Floating Floor Parallel To Joists

Installing them parallel creates the possibility that the floor will sag.

Floating floor parallel to joists.

First renail the existing plywood subfloor so that the old nails are tight and add new nails to achieve a maximum nail spacing of 6 inches. The floor joists may run parallel to the short dimension at the floor level but at the roof level the short dimension is the opposite direction. 3 4 osb is rated for joists at 24 o c. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it provides the best result aesthetically.

If the subfloor is stiff enough there is no reason why solid nail down strip flooring can t be run parallel to the joists. I guess you wouldn t have to lay it parallel but the shiplap has a lot more movement then plywood or osb. With 3 4 subfloor it s best to add another layer. A flooring contractor howard brickman responds.

Floor joists are typically 2 by 8s 2 by 10s or 2 by 12s. If you have an older house with a shiplap floor the shiplap is perpendicular to the joists so the flooring is parallel to the joists. Section r502 10 of the international residential code states that header joists can be the same size as the floor joists when the header joist span isn t greater than 4 feet but if the header joist span is more than 4 feet you ll need to double the header joist and ensure that it s capable of. A floor s framework is made up mostly of wooden joists that run parallel to one another at regular intervals.

Additional support for the floor joists is achieved by nailing the ends of the joists into headers. Some houses have the shiplap on a 45. The roof is modern or unique such as a single sloped roof flat roof or a unique overhang. Flooring experts recommend installing flooring boards perpendicular to the floor joists in a house with a plywood subfloor.

If the joists are at 19 2 or 16 on centers laying the wood parallel to the joists should not be a problem. Ceiling joists are usually 2 by 6s or sometimes 2 by 4s if it is an older home. Some newer homes have manufactured i beam shaped joists.