I'm working on some repairs in my kitchen, specifically fixing two floor joists that were damaged by termites. My contractor suggested that since the kitchen is already open, we should sister all the joists to make the structure stronger. He plans to add the new sisters along 18 feet, directly on top of the foundation wall and some piers. I'm wondering if this additional work is really necessary or beneficial, considering it's quite expensive. What do you all think?
1 Answer
It seems a little excessive, but sistering the joists won't hurt anything. Given the spacing, you might just need to replace the damaged joists and add some blocking. Your contractor might just be focusing on making everything sturdy, but what's the condition of the rest of your floor? Did you notice any issues before the repairs?
Yeah, I definitely noticed some give in the floor where the subfloor was rotted, but the joists themselves are surprisingly solid. It's like the termites preferred munching on the subfloor instead!