Hi all,

I'm renovating my kitchen and I'm moving my range from its current position to a new place in the kitchen island. This also means that I need to install a range hood above the island as well. As my load carrying beam runs through the middle of kitchen, I am planning to run the ducting for the hood along the beam. However, I am not sure if it is safe to cut a ducting hole in the exterior wall, right next to the beam.

The following diagram shows my plan (these are the elements along the exterior wall). The load carrying beam is indicated in red. The ducting hole I plan to cut is indicated in green.

Does anyone know if this is safe and if it complies to standard building codes?



Many thanks in advance!

 

It all depends on that exterior wall. Is the back wall of your kitchen that you drew the exterior wall of the house or is it an interior wall?

 

The back wall I drew is the exterior wall.

 

The fact that you are cutting next to the load carrying beam shouldn't be an issue as long as you aren't cutting out anything that the load carrying beam sits on.

 

Thanks PJmax! I thought the same, but started questioning myself and needed reassurance.