Hello,

I had a guy come in today to renovate my bathroom and when I got home I noticed that he had hacked what seems to be a rather large notch into the side of a load bearing beam in order to fish a wire from where the exhaust fan will be on the ceiling to its future wall switch. I'd say it's a 4x4 beam and he's taken about 1-1.5 inches out of it. Should I be worried? I've posted a pic. If it helps, the notch is within the first third of the run, perhaps even in the first fifth.

Thanks

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/3286844960_41402e0706.jpg

Hard to tell from that angle but that doesn't appear to be a traditional beam, rather a decorative log or something. Any chance of another angle and a few more pics?

Hi homme, I thick Ballenger1 is right. A 4"x4" beam is rare for a load Bearing anything.

It wouldn't even come close for a window header let alone a bearing "beam" for any other structural load. Its basically the thickness of a double 2x4 plate.

I would be more concerned on code for the wire installation and what could be nailed into that.

Signed 21 Boat

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