I hired a contractor to raise the floor in my family room by a couple of inches, but during the demo, he damaged some of the I-joists on the flange, ripping off large sections. I have two main concerns: 1) What are the implications of having damaged joists, and what would be the best approach to fix them? 2) What is the correct method for raising the floor by about 2 inches? The contractor's plan involves sistering the engineered joist flanges with 2x4s. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It's really important to involve a structural engineer here. I-Joists are critical structural components, and any damage can seriously impact their function. Sistering isn't a simple fix; you need to ensure you're doing it right to avoid potential failures later. Don’t risk a big problem by ignoring it!
Sistering means placing them alongside the damaged I-joists, but the ones that are compromised should really be replaced. Forgetting that could lead to major issues down the road. Letting a pro assess the situation would be the best bet. It's not just a DIY fix!
Exactly! Damaged joists doing a torsional dance under load could turn into a real nightmare. Don't skip on the proper fix!
Totally agree! You really can’t just attach things without knowing the structural implications. Get a pro to take a look.