The Hole

My next task was to move some wires and cut a hole in my brick wall to allow for the new AC duct run. The previous owners added central air to the house in 1981. They ran the duct basically at eye level and through a window at the old exterior wall. I am going to replace the AC system and put this duct up between the joists to clear the head height.

First I had to move about 10 wires that cross the duct bay. This was pretty easy. The hard part was cutting a hole in the former exterior wall above the window. This is a bearing wall. It is 18" thick double wythe brick wall supporting the brick, floor and roof above. I was a little nervous cutting this hole and not providing reinforcing.

I used this hammer drill that Joe let me borrow and a sledge hammer. It took me about 5 hours to cut the hole. Holding a 35 pound drill over your head for 5 hours was exhausting.

It doesn't look like much... but it was a bitch! It got smaller as I went. Started out as 12" x 8" and ended up 8" diameter. That was the best I could get without the house falling down.

Add two more Home Depot trips to the total.