Loft Joist not resting on CENTRAL beam

[MorphDoc]

Hi guys,

New home owner here. Bought a house that was built in 1955. As far as I know, no serious repairs or conversion took place. I wanted to convert my Loft into storage space, nothing much, but then I found some of the loft hoist are rather badly supported. Half of the joist lay on top of the WB wall. However, the other half, the once above the stairs and upper landing, are weirdly supported on a small piece of wood that is nailed to the central beam. See images for reference. Is this was the right way of doing things or there were some cowboy builders back in the days, too? can I safely build storage space on these joists?

20211210_161327

• MorphDoc
• 10 Dec 2021

20211210_160916

• MorphDoc
• 10 Dec 2021

 

[^woody^]

Yes that's one way, but the gap is from movement over time.

Fit some (about 200mm) 12mm ply or 25mm timber each side to extend the joist and close the gap

 

[MorphDoc]

Yes that's one way, but the gap is from movement over time.

Fit some (about 200mm) 12mm ply or 25mm timber each side to extend the joist and close the gap

But these joists are resting on a 2cm x 2cm wood that has been nailed to the supporting beam. shouldnt the joist be more secured than that? I worry that the weight of the storage is going to collapse it.

 

[tony1851]

Get a length of 30 x 5 steel strap from your local builder's merchant and cut it to 12" lengths. Bend them at right-angles and screw to the top of the joist and the side of the beam - the strips come with holes pre-drilled.
Not 100% ideal, but better than perching the beam on a strip of 2cm x 2cm.

 

[MorphDoc]

Something like this?

https://www.toolstation.com/heavy-d...jph3cT8ZajQxmRxL2EBoCJSgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[tony1851]

Yes; you'd get 3 brackets out of that.

 

[MorphDoc]

Thanks for help! After that, do you reckon I could board it up for some storage space? I dont expect super heavy weights, but definitely considate amount.

 

[RonnyRaygun]

Thanks for help! After that, do you reckon I could board it up for some storage space? I dont expect super heavy weights, but definitely considate amount.

Normally lofts are designed for 25kg/m2 - I guess it was something similar in the 1950s.

Basicallly a sack of spuds or a bag of sand for every square metre. If you are going to exceed that locally better to do it over any supporting walls or near the supports. Not where the joists have inadequate bearing though

 

[John D v2.0]

That's an old fashioned joist hanger, it's a wonder things stay up sometimes! Because the weight is mostly perpendicular to the nailed on wood it works quite well as long as it's tight enough.

 

[MorphDoc]

Thanks guys! Shall I use nails or screws to secure that steel strap onto joists?

 

[tony1851]

Thanks guys! Shall I use nails or screws to secure that steel strap onto joists?

Screws!
You might dislodge the little batten off the main beam if you go banging nails into the end of the joist.

 

[MorphDoc]

Screws!
You might dislodge the little batten off the main beam if you go banging nails into the end of the joist.

lastly, what size screw? and will of course pre drill, right?

 

[MorphDoc]

any answers re above screw size?

 

[SFK]

what size screw?

As you are shopping in TS then I suggest one of these these screws (note that you change the screw size with the drop down tab):
https://www.toolstation.com/single-thread-countersunk-pozi-screw/p63953

Their diameter should be slightly smaller than the hole.
I 'guess' they are 5mm dia holes (check in shop).

In this case Length does not really matter as long as it is 30mm or longer (I tend to aim for >25mm of screw in the fixing material).
But you do not want screw to go right through wood (as it becomes a cut hazard to your hands and cables).

So presuming a 5mm hole and normal sized wood and choosing a size you can also use later elsewhere, I would get:
'5.0mm x 45mm' https://www.toolstation.com/single-thread-countersunk-pozi-screw/p15931

will of course pre drill, right?

I would not normally pilot the hole (they should go straight in) unless the wood is looking a bit dodgy or thin, or the screw is to go near the edge.

SFK