These span tables tell you the maximum span a floor joist can achieve depending on the anticipated load on the joist. Not all floor joist lumber has the same strength, ...

Q. This week: My house is about 70 years old and the floors on the first story shake when someone walks on them. The problem, I think, is that the floor joists are too narrow. They're only 7.5 ...

As an example, 2-by-6-inch No. 2 grade wood floor joists set 16 inches apart can span up to 10 feet 4 inches, whereas a 2-by-8-inch floor joist can span 14 feet and a 2-by-10-inch floor joist can ...

As an example, 2-by-6-inch No. 2 grade wood floor joists set 16 inches apart can span up to 10 feet 4 inches, whereas a 2-by-8-inch floor joist can span 14 feet and a 2-by-10-inch floor joist can ...

DEAR TIM: I’m going to build a room addition because moving to a bigger home is just out of the question. I’ve never done rough framing for a subfloor, and I need a quick tutorial on the top ...

I’ve never done rough framing for a subfloor, and I need a quick tutorial on the top things one should know about selecting and installing wood floor joists. –Bob S., Rochester, N.Y. DEAR BOB ...

Let's first discuss the span tables. A span table is a chart that shows how far a certain floor joist can span and not bend too much depending on several factors.

In layman’s terms, this means typical 2-by-10 floor joists, spanning 16 feet, can be expected to sag about one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch. Not much; however, as the span increases, so does ...

This will give you the location of the floor joists. If the distance ... 3/4 inch thick. If it's wider (not likely, but possible) the subfloor can be up to 1 1/2 inches thick for a 36-inch span.

The hole cannot be larger than one-third the depth of the joist, so the maximum hole size for a 2x12 joist (actual size 1-1/2 ...

The drywall sheets meet on the wide dimension of a 2x4, not a narrow 1.5-inch-wide floor joist. There’s no need to install silly 1x3 furring strips as is common in some parts of the country.

I’ve never done rough framing for a subfloor, and I need a quick tutorial on the top things one should know about selecting and installing wood floor joists. –Bob S., Rochester, N.Y.DEAR BOB ...