Hey everyone, I'm trying to wrap my head around stud notching for a switch box in a non-load bearing wall. According to the NEC, you can notch a stud up to 40%, which means for a 2x4 stud, that's about 1.6 inches. In reality, if we're going by true dimensions, that's closer to 1.4 inches. If I add in the drywall thickness, that leaves me with about 2.1 inches for a switch box. The problem is, the shallowest 4-gang box I can find is nearly 3 inches deep. Is there any workaround for this if a stud is in the way? Does the code really require me to add a header to a non-load bearing wall just to fit in a 4-gang box?
1 Answer
It's tough to find the right fit, huh? You might want to try using a second 2-gang box on the opposite side of the stud. Just a thought!

Unfortunately, there's a receptacle box on the next stud, so that won't work.