My Floor joists are now shimmed and level

[Jimmy C.]

I started framing in my floor joists this week and I need some advice.
I bought pressure treated 20 ft 2 x 8's.
 Some of the boards measure 7-1/2" others measure 7-1/4"
Is this normal?
What are my options?
Other than trimming them all to the smallest measurement.

The 2x8 floor joist frame will rest on top of my beams.(no hangers)

Should I have posted this under Plans Forum?

[jdew]

Shim between your joists and beams where needed so the top of your joists are at the same height.

[jb]

Ditto.....sounds like good advice to me....shims.....

[glenn kangiser]

Should I have posted this under Plans Forum?

John monitors the Plans Support forum more closely as  a special service to his plan purchasers so if you need his help you can post there for a more prompt reply from him, but if it's something we can handle here is fine.

[John Raabe]

A question like that is probably best and most quickly answered here since it is a construction question rather than a plans question.

Yes, dimensional lumber varies quite a bit and a good carpenter has all kinds of tricks for making less than great wood look straight, true and plumb.

Most first time builders have to settle for a bit of the wobbly.

Shims are the best bet for leveling the ends of floor joists. Use blocking at mid spans if the joists want to start rolling over or up and down on you.

[Jimmy C.]

Okay, I'm going to shim my floor joists this weekend. Anyone have any tips?
Do's or Dont's?

[Daddymem]

Yeah...don't hit your thumb with a hammer, it hurts!

[glenn kangiser]

You could stretch a string real tight and shim them up just to it.  Raising one too much will raise the string and throw the rest off.  

I know --that was an obvious answer but someone somewhere may not have seen that done before.

[Jimmy C.]

Thanks Glenn...Never be afraid to let me know about the obvious.  My pride may not let me admit I didn't know something. But, my wallet will always be thankful for any tips ....

[glenn kangiser]

That reply seemed to be purposely vague, evasive, non-committal and inconclusive.

The way you answered that, Jimmy, I don't think any of us will ever know whether you knew or not!

[Jimmy C.]

Thanks for the help everyone.....

My joists are level thanks to you..

[glenn kangiser]

That really looks good, Jimmy.  Keep us posted.

[Jimmy C.]

A couple more pics from this weekend

[Daddymem]

Looks great!  When are you moving in?
When are coming to build mine?

[Jimmy C.]

Looks great!  When are you moving in?

My wife has set our move in date to April,2006.
She told me it does not need to be comlete, but she  wants to at least have a shower, toilet, sink, and a roof!  
I can help you build yours as soon as I finish mine!
Cause I got the fever!  (Cabin Fever?)   Hee.Hee....

[Daddymem]

So, how long of a road has it been to get to this point where you can see the light at the end of the tunnel?  We've been working on ours for 4 years this August.

[Jimmy C.]

So, how long of a road has it been to get to this point where you can see the light at the end of the tunnel?  We've been working on ours for 4 years this August.

4 Years? My wife would have found another husband to build for her if I took that long! (Just Kidding! Maybe... )

We started looking at plans in November of 2004.
We had a small one story house plan we liked but we didn't love it.

I came across countryplans.com while doing a google search for country cabin plans.

Then opened up the Universal 2 Story page, liked what I saw, sent my wife the link at her work, she wrote back in big bold letters...

Thats The One! I LOVE IT.  Stop looking!

We started clearing the scrub brush from the 1 acre of land January 1st weekend.

Dug holes for the posts about 2 months later and started the building process.

We started with a 3000.00 tax refund to get to the point we are now.

We will build with any extra money we have every weekend. hopefully around 700.00 per month   

[glenn kangiser]

That's great progress, Jimmy.  And as an added bonus, you get to hang out with all of us cool dudes and gals for free too.  

We are glad to have you on board too.  

[Daddymem]

4 Years? My wife would have found another husband to build for her if I took that long! (Just Kidding! Maybe... )

Well....my wife was spitting out a couple of kids during that time so she's understanding, and we currently do have a roof over our head that we own (in cooperation with a bank of course) even if it is tiny.  If I don't get a bedroom for my baby girl soon, I think I'll be sleeping at work  

[John Raabe]

A nice platform in the woods is a lovely thing in itself.

Post and pier is such a low impact foundation. That scene would look quite different if you had brought in a concrete foundation crew.