second floor joist support at party wall
I have a 2 story house that is semi – attached built in 1920.
see pictures
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-1Nyw95ejVjZEyCmNogZ_Z7XsY9xIcpM
1 why can’t I see my neighbors second floor joist , even though I do see the neighbors second floor ceiling joist sticking out on my side
2 my joists are nailed to the common stud just like in a balloon framing .. however why don’t I see a ledger (ribbon) – I think there is no ribbon inside the party wall
3 do you think my joist and my neighbors joist lie in the same plane ? Is why i can’t see my neighbors second floor joist
4 if they do like in the same plane(not staggered ) , can a joist be nailed to the 2×4 stud with only 2 inches ( 1 inch Edge distance from the edge of the stud ? )
5 if my second floor joist is staggered with my neighbors second floor joist –
how is my neighbors joist nailed into the same stud –
the mystery here is why can’t I see my neighbors second floor joist (while I can clearly see my neighbors second floor ceiling joist sticking into my side )
thanks
Replies
Does anyone think joist is supposed in bearing (like a 90 deg birds mouth ) on 2 plates rather just hung by 4 nails in shear with horizontal bridging
Mystery solved . I think my floor joist continues to my neighbors house
We both share the second floor joist !
If true this would be a serious fire hazard. Can you post pictures on this site rather than google drive?
The absence of visibility of your neighbor's second-floor joists may be due to a potential staggered arrangement or a difference in the framing technique.
In balloon framing, a ledger (ribbon) might not be present in the party wall, contributing to the concealed appearance of your neighbor's joists.
To address this mystery, consider consulting with a structural engineer or contractor to assess the framing design, as well as exploring the possibility of a staggered joist layout or variations in construction methods that could explain the lack of visibility.