CountryPlans Forum

General => Owner-Builder Projects => Topic started by: Drew on December 06, 2007, 11:45:45 AM

Title: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: Drew on December 06, 2007, 11:45:45 AM
Hi folks,

I'm planning my 24'x18' single storey ag building.  It will have a post and beam foundation.  My question relates to the rim joists (Perpendicular to the joists).  I have 24 feet to cover.  Can I cover that distance in shorter members (Say three 2"x6"x8' or two 2"x6"x12') and join them together?  If so, what is the proper method for joining?  Should I use Simpson tie plates or something else?

ION, the rains are finally coming to Northern California.  It just gives me more time to go over my plans.  Yep.  That's it.   :-\

Thanks!

Drew

Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: Robert_Flowers on December 06, 2007, 12:04:20 PM
Drew  you can splice the rim joist just butt them end to end and nail a block on the inside between the joist unless your building code says so you don't need any tie plates.

Robert
Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: Drew on December 06, 2007, 02:09:39 PM
Much obliged, Robert.  Two twelves (or whatever it takes to get the splice between the joists) are much easier to buy/drive/walk into the site than the twenty-fours!

Drew
Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: PEG688 on December 06, 2007, 09:57:28 PM
 Splices normally fall , or should  be cut to fall centered on layout . Rim joist , ridge boards , top and bottom wall plates etc , all should be cut so joints land centered on normal lay out  corresponding ,( IE Joist , rafters , studs , )members. Top , top plates should be staggered 4 ' from the sub top plate splices.
Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: Drew on December 13, 2007, 01:37:46 PM
Thanks PEG.

"Centered on layout" - Does that mean that a 24' splice should happen at 12'?  Does that mean that I would not want to make 2 splices at 8' and 16'?  I'm not sure exactly what you mean and could use a little more context.

Drew
Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: John_M on December 13, 2007, 01:53:02 PM
I believe he means that the rim joist should ideally be spliced on the center of one of the floor joists.  Same thing for a top plate, etc.
Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: MountainDon on December 13, 2007, 05:20:56 PM
Exactly so
Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: Drew on December 13, 2007, 05:30:17 PM
Excellent!  Thanks!  I was set in my mind to put the splice between the joists. 
Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: PEG688 on December 13, 2007, 09:25:26 PM
 Yup John's got it right.

Typically I lay down my plate stock , and/or ridge boards ,and cut them so a stud or rafter layout falls dead center then  one stud or rafter catches the plates or ridge .


I then go back and layout my window  & door RO's.

Then I do the partition layout .

Finally I do the stud layout last as some studs will be omitted , or replaced by door and window framing members , king studs , trimmers , cripples , partition backers .

I find that to be the cleanest way to layout , you'll do less erasing , remarking , etc . That way the plates are clearly marked so it lessens the confusion factor when the " real" framing starts.

  For rim joist I generally do my lay out on the PT sill plate then transfer the lines onto the box sill / rim joist . So I square up the foundation snap lines , bore for bolts , notch for straps etc , then  install PT plates.

Once the plates are down I first go mark Center Line ( C/L ) of all toilets and shower drains , with "I" joist having to cut a joist is a PITA so if you layout where your down going plumbing will be you can off set  and/  or add a joist   off lay out but more importantly not a joist centered under a toilet or tub / shower waste pipe.

Then I do layout , normal 16 " , 19.2 , or 24" OC layout , Again a nice clean easy to read , hint less likely to be screwed up  assembly.

On roofs skylights can be pre- layed out over sinks , stair wells and the like , so the rafters can be adjusted slightly to get the skylight where it should be and NOT 3 " off center / off to the side of a sink or stairwell.   


Hope that makes sense to you, I know I use a lot of trade terms but you'll need to know those to build with so look them up if you need to .

G/L PEG
Title: Re: Long rim joists - Can I join shorter members?
Post by: benevolance on December 13, 2007, 11:21:33 PM
Great tip on avoiding the floor joists with the drain pipes peg... I never thought of it that way...I just moved the drain pipe and the sink/toilet in the bathroom... on a small bathroom there is not really room for that so like I said it is a great tip