Floor Joist Cross Bracing Slipping

How to brace your floor studs.

Floor joist cross bracing slipping.

Residential building code requires the use of cross bracing or blocking for floor joists exceeding 2 inches by 12 inches but many homes especially older ones have. Even if your joists already have a row of bridging at the center of the span adding a row on each side of the existing bridging will stiffen the floor. The difference is that the cross bracing uses two pieces of support in a diagonal shape that creates an x between the joists instead of a solid block in blocking. Install with two 6d common nails per end.

This is often referred to as bridging. These pieces of lumber help to transfer the load of one joist to the joists on either side of it. Cross bracing and solid blocking. The common spacing between floor joists is 16 inches on center.

Bridging or x bracing allows joists to share weight. Look inside old homes or warehouses and you ll often see funny cross bracing between the floor joists. As a footstep falls on one joist some of the force is transferred to neighboring joists. This can allow for floors to be sturdier and more stable.

Thd sku 205173. Whether your home is new or old it is sometimes necessary to install floor joist bracing in order to eliminate squeaking and deflection in the flooring itself.