New to this so I hope that my explanation is clear enough.
I presently am about to undertake some remodeling. The house is about 18-years-old, open-concept, and in pretty sound shape. The main floor has cathederal ceilings in living room and master bedroom. Since the house sits on a slope, what would normally be the basement is actual living area. Along the long axis of the house along the down-slope side it is open from the lower level to the main level with a bank of windows extending from the ground floor up to the main floor living area. On the lower level accessed from the open are are two bedrooms separated by a 3/4 bath (also with seperate access from this open area side). Above one of the bedrooms is the living area. The kitchen and dining area are over the other bedroom and bath below.
I have removed a drop ceiling that was installed in the lower areas exposing the joists. In one of the bedrooms the joists are carried on one end by the top of the foundation wall, on the other end by a doubled 2×10 ledger supported by steel lolly(?) columns. The other bedroom is carried on each end by the same 2×10 doubled ledgers also supported by lolly columns. The floor joists themselves are 2x8s, 16″ OC. The joist’s span in each bedroom is 11 feet. The flooring on the main level is presently a floating laminated wood floor in no so terrific shape and will be replaced.
While the main floor seems level enough and not bouncy, I am thinking that I may need to beef up the floor. Since I would like to repalce the wood flooring with tile throughout and the kitchen remodel will include granite countertops plus the weight of the additional buildup to the required 11/4″ with durrock for tile prep, I am concerned about all the additional weight and the fact that the floor cannot flex if I am to do this.
Plan: sister the joists each side with 3/4 ply (I think it’s available to 12 feet?) or sister with an LVL to each joist and add blocking between joists. Sound good to go, or does it seem like overkill with the additional blocking?
Replies
Greetings Yo,
As a first time poster Welcome to Breaktime.
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
This type of question comes up a lot. You may want to use the "Search" function to view previous threads. One very recently was titled "Bouncy Floors". I think the consensus was that plywood each side would be a lot of work for a not so great result. To me, sistering LVL's sounds good, especially with added blocking (or just add LVL's between each old joist?). Like you say, you don't want a bouncy floor under tile.
That subject has been addressed here on Breaktime a number of different times in the past.
In the event you fail to receive the information you desire, you might find it in the archives.
If you scroll down in the lower left corner of your screen there is a search function that will take you to previous threads dealing with whatever you type in the search bar.
If you type in 'strengthen floor', 'sister floor joists' or other keywords of the subject matter you'll get a supply of data from those old threads.
Cheers