Flexable floor?

[Bruce Thomas]

I inspected a home today that had more than acceptable deflection in the bedroom floor. The dressers rattled when you walked across the center.

I'm not sure how to read the lumber stamp "see photo" The span is 17' 1 1/2 Wall to wall with no support in the center.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Billy Stephens]

I'm not sure how to read the lumber stamp "see photo" The span is 17' 1 1/2 Wall to wall with no support in the center.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
.
Bruce,

Your Lumber has the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau Stamp @ SPIB - Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (http://www.spib.org).
.
It's Machine Graded with span tables @ www.southernpine.com/pdf/using_these_tables.pdf (http://www.southernpine.com/pdf/using_these_tables.pdf)

Sorry 2nd link does not have all the pages ( but hope this gets you started. )
.
.

[chris mcintyre]

I inspected a home today that had more than acceptable deflection in the bedroom floor. The dressers rattled when you walked across the center.

I'm not sure how to read the lumber stamp "see photo" The span is 17' 1 1/2 Wall to wall with no support in the center.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Bruce,
What is the width, 2x8, 2x10?
What is the spacing, 16" o.c., 12" o.c.?

[Bruce Thomas]

Thanks Billy,

Ya sorry Chris! 2X10 16" OC

Bruce

[Billy Stephens]

Ya sorry Chris! 2X10 16" OC

Bruce
.
Bruce,

I would suspect the flooring attachment method verses the joist.
.

[chris mcintyre]

From the 2003 IRC (this is the only copy I have here at home)

Table R502.3.3(1)
Residential sleeping areas, live load=30 psf
Southern pine, 2x10, 16" o.c.
SS 18'-9"
#1 18'-5"
#2 18'-0"
#3 13'-7"

So, much to my surprise it looks like the span meets code.



I inspected a home today that had more than acceptable deflection in the bedroom floor. The dressers rattled when you walked across the center.


This is a perfect example of what building to the minimum code gets you. 16' is as far we will span yellow pine 2x10's and even then we will go 12" o.c. so that we can avoid the above mentioned problem.

[Bruce Thomas]

Just to clarify and thank you guys for your help.

This is a 2X10 floor in a bed room 16" OC Southern pine 17' 1 1/2" span. 7/8" tong & grove OSB glued and nailed. Carpet prevented view of fasteners.

New home "less than 1 year old" code inspected and approved. The owner is upset with the builder for several other issues as well. This floor moves like an old farm house. Just walking normally makes the dresser mirrors shake. (I weigh 185).

My opinion is that the floor should be strengthened not only for comfort but also because the caulk is pulling away from the wall on the master vanity.

Thanks again,
Bruce

[chris mcintyre]

7/8" tong & grove OSB glued and nailed.


Bruce, this is more than likely 23/32 (what most people call 3/4) they do make 7/8" but I have never seen it used in my area for standard/typical construction.



...also because the caulk is pulling away from the wall on the master vanity.



As a builder, for the one year warranty "punch list", re-caulking bathroom vanities is a given.

[Ted Menelly]

I inspected a home today that had more than acceptable deflection in the bedroom floor. The dressers rattled when you walked across the center.

I'm not sure how to read the lumber stamp "see photo" The span is 17' 1 1/2 Wall to wall with no support in the center.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would have used a minimum of 2x12 16 inches on center. 2x10 does not cut it. To much deflection. I care not of span tables. Real life fell is what it is all about. You want a solid floor. 2x12 16 on center with a full 3/4 inch sub floor if not 1 inch tongue and groove.

All the difference in the world. Now if you are talking truss joists or I beam joists then the story changes altogether.

[Matt Fellman]

fwiw... floors designed to the bare minimum 40psf will allow a TV on a tall dresser to rattle when walked across... at least when my fat butt walks by.

I've gone down this road before only to be surprised at what crappy design is allowed by the code. This is a perfect example of the saying that the code is a floor to start from rather than a ceiling to strive for.

[Jerry Peck]

I would suspect the flooring attachment method verses the joist.


That is what I would suspect first too, then being over-spanned.