Drilling or notching posts for wiring?

[BillJ]

My shop is a pole barn built with 6 x 6 posts and 2 x 6 stringers.

My quandary is whether to drill the posts (5.5 x5.5) to for the electric wiring for wall receptacles running down the wall, to notch them or run the wiring on the outside of the wall with conduit?

My concern is how much it will weaken the post to have all of them drilled /notched down the 60 ft. span and 30 ft. spans?

I live in Maryland and this is not a normally high wind area; Is this a valid concern?

Thanks for the input.

 

[kd3pc]

usually with that construction, you can run it along the top of the 2x6 stringers....

and then set a box ....

finished wall/surface? what type of insulation?

 

[checkthisout]

My shop is a pole barn built with 6 x 6 posts and 2 x 6 stringers.

My quandary is whether to drill the posts (5.5 x5.5) to for the electric wiring for wall receptacles running down the wall, to notch them or run the wiring on the outside of the wall with conduit?

My concern is how much it will weaken the post to have all of them drilled /notched down the 60 ft. span and 30 ft. spans?

I live in Maryland and this is not a normally high wind area; Is this a valid concern?

Thanks for the input.

You can drill the posts but you're leaving us a lot of guessing to do here.

If your building has metal siding there is usually a gap between the metal and where the sidewall girts attach where can run pass the wire between the siding and post.

On the corners you can make like a 3/4 deep notch and pass a couple wires through but it's easier just to go up to the top of post into the truss and back down the other side.

Pics?

 

[BillJ]

It has been stick built with 6X 6 post, and 2 x 6's run horizontally on 24 inch centers and has 3/8 plywood as the outside as sheeting.. The top of the 6 by posts were notched to hold an outside 2 x 12 and and a inside 2 x 12 and a 2 x 6 top plate on those for the rafters to rest on. Every post 1s braced diagonally from post up to top 2 x 12 headers.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Picture of the wall?

 

[Steevo]

So, I think you are saying that your 2x6 stringersare flush with the face of the posts, not nailed across the face of the posts, meaning that your inside wall board will go smack up against the stringers and posts?

A picture of one of these posts/stringers would lead to much better answers for you.

 

[Dirtydan69]

Just drill it. Never notch.

 

[BillJ]

some old pictures.

 

[checkthisout]

some old pictures.

Drill the posts.

In the corners, do a small notch or just go up the post and back down.

 

[Toolfool]

Run on the outside with conduit. I'd never drill through a structural member.

 

[checkthisout]

Run on the outside with conduit. I'd never drill through a structural member.

For things like engineered truss assemblies, sure.

You can definitely drill and notch pole barn posts to a surprisingly high degree before any meaningful weakening takes place.

On the other hand, I do like EMT and metal boxes. You can just finish your walls and be done without having to trim around boxes or worry about trying to place boxes on different types of framing or drilling/notching framing members.

It makes future additions and changes easier too.

 

[dfiler2]

I think you could drill and be fine, however, I used EMT and I'm really glad I did. I have changed how my shop is laid out a couple of times and if I would have put the wires in the walls I would have wasted a lot of wire and probably would have had to run some 240v in conduit anyway.

 

[Racer_X]

On the other hand, I do like EMT and metal boxes. You can just finish your walls and be done without having to trim around boxes or worry about trying to place boxes on different types of framing or drilling/notching framing members.

It makes future additions and changes easier too.

I had my barn done in EMT. Later, I wanted to add ceiling fans. No problem - add more EMT. Later, I wanted to add 2 mini split HVAC units. No problem, add a little bit more EMT. No opening of walls or crawling into the attic.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Run on the outside with conduit. I'd never drill through a structural member.

How do you run wiring/plumbing lines through a stud wall or floor joists?
A 3/4" hole in the center is not going to hurt those posts.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Run on the outside with conduit. I'd never drill through a structural member.

Thats the most illogical thing Ive read on here in a while.

U can drill structural members as long as u follow the manufacturers directions.

 

[Dragfluid]

Yes, you can drill holes, but like others have said, going the EMT route would be better.
You're in Maryland? It has to get a little chilly there in the winter, right? Aren't you going to insulate that sucker? If so, finish the walls and then run EMT on the surface. It looks nice, too.

 

[Dagny]

EMT on the surface better in so many ways.

 

[racerex]

Run on the outside with conduit. I'd never drill through a structural member.

Exactly my thoughts and what I did. 3/4" PVC conduit with a bend so I could come back into the wall. I left it out enough so I could slide 5/8" drywall behind the conduit for a clean look. The attached pic shows the conduit above the light switch and wall outlet.

 

[checkthisout]

Exactly my thoughts and what I did. 3/4" PVC conduit with a bend so I could come back into the wall. I left it out enough so I could slide 5/8" drywall behind the conduit for a clean look. The attached pic shows the conduit above the light switch and wall outlet.

That was a lot of extra work.

You didn't gain the benefit of conduit which are walls that can insulated and finished before your wiring layout and without having to whack up wood and trim around boxes and of course easier changes in the wiring and the future.

And you didn't gain the benefit of running it under the sheet rockrock which gives you a more finished look and flat wall surface.

 

[racerex]

That was a lot of extra work.

You didn't gain the benefit of conduit which are walls that can insulated and finished before your wiring layout and without having to whack up wood and trim around boxes and of course easier changes in the wiring and the future.

And you didn't gain the benefit of running it under the sheet rockrock which gives you a more finished look and flat wall surface.

I was just not a fan of drilling vertical holes through the doubled up LVL beam. Once I painted the exposed conduit white, it does not really stand out. As my wife keeps telling me...."..just remember, it's a garage..."

 

[dave*99]

I was just not a fan of drilling vertical holes through the doubled up LVL beam. Once I painted the exposed conduit white, it does not really stand out. As my wife keeps telling me...."..just remember, it's a garage..."

Why do you have such a large header over a normal sized window and door?

 

[racerex]

Why do you have such a large header over a normal sized window and door?

It's an over-built pole barn.

 

[BillJ]

I want to thank all those who responded to my quandary and debated the best way to proceed.

As you might have guessed, when I made my post, I was seriously rethinking my initial decision to drill the posts and run the receptacle wiring inside the walls. The discussion here has helped me clarify my mind and come to the decision to go the conduit route. So now I focus on insulating the walls and installing plywood on the first four feet and then drywall the rest of the way up.

This has been a long project for a seventy five year old guy, but now I can see the end in sight and hope to be completely finished with everything by early next fall so next winter I can work in comfort and not have to listen to the deafening sound of a roaring torpedo heater.

I am sure that I will be back with more questions and benefit from every suggestion and bit of discussion.

 

[Dragfluid]

Good for you, Bill. Keep the questions coming. Lots a sharp folks here!
Keep the pics coming, too, as you go along.