Floor Joist Blocking Screws
On top of this i will be building walls 5 high out of 2x4 s and cedar fence boards with a simple gable roof.
Floor joist blocking screws. Begin by sanding the underside of each joist with coarse sandpaper 60 to 80 grit. After several centuries of service floor joists in older homes may sag or crack. Residential building code requires the use of cross bracing or blocking for floor joists exceeding 2 inches by 12 inches but many homes especially older ones have. But if there are wide gaps between the boards or the floor is very squeaky this fix will be less effective.
A rock solid bond between the new plywood and the undersides of the joists is crucial. Square down from the chalkline on one side of every joist to provide a reference line for installing the blocking. You can use screws explicitly made for joist hangers. Each piece of blocking gets fastened straight into the first end while the opposite end must be toe nailed since there will be blocking on the other side of the joist preventing straight access to the end.
How to make floor joists stronger. Drive screws through the joists into the ends of the panels to secure them in place. Straight line blocking gives the neatest appearance but is the most difficult to install. While structural nails are typically used to fasten joist hangers you may be wondering if screws can be used instead.
Place a carpenter s level over the blocking to make certain that it s flush with the tops of the floor joists. Should i use blocking between the floor joists. Blocking is also needed each time the joist overlaps with a center beam and every eight feet between two joists. Glue the two ends of the blocking in place.
The 2x8 s will be attached to each other using 3 1 2 long either 3 8 or 1 2 thick galvanized lag screws. When properly installed joist hangers can keep your floors and decks secure and in good condition. Through screw the blocking where possible. Mark the joist at the other end in the same manner and snap a chalkline along the joist tops.
Snap a chalk line across the floor joists then proceed to install the blocking between the floor joists. Long spans of joists in newer homes may wobble or bounce from foot traffic. If the substructure will be seen over a patio or lower deck this method is the most desirable. How to brace your floor studs.