My house was built in 1941 the living room, dining room and kitchen are on the first floor. This part of the house is about 25’east to west and 22’north to south the floor joists run north to south. There is a bearing wall that runs 11′ east to west then an open area 12′ then another bearing wall about 2′. The joists are 2×10 and 16″oc. The previous and original owner had a 1×1 drop ceiling stapled to 1×3 that were shimmed to create a flat ,level ceiling. The shimms around the perimeter are about 2.5″. I was wondering if these 1×3 are doing anything since they do run perpendicular to the joists and are spaced every 12″ and go the entire width of the house. If I remove them do you think I’ll get much more sagging. My plan was to take them down Jack the ceiling back into place and put a triple 2×10 or 2×12 in the open space between the two bearing walls then just repair the holes in the ceiling. But before I take them down are they adding any strength or stability to the joists.
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They are only acting as shims.
Frankly, I am suprised you have that much sag in the framing. 2x10s on that span and layout should be right. I'm wondering if maybe they weree installed green and then a load of material was stored there for a year while they worked in the house..
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ANy load bearing walls above the span to create the sag?
2x10's 16" OC should easily span 11' with nothing but dead load.
I care, after all it's my company.
The problem is the 12' section where there is no load bearing wall the 2x10 span 22'.
Bobo are you a DIY or carpenter? I care, after all it's my company.
I belive 2x10 yellow pine can span 14'. You are just over that with 22' that is the reason for the sag.
The 1x3's are just nailers for the ceiling tiles. Fairly common practice around here in remodeling. Like strapping for the right coasters.
Removing them to beef the ceiling up won't hurt anything.
You really should have someone look at the issue for you as well. Engineer maybe.
Any load bearing walls above the 2x10's?
I have gotten 11-7/8 I joists to span 20' 12" OC glued and screwed subfloor. Maybe 1/4" steel plates for the side of each joist.
Does the floor above have alot of deflection? (Bounce)
I care, after all it's my company.
There are two bedrooms on the north side and their walls are above the load bearing wall and open space. This house is weird in the attic above that wall there is nothing. The roof is sort of a mansard with a 12'x8' flat area in the center, the rafters run from the framing of the flat area to the side walls all four side walls. There isn't much deflection on the second floor but there are cracks at both bedroom doorways. I'm a DIY but if I'm not sure about what I'm doing will hire a carpenter. I've talked to the local building inspector but haven't talked with an engineer.
I ask because of the fix I am going to reccamend.
Buid two temporary walls one on each side of the center of the room perpindicular to the joists. Build the wall tall enough to take the sag out. The walls should be at least a foot away from the center to give working room.
Get a beam sized for the conditions in your house, probably 4 9-1/2" LVL's GRK'ed together. Then cut the joists in the center so the beam will slide in. Then hanger all your joists off that.
The beam has to rest on walls that carry down to concrete in the basement.
This is not a DIY fix, please hire the qualified preople for it. I care, after all it's my company.
That solution would definitely be farmed out. I was thinking more of an appropriately sized beam supported by two posts with two more posts in the basement beneath them. The basement posts would be adjustable metal posts set in 2'x2' concrete piers 3' deep. Would this solution give me as much support. I know your way would give the room a cleaner look but the way the house is set up the boxed in beam would work fine.
Underneath would be fine if the space allows it.
Be sure to carry the loads to concrete like you said and it will go fine.
If you have walls on each side bury the ends of the beam in pockets inside the walls so you don't have to have posts exposed in the room.
Good luckI care, after all it's my company.