Floor Joist Blocking Vs Bridging

Floor joist bridging vs blocking i like laying 1 1 8 super flat easy to pound t g together dropping a 2x6 from a floor above doesn t put a hole in it.

Floor joist blocking vs bridging. Various types of metal bridging are available at home centers and lumberyards. There are many different opinions on why to block floor joists the process behind doing it and how it helps the floor structure. The joists shown here for example span 12 ft so we added rows of bridging 4 ft. The weight of the piano is centered over a single joist but the bridging transfers some of the weight to the adjacent joists.

Proper bridging distributes the load on the floor to other joists and over time prevents floors from sagging and squeaking do to floor joists twisting and warping. To install the type shown here drive the toothed end into the joist and nail the other end. I ve always used a lift for upper floors though. Blocking or bridging can be used for a variety of purposes in deck building.

The blocking or bridging between joists or rafters also contributes to this phenomenon. For example with bridging installed between joists a piano leg sitting over one 2 10 is actually supported by several. Yet it is not uncommon to find bridging not properly installed or missing all together. Use metal bridging instead of wood blocking if you wish.

Metal bridging is less effective for eliminating bouncy joists than blocking but it is easier to install and may stiffen the floor for. Adding two rows of bridging costs a few dollars per joist. Floor joist bridging is critical to the structural strength of a floor as shown in figure 1. Blocking also needs to be provided at the supporting end of a joist.