Floor Joist Timber Floor Construction Methods

Building and understanding a suspended or hollow timber floor.

Floor joist timber floor construction methods.

Measure the width and length of the existing joist. We explain how hollow or suspended floors are made and what the key building regulations that affect them are. Unlike softwood joists timber i joists do not warp over time providing a quiet floor while open metal web joists can provide an easy means of installing services. The following table gives details of allowable spans and spacing between joists for the most common timber sizes used in floor construction.

The latter options are more expensive but provide considerable benefits. Purchase the type of lumber that matches the width of the existing joist. 69 chapter 4 floor construction woodframe floor systems and concrete slab on grade floors are discussed in this chapter. On top of that the natural drying process of the intermediate floor once heating has been applied might reduce moisture content from anywhere between 12 14 at the time of construction down to 8 10 when fully dried.

Solutions for first floors include traditional softwood joists timber i joists or open metal web joists. 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. The method and type of fixings used to secure the floor deck to the top of the joists also needs to be considered. Although cold formed steel framing for floor systems also is permitted by the irc it is not covered here.