floor joists

[Doorman]

does any one know what types of wood are suitable for floor joists?

[doyle]

In the states, most of the lumber you buy is spruce or fir from Canada, and southern yellow pine from the US. Usually, 2x8's, 2x10's, and 2x12's are always southern yellow pine.

I'm not sure what might be available in your area.

[mjpliv]

Your local building codes should be published with the acceptable (available) species.

[Doorman]

a code? you mean like a building regulation?

[mjpliv]

Yes, that is correct. Check with your local building authority or even your DIY outlet.

[peterjcb]

Southern Yellow pine is tough stuff and heavy. It get's my vote. 8)

[Dragon]

Southern Yellow pine is tough stuff and heavy. It get's my vote. 8)

In England?

[peterjcb]

:oops:

[Dragon]

From what I understand Spruce is used a lot in the U.K.

[Doorman]

yeah spruce is widley used for most things like telephone poles, thanks for the help i was doing an asignment for floors and flat roofs

[bkrahmer]

I just wanted to chime in late and say that the following generalization isn't correct:

> In the states, most of the lumber you buy is spruce or fir from Canada

Around here, Northern Idaho, lumber is douglas fir or larch, and is from Idaho, NE Washington, or Canada. The word most certainly applies when talking engineered lumber (around here). Just about all of my i-joists, rim joist and osb sheathing came from Canada.

cheers

[Kwak]

A little late but as I've just joined thought I'd chip in with this!

In general most of the timber used for floor joist in the UK is some species of European redwood. Normally treated and stress graded. A common type of joist used in the UK is termed CLS...identified easily because it is dimensioned (all the same size) and has rounded edges. Treated to resist moisture and the fungi that causes dry wrot. it is usually stress graded to GS3 (general structural) this information is usually stamped onto the joist, or given a colour code.

Another method becoming increasingly common in the UK is to use an "engineered joist" Either laminated or constructed with webs of ply or OSB (oriented strand board). These have the advantage of having a very high resistance to moisture and therefore do not twist or warp to the same degree as a standard sawn timber joist. Twisting of joists can cause the floor to squeak, also because these joists are engineered, they can be manufactured to bridge large spans, up to around 20m. They have a very high strength to weight ratio and are fixed in the same way as standard joists, either on hangers or can be built in to walls (if treated correctly)

You can find technical info on this type of joist
here.

http://www.trusjoist.com/PDFFiles/Silent%20Floor%20and%20Roof%20systems%20-%20Technical%20Guide.pdf

Hope this is of some help.