LOFT JOISTS

DIDIBEAR · 2 Oct 2004

Can anyone tell me if you can lay a floor on 3x2 joist and then use it as a load bearing structure , I am wanting to turn the loft into a play room , and need to know if I am going to need them all replacing , my husband thinks they need to be bigger than 3x2, Many thanks
Diane

the_main_dude · 2 Oct 2004

they need to be replaced or put in extra joists

wickerman · 2 Oct 2004

9X2 for a supporting floor---3x2 would barely support the ceiling, should be 4x2

DIDIBEAR · 2 Oct 2004

MANY THANKS FOR THE REPLIES "OH I HATE IT WHEN HE IS RIGHT " GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ....
MANY THANKS AGAIN DIANE XXX

masona · 2 Oct 2004

DIDIBEAR said:
I am wanting to turn the loft into a play room

Have you or will get building permission for this ?

wickerman · 2 Oct 2004

see the answer is Didibear, dont argue cause we being a superior species know best

shaggy · 2 Oct 2004

Nobody has asked about span or spacing?

wickerman · 2 Oct 2004

you couldny use 3x2 for ceilings on any span, well you arent supposed to

DIDIBEAR · 2 Oct 2004

Thanks Wickerman I must have forgotten myself for a moment .... Imagine me thinking I was as clever as a man .... My man is irish too it must me something you were all fed on as babies that got you all to be Smart A**'s he he he ..
Diane xxx

DIDIBEAR · 2 Oct 2004

yes masona I would be getting permission I just wanted to see how big a job I was looking at first .
Diane xxx

shaggy · 2 Oct 2004

wickerman:

you couldny use 3x2 for ceilings on any span,

I expect my books on the building regs are out of date now 'cos I don't do a lot now, but that size is specified in my tables for floor joists, as is 3x1.5.
You quoted 9x2, and you may be right, but without knowing the span and spacing you may be over or under specifying.

masona · 2 Oct 2004

I'm thinking maybe this 3"x2" joists is part of the gang nail roof trusses.

Normally 9"x3" joist for loft conversion as it have to take the weight of the roof and 3 joists bolted together on the stairscase trimmer.

wickerman · 2 Oct 2004

Didbear, i was beginning to like you, but to refer to me as being IRISH,

i have killed for far less, how could you insult me after trying to give you help, its a good job you never called me Welsh i can tell you.

As regards the joists, i wouldnt want anything less than 9x2 to support a floor/room----9x3 well thats purlin, i suppose you can put them in but you would have fun straightening them up,

you could park a truck on them and they wont budge

chappers · 3 Oct 2004

nearly all victorian houses will have 3x2 ceiling ties and even some small floors ie my bathroom has a 6 foot span and has only 3x2 floor joists though originaly it may have been roof space.
the size of timber required depends entirely on the span and spacing and exact builing regs are http://www.salford.gov.uk/timber-floors.pdf or as a rule of thumb for 50mm timber take the span in feet divde by two and then add 1 for the timber size in inches.

DIDIBEAR · 3 Oct 2004

Thanks Chappers for your reply ,looks like you are all saying the same thing that my joists are way too small to hold a floor,
The span to the middle support wall is 16 ft and the spacing is 400mm, We have had a look on the salford regs , chappers are you a builder in the Salford area ??
Thanks again to you all for your help