Do You Have To Remove Subfloor To Replace Floor Joists

Generally newer home floor joists are made from 2x8s or new engineered i beams older homes however may have 2x6s instead.

Do you have to remove subfloor to replace floor joists.

First remove electrical cables pipes and other obstructions. Replacing a floor joist incorrectly may weaken the structural integrity of your house putting your safety and your house s value at risk. Replacing a foundation floor joist requires protective gear experience with carpentry tools and the ability to work. How much repairing floor joists should cost.

Remove the floorboard closest to the damage and then use the hole you make exactly to see which ones need replacing. If you are replacing joists in your floor chances are they are visibly damaged. When you replace the subfloor the new ends have to sit on the joists so cut out your wet subfloor along two joists on either side of the damage. Chad placed a pressure treated 2 6 scab along one of the damaged floor joists to add strength and to provide a solid fastening area.

It can also become sloped over time. If only a few joists are rotted primarily at the bottom they can be repaired using a process known as sistering after the rot is cleaned away and the timber treated to prevent more problems a new joist is laid beside the old one and fastened to it. Unless the subfloor can be removed you access the joist through a crawl space. Step 2 mark the old locations.

Moisture and pest infestation can damage subfloor. A shop vac helps to clean out sawdust and other debris in the area under the subfloor. If this is difficult it often is consult your local building inspector about notching the new joists. Average costs and comments from costhelper s team of professional journalists and community of users.

However you can usually remedy sagging problems yourself by sistering new joists alongside the existing ones this also works for stiffening bouncy floors. Replacing a floor joist is a big job. While it is a good idea to replace rotted material with 2x8s it may require some notching to fit between the sub floor and ledger board. Do not remove any floorboards that are not absolutely required and always start with the most obvious choice.

Homes with floor joists need a base to provide a surface on which to lay carpet ceramic tile hardwood laminate and or vinyl. He removed the subfloor out to the floor joist beyond the damaged area.