Glue and screw (or bolt with timber connectors) additional joists to the existing ones. That’s what ‘sistering’ is.
It will reduce the deflection considerably and takes away the need to completely remove the floor above.
3 Likes
This.
The guy I used to work for, did it, and it was amazing how much stronger it was, according to the building architect.
Ah spelling not my strong point!
The bouncyness probably enhanced the experience.
If you strengthen the floor, expect to be sued for ruining their sex life.
5 Likes
We took out all the lath and plaster in 2 big bedrooms and jacked up the joists as they were bending, then put a big joist crossways to support the lot. Filthy job and i guess the whole lot will have to come down. Good job the insurance hopefully will pay for a hotel for he poor tenant
Do the joists have one end in an exterior wall ? In old houses those walls can be damp and 150 year old timber probably wouldn’t have been treated with anything effective, so the joist ends can rot (voice of experience). As the rotten material disintegrates the floor can start to flex up and down which can eventually crack the plaster and cause it to fail. It is possible to replace just the joist ends with fresh timber, running them alongside the old joists for a distance as described by Paul. But this is only worth doing if the original joists are otherwise in decent condition.
VB
2 Likes
Don’t rule out Stronzetto.
His fervid imagination was surely nurtured by such as this.
If the joist are indeed rotten at the ends, my fix will not work. However, if they are sound at the supporting points the new joists do not even need to touch the outer (supporting) walls, as long as they are fixed correctly to the original joists.
1 Like
What is the span of the joists Guy?
I’ll need to go & have a better look in the light today or tomorrow. We were looking up at it with the aid of a small torch last night. One end of the joists does go to the front of the building and the room is about 5 meters deep. First call will be to insurance company. I imagine they’ll require a surveyor assess it first?
Normally the joists will run across the short direction of the room. If they’re more than 2.5m long
then they should be cross-braced or noggined to stop them twisting. 5m would be a very long unsupported span. The modern span tables are here http://www.home-extension.co.uk/tech2.html but in times past builders used thinner sections and often got away with it.
VB
1 Like
Just tell the tenants upstairs to get married, no more sex or wobbly ceilings then.
6 Likes
and a loss adjuster as well i guess , with all that damaged carpets and furniture
Ugh, huge hangover from last nights celebrations 
6 Likes
35 mins flight to Newquay, picked up hire car (upgraded to a Volvo V90), now sitting in a nice spot in Fowey
2 Likes
Student lifestyle at your age? 
2 Likes
Bored ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz
We enjoyed the Dwelling House cafe when we were last there.
wonderful place , glad you can get there . now pop across on the ferry and a nice walk from polruan awaits you to polperro
1 Like
It’s a steep hill out of Polruan! I like the walk across to Polkerris from Readymoney Cove.
2 Likes