Floor Joist Timber Floor Construction Methods

69 chapter 4 floor construction woodframe floor systems and concrete slab on grade floors are discussed in this chapter.

Floor joist timber floor construction methods. Common sense tells you that large floor joists can carry more load and spacing joists closer together also increases the load bearing capacity of a floor. The beam is typically sized to be the same height as the floor joists. These building codes set the minimum requirements for construction including requirements for framing floor joists. A related code the residential building code has been adopted by all states except wisconsin.

This problem can be solved by installing a beam in the floor joist system and hanging the floor joists on the beam. Although cold formed steel framing for floor systems also is permitted by the irc it is not covered here. A floor s framework is made up mostly of wooden joists that run parallel to one another at regular intervals. We explain how hollow or suspended floors are made and what the key building regulations that affect them are.

All the figures are based on normal domestic floor loadings where the floor construction is typically 18 25mm floor boards sheets with up to 12 5mm thick plasterboard and skim underneath. Most new construction uses 2 by 8 lumber for joists although 2 by 6. How joists support floors and ceilings joists the horizontal members that span two walls and or beams have to carry the weight of the walls people furniture appliances and other stuff we place on them. The extra two inches of vertical distance when a floor is framed with 2 x 10 joists rather than 2 x 12s can be quite important for example.

Purchase the type of lumber that matches the width of the existing joist. Make sure to use construction adhesive in the seat of the hanger to prevent floor squeaks. Rather the reader is referred to the aisi standard for cold formed steel framing prescriptive method for one and two family dwellings aisi 2001 for guidance. The international building code is a model code that has been adopted by all 50 states as well as the district of columbia.

Ceiling joists are usually 2 by 6s or sometimes 2 by 4s if it is an older home. When a load is applied to a joist the wood fibers along the bottom edge go into tension and those along the top go into compression fig. Whether building a ground floor suspended timber floor or a first floor hollow floor we explain the different options and techniques that you can use in its construction. Building and understanding a suspended or hollow timber floor.

But larger is not always better when builders are constructing a home or adding a room addition. Some newer homes have manufactured i beam shaped joists. Measure the width and length of the existing joist.