Krazykarl link said:
To those about the 1 3/4\" cut for a whole header, I'll have you know a 2x4 is actually 1.5x3.5 so the \"polish in me\" should have accounted for the additional 1.5\" not 1.25\" for a solid header however, being it a finished room with painted drywall on the other side if you are good enough with a reciprocating saw that u could not damage the finished part thus creating more work please enlighten me. And it being a non load bearing wall, structural integrity beyond that of crossmembers 16\" on center make no difference whatsoever to maintaining structure over a solid header. I've been doing this for a long long time. As per electrical, all those concerned with improper wiring.... Every conduit connected to the wires you see are connected to gfci... Main one in the box and load of that one to kill my breaker in the event of moisture or water. I assure you I am to code. Pictures are deceiving. I appreciate your concerns tho! Glad to know you are all on the ball!
Oh and moisture.... I stained the wood with a mohagany stain and finished it with two coats of polyeurathane clear so no moisture penetrates the wood
Didn't mean to set you off. Actually, lumber can be 1.3" to 1.7" depending on quality, warpage, splits and swell. I was giving a 'safe' figure. As for cutting the stud without ruining the wall? Slide a thin piece of steel back there and cut slow. Lastly, if your electrical was never inspected, and I can tell that it wasn't, you are not to code at all (what you mean is that it's, in your opinion, safe). In the unlikely event you have a large fire there, I --guarantee-- your insurance company will not cover it, citing 'unsafe installation'. I was the guy hired to rebuild a very similar situation...the homeowner had to pay me because insurance refused, and dropped him. In order to get insurance again, we had to expose a TON of wiring for the inspector. Anything that may have been modded or altered. I think the total bill on his repair was close to $100K and he fought and argued the whole time, with me and the inspectors. The fire actually started in one of those adapters you screw into lightbulb sockets that allows you to plug an extension cord into it (NOBODY EVER USE THESE!!!), which had nothing to do with his wiring job (although there was at least 20 things that were wrong with it).
I like what you did, and honestly, I was just relaying a personal experience, not trying to rag on you. People think their wiring is 'good enough' and 'to code' until something happens and the insurance shafts you. It happens all the time, and I mean ALL THE TIME.
Peace out, I don't ever criticize, I just like to share knowledge. ;D