25

I mounted a tv (60") on my living room wall too high. The heavy-duty mounting bracket uses large screws that required that I drill a 7/32" hole into the studs and used a socket wrench to tighten them in. (Total of 4 screws, two in each stud placed vertically maybe about 8" apart from one another)

I'd like to remount the bracket about 4" or 5" lower than what it is right now on the SAME STUDS. Is this a problem? I am worried that if I do this again (re-drilling/bolting into the studs) it isn't going to be as durable since I've already done this higher on the same studs.

I don't know that this matters, but this is a two story house and this is on the first floor. Thanks,

Puzzled
  • 353
  • 1
  • 3
  • 7

3 Answers3

29

Absolutely no problem.

The screws (actually called "lag bolts") bite into the wood immediately around them, and the wood fibers around that hold the bolt in place.

Yes the holes you made already weaken the fibers immediately around them but the amount is insignificant. And, for a flat screen TV like you're describing, the weight you'll be putting on each bolt is hardly enough for the bolt to notice.

The Evil Greebo
  • 25,971
  • 16
  • 91
  • 125
6

According to this source, which unfortunately does not cite its own sources, the following considerations are needed when drilling into studs:

  • Holes in bearing wall studs (exterior and interior walls that bear the weight of the roof and/or other stories above) may not exceed 40 percent of the width of the stud.
  • Notches in bearing wall studs may not exceed 25 percent of the stud’s width.
  • Holes in non-bearing walls can’t exceed 60 percent of their width.
  • Notches in non-bearing walls can’t exceed 40 percent of their width.
  • The edge of a hole must be at least 5/8 in. from the edge of a stud.

The most relevant consideration here are bullet point #2 and #4, related to notches. A notch is when you cut the entire cross section of the stud out, to a given depth - that is, if you were to cut the stud's entire width out, 25% deep into the stud, you'd still be fine. Drilling a 1/4th inch hole doesn't even come close to removing that much material, although it may end up being deeper into the stud.

I'd say that you're in good shape to drill additional holes close to the existing holes, to the point where you really don't need to be concerned about it at all.

Monica Apologists Get Out
  • 173
  • 1
  • 8
1

You'll be OK. In fact, it's a very common structural technique to bore holes in beams etc. You save weight and lose remarkably little strength.

Laurence
  • 255
  • 1
  • 5