Floor Joist Blocking Vs Bridging

Blocking or bridging can be used for a variety of purposes in deck building.

Floor joist blocking vs bridging.

I ve always used a lift for upper floors though. Yet it is not uncommon to find bridging not properly installed or missing all together. Blocking also needs to be provided at the supporting end of a joist. Floor joist bridging vs blocking i like laying 1 1 8 super flat easy to pound t g together dropping a 2x6 from a floor above doesn t put a hole in it.

Various types of metal bridging are available at home centers and lumberyards. For example with bridging installed between joists a piano leg sitting over one 2 10 is actually supported by several. The weight of the piano is centered over a single joist but the bridging transfers some of the weight to the adjacent joists. To install the type shown here drive the toothed end into the joist and nail the other end.

The joists shown here for example span 12 ft so we added rows of bridging 4 ft. Metal bridging is less effective for eliminating bouncy joists than blocking but it is easier to install and may stiffen the floor for. Adding two rows of bridging costs a few dollars per joist. Proper bridging distributes the load on the floor to other joists and over time prevents floors from sagging and squeaking do to floor joists twisting and warping.

Floor joist bridging is critical to the structural strength of a floor as shown in figure 1. There are many different opinions on why to block floor joists the process behind doing it and how it helps the floor structure. Probably the most commonly used technique is to install small pieces of material in a zig zag pattern between the perimeter joists to create a rigid rim joist that prevents bounce and increases the strength of the rail attachment. The blocking or bridging between joists or rafters also contributes to this phenomenon.