How To Install Second Story Floor Joists
Section r502 10 of the international residential code states that header joists can be the same size as the floor joists when the header joist span isn t greater than 4 feet but if the header joist span is more than 4 feet you ll need to double the header joist and ensure that it s capable of.
How to install second story floor joists. I just bought my first home that is a 1 1 2 story bungalow built in 1919. Once the rim joist is in place which creates a frame around the perimeter of the second story floor you ll install the floor joists which are the same dimension as the rim joist. While first floor supports are needed to account for the additional weight of a second floor the walls are pretty much the same as those of a single story home. On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor.
Put the floor joists on the layout marks on the sill plate. I am in the. 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. But larger is not always better when builders are constructing a home or adding a room addition.
Measure the distance between the rim joists. 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. Wood rim joist installation. Additional support for the floor joists is achieved by nailing the ends of the joists into headers.
The lengths should be the same because you took the time to make the sill plates square and parallel to each other cut the floor joists. A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too. Take a look at this photo of the engineered wood i beams installed on the second floor. We installed these beams 16 inches on center and set exactly 1 5 inches away from the edge of the top plate of the first floor wall to allow space for the rim joist to be installed.
Floor joists align with the wall studs which align with the first story floor joists. Now you are ready to cut and install the floor joists.