Is this typical under floorboards ?

I've just had to cut out and replace a section of chipboard type floorboarding that had started cracking up and pulling away the T&G (for some reason the join line was not ON the joists, but just off them. On cutting out the failing section I found that the floorjoists had a crossed couple of battens between them.

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this typical for upstairs in a 1980's house?

OG

Reply to
OG
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In message , OG writes

Yep! I've got similar in my 1985 house.

Reply to
Paul Giverin

Typical full stop. They're called twisters. They help prevent the joists warping.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Yes, they are to stop the long, deep but relatively thin joists waving/moving about.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

are only 4". I suppose it is dependent on the spans, my max is ~11ft in a

1930's house.
Reply to
visionset

One hopes so, as it leads to a substantially stiffer floor.

Did the chip get damp or what? Unusual to have it go...

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Are you sure its a house and not a bungalow that someone has converted the attic?

4" is not deep enough for floor joists over 11' imho
Reply to
dennis

Well 70 odd years must say something, that and the other identical 100 odd houses built the same way. Obviously building standards have come on some but I'd say it was adequate. The one real design flaw is the cold bridge concrete sills downstairs.

Reply to
visionset

I think its a combination of [1] 'over bed cupboards' that means we step down off the bed more often [2] significantly increased weight for both mr and mrs over last 20 years (esp mr!).

Reply to
OG
40 years in the trade ,have seen some crap building but never seen a 4x2 floor joist,loft joist yes , floor would be like a spring board and over 70 years would expect it to fail by now
Reply to
Alex

4x2 over 11ft is workable, though only just. Just dont ever get a piano or waterbed in there! And dont do jumping exercises. Should never have been built that light, but there ya go. For all we know the 2x4 may have been stiffened a bit by noggins.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

Depends a bit on the spacing and the tickness of the, not doubt, real floor boards attached to the top. 4x2 at 9" spacing with good solid 1" thick T&G floorboards, double angle nailed at every crossing would make a fairly firm floor.

4x2 at modern 18" spacing with thick cornflake packet sheets for flooring attached on an 18" grid would be just a tad springy... B-)
Reply to
Dave Liquorice

Ah. I have 8x2 oak on its SIDE here..and yes, over 3 meters its springy all right.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Ho ho ho, my mistake it is 7" - amazing how you (I) misremember dimensions, and by nearly 100%

7" on the 1st floor 4" on the ground with soldier walls making max span ~6ft

Good to keep you on your toes!

Reply to
visionset

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