So next step of house putting sheeting down on TJ-Is
( and from earlier post on TJI-s they were BCI, not generic)
specs called for 3/4 T&G glued and screwed. 32 sheets down and a long way to go.owner shows up, wants floor stiffer ( its already rated 4 star by Boise Cascade)
the floor is getting 3/4 t&G oak on top
I suggested laying 1/2 over the top running in the opposite direction, then the hardwood if he really wants it stiffer
any feedback from you guys ???
Replies
More detail required. Boise makes Ijoists to different specs within the same depth.
Give us the BCI spec, and the spans.
This is a slightly tricky one to answer.
First, I'm pretty sure BCI's 4-star is an L/960 floor. That's a pretty nice floor.
Second, there is a tendency, or a propensity, for engineered joists to give a floor platform the "trmpoline effect". The floor resonates, or reverberates, under foot. This is due to the uniform nature of the engineered joists. They're all manufactured the same, so there's little to no vibration damping built into the floor platform. Load some furnitur in the room, etc, and that takes some of the "vibration" out of the floor.
It's highly likely that adding more ply on top will do little to nothing to improve whatever it is the homeowner is concerned about. You may get better bang for your buck by strapping the bottom flanges of the joists, 16" oc. It's faster than more ply, less expensive than more ply, and will likely gie you better floor performance than adding more ply. Not to mention it'll be kinder to the drywall in regards to screw pops, if the undersides of the joists are to eventually be rocked.
Get the homeowner to tell you specifically what he doesn't like about the existing floor. Is it the echoing sound when he walks across it? Is it the trampoline effect, the sensation of bouncing or flexing underfoot? Then get in touch with BCIs tech department and see what fix, if any, they recommend.
what mongo said, strapping less money than ply, less weight, too; not depleting working capacity of floor system the hardwood will make the floor feel stronger, run it perpendicular to the joists so the lengths bridge across them
Is he complaining about the bounce when standing on a joist, or the bounce when standing midway between two joists? Two different problems with different solutions.
Isamemom, I'd employ some of th negotiating techniques that I've learned recently. the first one is: don't try to sell him on something. Create a way so that HE makes the decision without input from you.
I'd call in other experts immediately and get several suggestions. I wouldn't offer any from myself..I'd just defer to the expert. The first expert would be the lumber sales guy. The next would be the Truss Joist manufacturer rep.
blue
Warning! Be cautious when taking any advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, some of it is viewed as boogerin and not consistent with views of those who prefer to overbuild everything...including their own egos
Additionally, don't take any political advice from me. I'm just a parrot for the Republican talking points. I get all my news from Rush Limbaugh and Fox and Friends (they are funny...try them out)!