I Joist Vs Engineered Floor Joists

I joists have major advantages in high volume construction with standard layouts.

I joist vs engineered floor joists.

Depths up to 48 inches and lengths limited only by ground transportation and handling are available to builders. All of these things factor into the allowable distances you can span with each type of joist. For a floor to conform with the design standard the floor joists must not deflect more than 14mm. Engineered i joists provide the most efficient use of material since the web is commonly comprised of an oriented strand board osb or a plywood.

Open web trusses with wood webbing held together with metal plates. Each depth can be purchased with different top and bottom flanges as well. The new engineered floor joists can be purchased in a variety of depths that range from 10 inches to 16 inches. The number of joists required is less then half with no need for washers and bolts and a 75 reduction on the amount of hangers needed when compared with using timber joists.

The joists are shaped like an i and are lightweight but strong. Wood i joists with dimension lumber top and bottom chords and osb web. Engineered i joists are predominantly used for floors but in some instances can also be used to create flat roofs for both residential and commercial buildings. I joists are produced under strict quality control so that natural imperfections that are found in natural timbers are none existant.

This is because they are less expensive. Like all engineered products there are design codes or standards that all products must follow. With floor joists the most relevant to performance is the maximum amount of deflection bend the floor is allowed. These are also very good over longer spans and since they have a low moisture content after production they shrink very little and result in few loose fasteners and subsequent floor squeaking.

An i joist is an engineered wood joist designed to eliminate the problems that occur when using traditional timber joists. Floor systems are a critical consideration when pricing a building project and there s a variety of factors that can affect the price of i joists including the span the depth and the centres to name a few. In addition to the common nominal 10 and 12 inch depths engineered i joists are made in depths beyond that of traditional framing lumber. Two types of engineered joists are most frequently used in floor systems today.

The timber joist vs i joist infographic opposite shows the material and time saved by using i joists based on example floor drawing.