The dreaded 7 Ps; Prior Planning Prevents Pi** Poor Performance Pal. Over the course of our renovation project, we decided to lower our basement floor and finish the area as living space. Unfortunately, this design change altered the bearing points I had previously planned on for my main floor joists to accommodate openings in a bearing wall in the basement (flush headers with the joists hangered to them). I can’t sister joists onto the existing joists for various reasons so I have to separate a T&G plywood subfloor from the PSL(?) top flange of four TJI110s and replace the joists. They are bonded with subfloor adhesive so the only way I can separate them is to cut between the subfloor and joist. I am looking for suggestions on how to achieve good results without having to commit a lifetime to finishing the job. At this point, I see a reciprocating saw and a few spare blades as my only viable option. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Best,
Jeff
Replies
PPPPPPP = "A failure to plan
PPPPPPP = "A failure to plan is a plan for failure...."
I would call it the "Evolution of a plan" as opposed to the "Failure of a plan". As this is my own house and the initial plan included Me+wifey+1 child+minimal income and it grew over 10 years to be me+wifey+3 children+1x85lb Lab+2 cats+increase in annual income+an attachment to a neighbourhood in a 150 year old town++++ all living in <1200 sq ft to call it a failure is a pretty harsh summation of what I would consider short term pain for long term gain concerning the effort involved to remove 4x18'-0"x9-1/2" TJI 110s.
What if you were to
leave the top flange in place but cut the bottom flange and the web out? It would be a piece of cake to run a sawzall along just under the top flange, leaving the equivalent of a 1x3 glued to the bottom of the subfloor. Put the new I joists right next to those.
If you have to remove the whole thing, a sawzall is still the tool. I would start in the middle of a joist, cut out a small chunk carefully, and then start cutting toward the ends, using shims or some other wedge to put a spreading force between the subfloor and the flange.
Thanks for confirming the approach I was considering.
J
Just want to see if I'm reading you:
You want to drop some TJIs out from under the subfloor, presumably sacrificing the TJIs but saving the subfloor?
Have you considered how you'll install the new beams (whatever material they may be)?
Yes. The replacement joists will be engineered as well. I have had luck retrofitting engineered floor joists by simply using shores along the length of the subfloor beside where the new joist is to go, cranking them up and tapping the replacement joist in beside the line of shores.