What Is Floor Joist Blocking

Making professional blocks to make the blocks i cut sections of i joist 1 inches smaller than the space between the joists.

What is floor joist blocking. They help to stiffen the deck s frame and prevent joists from moving or twisting as the lumber expands and contracts. Two common reasons for squash blocks are. To carry load bearing walls that stack above walls or beams. Blocking when talking about floor joists is when short wood blocks are used to fill or reinforce floor joists under floors that have a space below them.

Prolong the health of your framing with joist tape. Engineered i joists can span long distances to make a flat and solid subfloor. So one of the last things that need to be done before sheathing the deck is to fill in with blocking. Blocking bridging or strapping at 8 ft on center forces the joists to take the path of maximum resistance down making them slightly stiffer.

Squash blocks are short pieces of lumber or ewp cut 1 16 longer than the depth of the joist their purpose is to transfer vertical loads around the joists to bearing below. Floor joist blocking when an improperly designed floor joist is loaded it tries to take the path of least resistance which is to twist to the side. Blocking your deck joists blocks cut from the same material as your joists should be installed at regular intervals perpendicular to the length of the joists. Squash blocks do not provide lateral support.

The wood used when blocking is usually made up of short defective pieces of wood that can t be used in other pieces of construction. Limiting joist movement also helps prevent gapping between deck boards for a uniform finish.