Single Joist Timber Floor

Double joist timber beam.

Single joist timber floor.

While most residential construction uses 2x8 joists with 16 inch spacing there are many other factors you need to consider when determining the proper joist span length. Single joist timber floors this is the simplest type of timber floor used for residential buildings where spans are short or moderate say up to 4 m and loads are comparatively lighter. True floor joist span calculations can only be made by a structural engineer or contractor. Single floors are those that have their joists spanning from one wall to the other without any intermediate support.

Since the example house we are designing for is 12 feet wide we need to find in the floor joist span table a joist size and centering that can span 12 or wider. The floor joist spacing is the distance between the centers of any two installed joists. The floor consists of wooden joists also called bridging joists spaced 30 to 40 cm apart and supported on end walls over which timber planking or boarding. Wall plates sleeper wall 10 to 15 mm cement course.

This sample table gives minimum floor joist sizes for joists spaced at 16 inches and 24 inches on center o c for 2 grade lumber with 10 pounds per square foot of dead load and 40 pounds of live load which is typical of normal residential construction. When building a house or even a deck it is important to confirm you have the correct joist sizes spans and spacing before you get started. See the image below for an example of joists spaced 16 on center 16 o c. Framed triple joist timber floor.

Filling of selected earth wall bridging joists floor boards f l d p c. Basement ground floor of timber 1 auditorium dances and dramas. Timber upper floors can be divided into two types single and double.