This topic has received so much attention on our blog that we thought we would write another article about it.
I joist vs floor truss vs 2x10.
However it is still one that is worthy.
Like the i joists they have a low moisture content after production so they shrink very little and result in few loose fasteners and subsequent floor squeaking.
Wood trusses provide a very efficient use of materials and are excellent over long spans.
However the installation of these requires more experience and training than sawn lumber.
January 12 2016 at 8 38 am.
Let s examine three of these materials.
They were the default for some time but in the early 90s builders started using engineered products more and more.
Traditional solid lumber joists are still very common.
Trusses and i joists advantages compared to solid sawn lumber are they are able to span longer lengths with less deflection and they are engineered to be flatter.
Some of the small gain is due to the continuation of the replacement of solid sawn joists.
The advantages of open web floor trusses are beginning to decelerate the growth of ewp.
But it is true of i.
The one thing con you forgot to consider with floor truss vs traditional joists is that they are much weaker in a fire situation and will collapse long before a traditional floor joist will.
However most of the increase results from the national builders market share growth.
I joists or floor trusses.
Though i joist sales per housing start have increased about 6 over the last two years the trend has slowed considerably.
11 7 8 i joists are considerably stronger than 2x10 dimension lumber so those are unlikely to be equivalent choices.
They are stiffer lighter and more easily maneuverable.
Mightanvil is right trusses i joists even 2x10 s can be designed to equal stiffness.
Alex this is actually not true of trusses.
Trusses at least not in the area that i live.
I just did some checking to confirm.
This debate i don t feel is as hot of a topic as rafters vs.
The reason to use i joists is that they can span longer distances and 15 ft is not a span long enough to require using them.
Several popular options include solid lumber lvl wood i beams steel joists and open web floor trusses.