Basic Floor Joist Layout

Draw up a basic floor framing plan.

Basic floor joist layout.

They wrap around the joists. Subflooring is usually plywood. Joists are the horizontal members of the floor. Using floor joist span tables.

Header band joists connect the joists together. Before you begin cutting or measuring grab a pencil and paper and sketch an outline of your floor. With lumber joists this is a fairly simple process as a contractor can simply look up the span tables included in the local building codes and go from there. Don t worry you won t need to do a lot of calculations in determining the size and placement of the structural framing within your house design.

If you re trying to reinforce a shed or gable roof use a simple king post truss design which has a single vertical joist running through the center of the triangular frame. Ceiling joists are usually 2 by 6s or sometimes 2 by 4s if it is an older home. In simple terms the base case would be both stronger and cheaper. With either i joists or floor trusses the joist must be designed by an engineering technologist based on the joist s span its dead load capacity depth thickness and in the case of.

Used to combat shear forces provides safe work environment and provides nail able surface for the finish floor. For larger structures like floors roofs or decks try a fink truss design which has internal joists arranged in a w shape for extra support. Continuing on from part 1. Your sketch should depict the floor s basic shape and layout complete with any additional features like alcoves nooks and staircases.

Some newer homes have manufactured i beam shaped joists. Extremely long spans staircases or interior walls typically require additional support which can complicate your framing. Floor joists are typically 2 by 8s 2 by 10s or 2 by 12s. Today i started laying the floor joists for our new house.

Sits on top of sill plate. A floor s framework is made up mostly of wooden joists that run parallel to one another at regular intervals.