slot cut in 2x4's

bigpole

hey everyone, im having a home built and right now its at the stage of insulation and then drywall. I was walking around in it today and upstairs in every room i noticed that some of the 2x4's have had this slot cut into them and its pretty deep. Its marked with pencil so it doesnt look like its an accident, and then a nail is put in usually. Just wondering what this is for and why the builders do it? here are some pics

thanks gents

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DangerMouse

I thought at first to pass wiring, but I've not seen that "style" before.

DM

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kwikfishron

Looks like a chain saw did that to me.

Although I've never seen that, it looks like it could be something that should have been caught and rejected at the mill and wasn't and your builder used those studs anyway.

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jonblack

I wonder if those studs weren't severely bowed and they made the cut to straighten them up?

I am curious to see what the experts say.

jonblack

bigpole

ive been going to check the place out since it went up, and this is the first time i have noticed this. There are no wires on most of the pieces that have been cut,

could it be because they may have been bowed? but they werent cut all the way thru so how would that straighten them out? and then all of them have that nail.

its too straight of a cut to be done with a chainsaw, im thinking miter hand saw?

jonblack

Check out this link:

what to do with a stud that crowns...

jonblack

mae-ling

I think Jon nailed it. Usually I put a scab on the side, PLywood gusset works great.

bigpole

jonblock, maybe u are right with this! i will have to go and have another look. They are all marked with an x, so someone walked around and marked these specific ones off for some reason. it wasnt accidental thats for sure.

kwikfishron

A chainsaw made those cuts. Who marked the X's on the boards?

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jonblack

Hey, thanks everybody! My first "thank you" feedbacks.

I tried to do a little Google image searching, and the link above is what I came up with.

I like Mae-ling's idea about a plywood gusset. Maybe you can ask the framer if he would mind putting them on for you, just to make sure there are no problems in the future.

Thanks again
jonblack

woodworkbykirk

im with jon on this. its not uncommon to see a notch 1/4" deep by 1/4" wide on the edge of a stud coming right off the lift of lumber when back framing

if you see chunks of wood at inside corners, its pretty common to use scraps to create backin for drywall instead of wasting full studs

bigpole

these cuts are like 3.5" deep so there isnt much wood left holding the 2x4 in tact, thats what im concerned about. I will ask some of the contractors when i see them hopefully before the drywall goes up.

i had a wuick look at these pieces and they didnt look bowed, maybe because this slot straightened them out?

i know there was a really bad bowed piece of wood, im going to go back tomorrow and check if that one also has this slot in it.

jonblack

From what I can see, if looks like your photos show interior walls. I don't think you will have much to worry about in terms of bearing a load. However, if it were my walls, I would at least want a piece of 2x4 scabbed on where possible, at minimum.

Can you tell us about the "pocket" in the bathroom photo? Is that for a window or recessed medicine cabinet perhaps?

Thanks
jonblack

D270

yeah my builder did that too....they are too cheap and/or lazy to replace a bowed 2x4. That's a kerf cut...my builder was especially bad and thankfully out of business...

mae-ling

I have had studs bow in a week! some were load bearing and not drilled for wires so we take em out and replace.