Hey everyone! I'm in the middle of installing an over-the-range (OTR) microwave in my basement, and I need to set up a vent for the extractor, which requires a 6" hole for proper airflow. Unfortunately, I accidentally drilled the hole too high and it's now intersecting with the bottom of my deck's ledger board by about 2.25". The hole is almost completely through the brick but not all the way, and I'm unsure how to proceed. I have a few options in mind:
1. Drill through the deck joist, although I think this might not meet code and could compromise the deck's integrity.
2. Try drilling a bit lower from the outside, risking a blowout of the brick above which could complicate things.
3. Just relocate the hole entirely, although this means more drilling from the inside and potentially hitting other obstacles like wires or studs. Plus, I might need to wait another day to rent tools since everything is closed today.
I initially planned to drill a pilot hole from the inside and then go from the outside, but I ended up rushing and got the wrong bit. Any advice on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
Not sure if drilling through the deck joist is the best choice, but it's not impossible. You could reinforce the joist after drilling if you decide to go that route. There are some good tutorials on this kind of work online if you want to check them out for tips!
Thanks for the advice! I've added a picture to show you where the hole is at, and I appreciate the video links!