Replacing Floor Joists DIY-Style

Joists are what provide the structure and support of your home’s floor. Over time, due to factors like rot, termites and other issues, your joists may start to become unstable and require replacement. While replacing floor joists may be too daunting a task for many, homeowners with a do-it-yourself streak and a lot of determination can replace the joists themselves. Not only will this save you money, you’ll get the pride of having completed an important repair task in your home. Read on for the steps to a DIY floor joist replacement and find out how you can get help from a local expert flooring contractor.

Gather Your Materials

The first step to any big home improvement job is to make sure that you have all the right materials before you begin work. Nothing is more frustrating than getting halfway through a project only to realize you need to make a hardware store run. For your replacement job, you’re going to need your replacement joints, a work light, a reciprocating saw and a framing hammer. Once you’ve gathered all the necessary equipment, it’s time to get started replacing those joists. Although it won’t be an easy job, it’s easily manageable by following the proper steps.

Carefully Remove the Old or Rotted Joist

Before you can get to work installing your new floor joists, you must remove the old ones. However, this is easier said than done. To get access to the joists, you’ll need to get underneath the flooring, which is usually accessible through a crawlspace. Once you’re under the floor and have located the joists, you should use the reciprocating saw to cut the joist down into three foot sections. Next, use the hammer to pry away the joist sections until they all have been removed. Finally, either by pulling them out or cutting them away, you need to remove all of the nails that were used to hold the joists in place. With the removal process complete, you can now move on to replacement.

Install and Secure the New Joist

The first part of installing the new joists is measuring the area that held the old joists. With those measurements in hand, use your saw to cut a replacement joist that matches the specifications. Line up your new joist to the empty space by standing it on its edge — this will make installation easier. After the joist is lined up, use your framing hammer to nail it in place, working very carefully so as not to damage the joist and to make sure that it has been installed securely. Finally, you should repeat the process for any other joists that need replacing until the job is complete.

Get Help from a Trusted Local Flooring Contractor

Sometimes, even with the best intentions, a DIY home improvement project is simply too much to handle on your own. This is particularly true for replacing floor joists. If you don’t think you’re quite up to the project and could use some help, then your best option is to sign up with ServiceWhale and connect with one of your city’s top flooring contractors. ServiceWhale makes it easier for our customers to find contractors for any number of home improvement projects, including floor joist replacement jobs. Find out how ServiceWhale works today and make your next project easy and affordable.