What Are Floor Joists

Different wood species have different strength characteristics with some having much higher bending.

What are floor joists. Joists the horizontal members that span two walls and or beams have to carry the weight of the walls people furniture appliances and other stuff we place on them. A joist is a horizontal structural member used in framing to span an open space often between beams that subsequently transfer loads to vertical members. Dead load weight of structure and fixed loads 10 lbs ft 2.

When a load is applied to a joist the wood fibers along the bottom edge go into tension and those along the top go into compression fig. Live load is weight of furniture wind snow and more. Shop our wide selection of stock and custom floor trusses to complete your building project available in a variety of styles and sizes to fit your needs.

The fewer defects contained in a piece of lumber the stronger it will be. S p f or spruce pine fir hem fir n or hemlock fir d fir l n or douglas fir larch n. Maximum floor joist span for no.

Floor joists are used to support a floor that spans over an open area like over a basement crawl space or lower floor level or between shed floor beams. Higher grades of lumber clear. It is like a mini bridge that is only supported at each end.

Species red cedar certain pines balsam and poplars. Type of wood used. The joists span across a room or other area are supported on their ends and sometimes in their middles by load bearing walls or beams.

1 psf lb f ft 2 47 88 n m 2. When incorporated into a floor framing system joists serve to provide stiffness to the subfloor sheathing allowing it to function as a horizontal diaphragm. Floor joist spans for home building projects.