Floor joists are the boards your floorboards attach to. They are a structural component of your house and when one cracks, you must reinforce it or your house will start to sink. A cracked floor joist is a serious situation and if left unattended other structural issues will occur, like cracked drywall and sagging floors. Although the situation is serious, you can do the repairs on your own. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut two pieces of hardwood that measures the length of the floor joist with a skill saw or miter saw. Use lumber that measures the same thickness and width of your floor joist. Typically this is 2 by 6 inches or 2 by 4 inches. Use a hardwood like mahogany or oak. Do not use pine or soft maple. This is called a sister floor joist because the wood is placed side-by-side with the original joist.
2. Drill three evenly spaced rows of pilot holes the length of the boards you are using for sister floor joists. Space the holes approximately 5 inches apart.
3. Apply construction adhesive to the both sides of the cracked beam and clamp the sister floor joists to the beam with wood clamps. The adhesive will add additional strength to the joist.
4. Secure the sister floor joists to the wall, using 4-inch screws.
Tags: floor joist, sister floor, sister floor joists, floor joists, that measures, your house
