Can you buy 4x2

[padstar]

I need to replace a few of the houses original joists. They are traditional 4x2 (imperial). I can't seem to find anything other than metric joists which are a few mm shorter. This would mean I would have to replace the lot rather than a few that are a bit worse for wear.

Is there any way round this

 

[RonnyRaygun]

Buy some metric 50x125 and cut them down to size with your trusty circular saw

Or pack out to the correct level with some thin strips of ply?

 

[StephenStephen]

What are they sitting on - can you pack the new ones up?

 

[Mottie]

Buy secondhand from a reclaimers?

 

[stuart45]

The difference is only 1.6mm, so it shouldn't be a problem with floor joists. Make sure the crown is up, unless by some chance the timber is dead straight.

 

[RonnyRaygun]

The difference is only 1.6mm, so it shouldn't be a problem with floor joists. Make sure the crown is up, unless by some chance the timber is dead straight.

I was assuming he was talking about regularised timber which comes in at about 94mm, and will be more of an issue if he can’t get true 100x50.

 

[stuart45]

100x47 sawn will do for a floor joist.

 

[^woody^]

metric joists which are a few mm shorter

Do you mean shorter, wider, or deeper?

Either way I can't see why it would be a problem

 

[stuart45]

I would guess he's thinking of the depth. As most timber nowadays won't be straight, it won't follow the line of the other joists exactly anyway, so it will probably be proud of the others in the centre.

 

[^woody^]

so it will probably be proud of the others in the centre.

May be upside down. Check the arrows stamped on the side.

 

[padstar]

Just revisiting this as i have finally got round to needing to order these replacement joists. I have had the old floor boards up and the original joists are 4x2's with sleeper walls ever 1.5-2m across the span. I spoke to the local timber supplier and they will happily cut down some 5x2's to suit.

BUT measuring the originals they seem to vary from 100mm to 105m with most being either / or one of these dims. I assume they were all cut originally at 4" (102mm) but have moved slightly over the last 100 years as they have dried out or taken in moisture.

Should I order them in as larger joists cut to 4" imperial or just use modern 4x2's and pack up 6-7mm. I am thinking order as 4" and not pack out to give a better floor. The other option is to rebuild the sleeper walls but i really cant be bothered with adding to the work load.

 

[^woody^]

Use slate, or ply or whatever to pack up modern timber, instead of messing about with a problem that does not exist.

 

[padstar]

Really? That makes life easier for me.

Plastic packers glued to fill the gap between the joist and wall plate? or is timber better?

The issue is only where it meets the extension as the floor level in there was set to match the original (which i am now pulling out). Can I set this end to match the extension and then let the other end (4-5m away) sit on the original wall plate and pack those in between? Having not done it yet i dont know if i am making a bigger issue out of this than it really is. I guess i need to lose 6-7mm over the length of a joist.

 

[Diver Fred]

But 'sawn' not 'regularised' then pack as necessary.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Are you planning on new floorboards or reuse the old ones? If the latter, have a good look at them- some of the boards here are square edge (not t & g) and only machined on 3 sides- whoever laid them originally had far more patience than me by chiselling out for each joist (or maybe used a spoke shave or similar).