Doubling Up Every Other Floor Joise

Measure the width between the span of two joists.

Doubling up every other floor joise.

For example a joist made from doubled 2 x 6s can span a distance about 25 percent more than a single 2 x 6 but a 2 x 12 can span about 80 percent more than a 2 x 6 even though it has the same amount of wood as a doubled 2 x 6. If we use strong enough gussets and fasteners we know that the top and bottom joists will deflect by exactly the same amount when loaded. A day until they re level. Not even a 12 micro will span that far.

I would think the doubled up s would span further because you can attach one to the other more thoroughly. This allows you to install a supporting post off the double floor joist to hold a second storey or a roof beam. Set a hydraulic jack and post under the beam and jack up the joists about 1 8 in. To achieve this doubling effect in strength and stiffness you will indeed need to gusset the upper and lower joists together.

Jacking them up too fast may cause cracks in the walls and floors overhead. Create space by doubling joists if you need to remove part of a joist double the joists to each side then add doubled joists between them to carry the load of the severed joist. I thought i had used way more than enough screws to prevent this i even put them together cup side in if they were slightly cupped and now they. I don t think doubling up a 16 2x8 will all of a sudden span 30.

So instead of having a post run all the way from the roof to the ground it can stop at the double floor joist. Use joist hangers for all connections. Cut a piece of 2 by 6 or 2 by 8 lumber according to the width. Nail the block in place with 16d.

So i made some double joists for where my deckboards will butt up to each other but about a week after puting them in i noticed that some are already trying to seperate by cupping away from each other. Place the lumber block between the two joists. The main reason for doubling up floor joists is to double the strength of a single floor joist.