Expert: Dan Griffin - 1/3/2008

Question
Seems simple enough huh?  I am installing a 4" rigid dryer vent pipe through a 2"x6" wall.  From the utility room to the rear of the home is approximately 10 studs to cut through.  As we know, each stud is 5 1/2" wide.  By drilling a 4" hole in the stud I am left with 3/4" on each side of the hole to support a load bearing wall.

Do you have any suggestions as to how to complete this?  I have considered a 1/2" steel L bracket would be laid on the plate and would also have a hole in it of 4" to strength the stud I was cutting.

I appreciate your expertise.

Answer
If this wall is load bearing in any sense I would not consider the situation viable.  Find an alternate route, build a chase wall, relocate the dryer.  Carrying the load overhead is critical, carrying exterior sheathing and the exterior is critical, maintaining sheer and wind bracing is critical, carrying drywall is not.  All that being said, I would feel you need to maintain at least the outside 3 1/2" of the studs - equivalent to a 2x4 wall.  The 2x6 were either for insulation or plumbing, probably not for structure unless you have really tall walls or tremendous loads.

If it is not a load bearing wall, why 2x6?
If it is just there to be able to swallow the pipe fittings, etc and is NOT load bearing you might look at flat dryer vent.  Here is one example: <http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/improvements/2367-dryer-vent.html>
You should certainly double check with your inspector before heading this direction.  Make sure your dryer does not require "B" vent (double wall), almost all the new front loaders do.