Should We Upgrade Floor Joists

Each type of floor joist offers its own unique benefits and drawbacks which is why those working in carpentry all tend to have their own favorite floor joist option though they are still required to be well versed in each type of floor framing.

Should we upgrade floor joists. You say the span of the joists is probably 6 feet but that the critical measurement. This size is no longer acceptable when framing a structure. The floor joist spacing is the distance between the centers of any two installed joists. In the past 2x4s or 2x6s were sometimes used as floor joists.

Tongue and groove edges on many premium floor panels such as weyerhaeuser s edge gold osb panels are designed to self gap. But larger is not always better when builders are constructing a home or adding a room addition. The notching and boring rules of thumb for solid lumber are shown in fig. See the image below for an example of joists spaced 16 on center 16 o c.

Spacing joists in your shed 16 inches on center will give you a firmer feel with less bounce and increase the load capacity of the floor. Since the example house we are designing for is 12 feet wide we need to find in the floor joist span table a joist size and centering that can span 12 or wider. If they re really only 6 long 2x6 s at 16 on center are fine in fact they ll go a bit further under normal conditions. You should check with your local building department for construction requirements in your area.

If your home is more than 20 years old your floor joists are most likely solid wood 2x8s 2x10s or 2x12s. While you may be ok with the joist span at 24 inches the floor will be maxed out to the limits. Positioning the new joist adjacent to the existing preserves precious ceiling but it does come with some potential complications. If they are older dimensional lumber back when a 2x6 was actually 2 by 6 they ll go even further.

Sistering installing new larger joists next to the existing ones is one way to bring your attic floor up to code. Floor joists installed on second or third or higher levels double as ceiling joists for the level below. Follow the rules to keep your floor solid. While most residential construction uses 2x8 joists with 16 inch spacing there are many other factors you need to consider when determining the proper joist span length.

To avoid buckling subfloor panels should be spaced with a 1 8 inch gap at all edges and ends to provide room for naturally occurring expansion. The three main types of floor joists used in home construction are solid lumber i joists and open web floor trusses. 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.