Floor Framing Archives

October 16, 2021October 16, 2021

Floor Reinforcement for the Wood Stove.

Day #178

October 31, 2020 – Our new wood stove weighs in at about 350 lbs. The floor joists underneath the stove are full 2″ × 8″ solid oak. They are rather bouncy and I’m a little concerned about the point load that the wood stove will add to the floor. To help spread this load I decided to add additional floor reinforcement by adding solid bridging between 4 of the floor joists (3 joist spaces). This means I’ll be spending my weekend underneath the Cot-Taj-Mahal on my back. Yea!

Floor Reinforcement - Joist Spaces

Before I could start on the floor reinforcement I had to clear out some old wiring left over from who knows what. The plan is to install solid bridging in three of the joist space from the outside wall across to the center of the floor. In the pictures, the first concrete piers that you see are at the center of the cottage, width wise.

Floor Reinforcement - Solid Bridging

I used treated 2 × 8 pieces with galvanized joist hangers on both ends. The nailing was difficult due to the cramped quarters underneath the cottage.

Floor Reinforcement - Complete

All in all the floor reinforcement went much better than I expected. I managed to finish it up in one day. I hope that this will provide some additional strength underneath the wood stove. We don’t want it falling thru the floor.

Tomorrow I’ll move back inside to continue the ceiling insulation in the living room.

June 10, 2019July 6, 2021

Support Column and Kitchen Sub-Floor

Day #58

June 1, 2019 – The corner of the living room, at the old porch connection, was leaking for several years. As a result the wall sheathing and possibly the corner studs in this area have succumbed to rot, mold and mildew. To provide for an open ceiling in the new kitchen, a structural beam will be installed. This beam will span from one side of the cottage to the other. If the stud framing in this corner is rotted it will not be able to support the beam. If this is the case then a new support column will need to be constructed in this corner. We need to open up the walls at this location to assess the situation.

So, the goal for today is to finish the kitchen sub-floor, assess the wall framing in the living room corner and re-construct a new support column if required.

Sub-Floor Installation

Sub-floor panel adhesive — Applying a bead of sub-floor panel adhesive.

Sub-floor nailing

New Support Column

After the completion of the sub-floor we started to expose the rotted out corner of the living room. As you can see in the photographs, it was really rotted! A new support column will be necessary to properly support the new structural beam.

Expose Bad Corner - Support Column — Exposing the rotted out corner.

Rotted Sheathing - Support Column — Rotted exterior wall sheathing.

Rotted Corner Support Column — Exposed corner. Rotted wood.

Exposed Corner - Support Column — Exposed corner. Rotted framing members.

With the rotted framing removed we were able to frame in a new support column and tarp up the house for the night. Tomorrow we construct a massive beam and attempt to lift it into place inside the cottage. I’m hoping for the best.

Stink Bug Nest — Stink bug nest, part of the reason it stinks so bad….

At the end of the day we accomplished everything that we set out to do. It was a great day!

June 10, 2019August 23, 2021

Dumpster Delivery & Sub-floor Installation

Day #57

May 31, 2019 – Today was a productive day. S&S Trash Service delivered a 15 yard dumpster for all the demolition debris. Melanie from S&S told me it would be onsite by noon and it was right on time! Just to make sure it works, I removed the old kitchen door and tossed it into the dumpster. Everything is good. Thankx S&S!

We had a visitor at the renovation site today. He crawled in from the giant puddle in the neighbors yard and he spent the entire day napping under the big oak tree in the front yard. His name is T. S. Snappy. He likes to have his nose tickled while being hugged. Hide yo wife, hide yo kids and hide yo dogs! We have had other aquatic visitors to the renovation site.

T.S. Snappy the snapping turtle from the block.

After the dumpster was delivered I started installing the kitchen addition sub-flooring. I am using 3/4 inch treated plywood. It is not tongue and groove but we need good moisture and insect resistance.

In order to fit the sub-floor under the kitchen door I had to remove it completely. So I said goodbye to the old kitchen door and pitched it into the dumpster.

Sub-Floor Install — Kitchen door, frame & sill removed to allow for sub-floor installation.

Sub-floor installation. — Two sheets of 3/4 inch treated sub-floor installed.

September 17, 2018July 6, 2021

Temporary Electric

Day #46

September 16, 2018 – I finished the bridging for the remaining 11 joist spaces by midday. Hooray! The floor framing is complete. Next task, temporary electric outlets.

The cottage has only ever had one exterior electrical outlet. It is located in the side wall of the living room. Up to this point we’ve been using this one outlet to supply all the power tools. This wall, and it’s outlet, will be removed in the next phase of the construction so I needed to rig up some temporary electric.

Near the kitchen I installed a couple of 10 foot 2 ×4’s to serve as both a light pole and a receptacle location. In front of the bathroom I placed a couple of shorter 2 × 4’s. This will serve as an additional outlet location. I have the wire roughed in. Next time I come down I will install a new motion sensing flood light, some waterproof outlet boxes with GFCI outlets and a couple of breakers inside.

Solid Bridging Complete — The solid wood joist bridging is complete.

Temporary Electric — Temporary pole deck deck flood lighting and GFCI outlets.

Porch Overview — Bridging complete and temporary electric roughed in.

More on the Bastard Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

After I got home Sunday evening Robrandi and I went out to grab a bite to eat. As I was sitting in the restaurant eating, the back of my neck, my shoulder and my right arm started to itch like a son of a bitch. I broke out in what looked like a poison ivy type rash. It was baffling. There is no way I was anywhere near poison ivy. Jokingly I told Robrandi that I was turning into a caterpillar. The only thing I remember was half smashing one as it tried to crawl down my tee shirt.

Well, son of a bitch, it turns out that the hairs on those little bastards can cause a histamine reaction similar to poison ivy. To get the itching to stop I have to wrap myself up in old newspapers. After 4 months I will emerge with full on wings cee…… Caterpillar Gyeem !

September 17, 2018July 6, 2021

Joist Bridging Continues

Day #45

September 15, 2018 – Installation of the floor joist bridging continued today. It was overcast and cloudy. The river was raging by at a little over 14 feet. Acorns were falling from the trees all around me. I half smashed a Gypsy Moth Caterpillar that was crawling down my shirt on the back of my neck (more about this little bastard later). All things considered I had a good day.

After the removal of plywood runway from the Labor Day weekend I got my groove on. Finished up the day with only 11 of the joist spaces remaining. Tomorrow I will have the bridging completed.

Water is almost up to the Boob on the Boob Tree. Juniata River level in Lewistown 14.33 feet.

Joist Bridging — Bridging continues past the living room window.

Plywood Runway — The plywood runway from Labor Day weekend is removed.

Bridging Overview — This is the view at the end of the day.

11 Joist Spaces — Only 11 joist spaces remain.

September 14, 2018July 6, 2021

Rained Out – Renovation Day 45, Not!

Day #45

September 9, 2018 – Rained out! Today the game was called on account of rain! We packed up and headed home while the yard began to flood. Hopefully we will have better luck next weekend and I will be able to continue the blocking installation.

Rained Out - Front Yard Flooding — Front yard flooding. Too much rain!

September 13, 2018July 6, 2021

Solid Bridging Installation

Day #44

September 8, 2018 – I started the installation of 2 × 10 solid bridging between the porch floor joists today.

Solid bridging provides lateral support to twisted joists and it helps them maintain a vertical orientation. It also facilitates load sharing. Load sharing across wooden joists is important because of the large variation in material properties found between the joists.

It rained just about the whole time. It’s been raining for this entire project and it’s getting old! Once it got to heavy I quit for the day. We packed it in an headed to Shy Bear Brewing for dinner and adult beverages.

Hopefully it will stop raining tomorrow and we won’t have another rain delay!

Solid Bridging - Install — Installation of 2 × 10 solid bridging between the porch addition floor joists in the rain.

Solid Bridging - Rain! — Work stopped because of rain.

Solid Bridging - Porch Joists — Wood bridging completed in 8 joist spaces.

September 7, 2018July 6, 2021

90 Percent Complete Floor Framing

Day #43

September 3, 2018 – Labor Day and boy did I ever. Today I finished the all of the porch addition floor joists. The floor framing is 90 percent complete. All that remains is two rows of solid bridging. This is next weekends project.

Here is a look back at the start of the floor framing.

Porch Addition - Floor Joist Framing — Porch addition floor framing continues.

Floor Framing 90 Percent Complete — The kitchen and porch addition floor framing is 90% complete.

September 7, 2018July 6, 2021

Ledger Board Install Complete

Day #42

September 1, 2018 – Today I completed the ledger board installation along the front of the cottage. This allows the ledger flashing to continue and the porch floor joist framing to resume.

I’m very grateful for all of the help today (sometimes it seems that the more help you get the slower you go). At the end of the day we had 29 floor joist in place. Only 20 more to go! Thankx guys…!

The future leader of Gyeem’s Sled Dog Team was introduced today. Peppero is her name and acting all fuzzy and cute is her game. We hope to make the Iditarod 2025 Race. Stay tuned.

My old friend Katydid showed up this evening. The seasons have been kind to her. She’s still as green as ever.

We are taking the day off tomorrow to kayak. I will finish up the floor joists on Monday before heading home for the week.

Ledger Board Framing — Ledger board installation along the front of the cottage.

Kitchen & Porch Floor Joists — Kitchen and porch addition floor joist framing.

Peppero - Sled Dog — Future leader of Gyeem’s Sled Dog Team…. Peppero!

September 7, 2018July 6, 2021

Porch Floor Joists Def Jam Session

Day #41

August 31, 2018 – Framing of the porch floor joists continued today.

I installed the first section of the Yorkshield 106 PT copper ledger flashing. This flashing keeps water from migrating back into the cottage walls.

At the end of the day approximately 22 porch joists were set. To allow for easier access at the living room door, we screwed down some temporary plywood decking.

In the blurred, whiskey soaked wee hours of the night the first Def Jam poetry reading occurred at the new Fire-Pit Stage. Thankx to special guest star, Hurricane Dan and stage Lighting Technician, Studgie Studger.

The kitchen addition floor framing is complete . Tomorrow we will continue with the porch addition floor framing.

Porch Floor Joists — Floor joist framing for the new porch addition continues.

Porch Floor Joists & Ledger Flashing — Floor joist framing and copper ledger flashing for the new porch addition.

Temporary Walkway — Plywood runway at the living room door for access.

Fire-Pit Stage - Hurricane Dan — Special guest star “Hurricane Dan” takes the stage under the light.

Fire-Pit Stage - Def Jam Poetry — Hurricane Dan Def Jam poetry reading straight outta his cell phone.