Floor Opening Framing

The thought of cutting through your floor might seem scary but installing any new staircase whether rigid stairs from one floor to another or pull down stairs leading to an attic requires an opening in the floor.

Floor opening framing.

Where the header joist span does not exceed 4 feet 1219 mm the header joist shall be a single member the same size as the floor joist. Nosing the amount the stair tread projects passed the vertical riser below if there is any the results. Single trimmer joists shall be used to carry a single header joist that is located within 3 feet 914 mm of the trimmer joist bearing. Yet through planning and personal attention falls through openings under foot are very easy to prevent.

The length of the opening in the upper floor. Draw up a basic floor framing plan. Some newer homes have manufactured i beam shaped joists. Floor openings on a job site can occur during construction renovations or repairs.

A floor s framework is made up mostly of wooden joists that run parallel to one another at regular intervals. Floor joists are typically 2 by 8s 2 by 10s or 2 by 12s. When framing floor openings techniques include the installation of trimmer joists which are double joists that beef up the joists on either side of an opening and headers that run perpendicular between joists. Extremely long spans staircases or interior walls typically require additional support which can complicate your framing.

If you make a hole guard it. Before you begin cutting or measuring grab a pencil and paper and sketch an outline of your floor. The location of headers and trim joists depends upon the length of the floor opening and the direction of the staircase and these. Its length depends on how much headroom you need.

The second story floor joists are supported by a ribbon board set into the studs. Before cutting the hole barricade the work area to keep. Thickness of floor structure floor finish material plus joist plus plywood plus ceiling finish required headroom. Once the studs are in place frame in the door and window openings.

Ceiling joists are usually 2 by 6s or sometimes 2 by 4s if it is an older home. Floor openings are hazardous because workers may fall through them and or may be struck by objects that fall through openings. There may be floor openings as each new floor in a building is added for personnel and material access and for stairwells elevators or skylights. Your sketch should depict the floor s basic shape and layout complete with any additional features like alcoves nooks and staircases.