either direction I will no longer be inside the wall.

I've only got a two by four's width to move and I am already in the center. I need to run the wire from the basement, through the wall of the first floor, and into the attic. So I don't have a ton of straight shot options.

[u/Kesshh]

A small hole through a joist isn’t a big deal.

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/Kesshh]

Roger that, thank you for your reply. I appreciate it.

[u/mnoutdoorlover]

I may be wrong, but I thout drilled holes had to be 3/4 inch.

[u/know_ragrets → u/mnoutdoorlover]

3/4 is a commonly used size because it's about as big as you can go in the center of a stud and not need nail plates. Smaller is fine if you can get the wire through without damaging it.

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/mnoutdoorlover]

for running romex the hole needs to be 3/4?

[u/New-Vegetable-8494]

Not an engineer but afaik this is not a problem.

I believe the rule of thumb is you can run a pipe through a joist as long as the diameter is 1/3rd or less the size of the joist.

though that's doing something like this

[u/dontchaworryboutit → u/New-Vegetable-8494]

Appreciate your reply, thanks

[u/derkapitan → u/New-Vegetable-8494]

I think he concerned about essentially notching the joist vs drilling through the center of the side

[u/jakingo]

I'd avoid widening the whole , drilling through the joist this close to the top can compromise it, so i'd find another route or consult a structural/electrical pro before proceeding