Do You Have To Remove Subfloor To Replace Floor Joists

If you are replacing joists in your floor chances are they are visibly damaged.

Do you have to remove subfloor to replace floor joists.

Unless the subfloor can be removed you access the joist through a crawl space. Moisture and pest infestation can damage subfloor. He removed the subfloor out to the floor joist beyond the damaged area. Replacing a foundation floor joist requires protective gear experience with carpentry tools and the ability to work.

If you don t have any carpentry experience you may want to call a professional carpenter to handle the project. If only a few joists are rotted primarily at the bottom they can be repaired using a process known as sistering after the rot is cleaned away and the timber treated to prevent more problems a new joist is laid beside the old one and fastened to it. Replacing a floor joist is a big job. A shop vac helps to clean out sawdust and other debris in the area under the subfloor.

Step 2 mark the old locations. Remove the floorboard closest to the damage and then use the hole you make exactly to see which ones need replacing. Replacing a floor joist incorrectly may weaken the structural integrity of your house putting your safety and your house s value at risk. First remove electrical cables pipes and other obstructions.

How much repairing floor joists should cost. Chad placed a pressure treated 2 6 scab along one of the damaged floor joists to add strength and to provide a solid fastening area. Generally newer home floor joists are made from 2x8s or new engineered i beams older homes however may have 2x6s instead. While it is a good idea to replace rotted material with 2x8s it may require some notching to fit between the sub floor and ledger board.

Do not remove any floorboards that are not absolutely required and always start with the most obvious choice. However you can usually remedy sagging problems yourself by sistering new joists alongside the existing ones this also works for stiffening bouncy floors. When you replace the subfloor the new ends have to sit on the joists so cut out your wet subfloor along two joists on either side of the damage. Make sure to get all of the damaged or moldy.

Since it s vital to the stability of your home s floors you should contact a pro for replacements repairs or installations. If this is difficult it often is consult your local building inspector about notching the new joists.