Adding Cross Bracing To Floor Joists

Nail the block in place with 16d.

Adding cross bracing to floor joists.

However there are actually two types of floor joist bracing commonly used. Bracing will stiffen a floor system prevent floor joists from twisting and increase overall stability. Bridging or x bracing allows joists to share weight. A floor that bounces as you walk across it may just need to be stiffened with bridging which spreads the load on each joist to adjoining joists strengthening the whole floor.

Because of this x shape one brace will be forced upon and under tension while the other brace will be compressed. 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 creaky uneven floors because. By the diy experts of the family handyman magazine nail bridging on all joists. When cross bridging is used wood or metal the upper portion of the bridge is nailed into the top of the floor joist if it is metal.

If it is wood it is nailed to the upper top of the side of the floor joist before the floor or sub floor is installed on the joists. Continue reading below our video of the day. 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. Measure the width between the span of two joists.

Place the lumber block between the two joists. 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. Cut a piece of 2 by 6 or 2 by 8 lumber according to the width.