Lots of missing details. How much floor thickness can you give up? What about stairs? How will you support the new floor? What is the existing floor construction: concrete slab, floor joists …
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Replies
Since you don't want a post, I would support the joists on the surrounding bearing walls.
"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
bakersfieldremodel.com
Who said anything about surrounding bearing walls?
Who said anything about surrounding bearing walls?
Well, uh, I (perhaps wrongly) assumed a modicum of common sense here...if the room has a roof over it, then at some point there has to be surrounding bearing walls. And if you're going to do it without a post, then you'll have to support the joists off the walls, even if you buttress them with a load-bearing beam at midspan - and I wouldn't want a 2nd floor to bear on a wall that wasn't designed as a bearing wall. Are you building a room addition with no roof?"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
bakersfieldremodel.com
cirino - you have removed your openning post leaving myself and all other visitors only half aware of what the question is and guessing. You need to replace that information or repeat the question and situation description if you want more intelligent input.
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Hey FastEddie sorry their were no details. This will be an addition off a house with 2x8 floor joists. There will just be an open living room on this addition. I know that 2x10's could support the weight however, there will also be living space under this floor and would like not to lose any head space if possible. The floor sheathing will be 3/4 t&g osb and probrobly have a laminate floor over that. I'm thinking some sort of header through the middle with 2x8's and hangers on either side. 2 inches is only 2 inches so might have to go with 2x10's.
Thanks cirino
Or use more 2x8's closer together so you don't lose those two inches.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
You need to somehow copy the information from the other thread and add it here.
If you are concerned with the loss of headroom by going to 2x10 joists, what do you think is going to happen when you insert a beam? The beam will be 10 or 12 inches deep."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Yes good point , but at least it will only be a couple inches down the middle.
I'm pretty much poking in the dark but all ideas are worth considering.
You would be much better off going with 2x10 and losing the head room than going with a large beam down the middle that knocks us tall folks in the head everytime. being the fact that it already is a basement, the beam will make the room seem much smaller than the extra 2" will do.
However, with that said, depending upon the loads and seismic areas, you can get 2x8's to span that distance using a sistered angle iron, flitch plates, engineered lumber, and perhaps closer joist spacing. BUT all of those are coming at a significant expense.
How much is 2" really worth to you? That is what, you the HO, must decide.
Thanks for your input , and no doubt money can get you almost anything you want!
Indeed true...good luck.
Hi All,Earlier I posted a question that I somehow deleted.Here's the scoop,I am building an addition. It will be 16'x16' and 2 floors built on a slab foundation. The 1st floor will be the same height as the existing basement, about 7'. The 2nd floor will have 8' walls. All the walls which are all exterior walls will be built with 2x6 studs.Now,here's my question. The existing house has 2x8 floor joists. By using 2x10's for my floor span I will lose a precious 2 inches. I would like to avoid this. More 2x8's will probably still have to much deflection. I was thinking some sort of header through the center with shorter 2x8's on both sides.Any thoughts? By the way, the room is an open floor living room.Thanks cirino
Edited 3/30/2009 10:43 pm ET by JDRHI