New 1st Floor Bathroom - Reinforcement of Joists
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:14 am
Apologies if this has been asked before but I've looked everywhere and can't find an answer!
I'm installing a new bathroom on the 1st Floor of my house and I'm not sure how to overcome the problem of what I believe to be insufficient strength/size of the joists. :(
The joists are 170x47mm @ 350mm centres with a span of 4,200mm. The bathroom is 3,200x2,700mm (the 3,200mm is the distance along the 4,200mm length at which point there is a non load-bearing partition timber stud wall (which separates the proposed bathroom and a corridor).
The bathroom will include a 1,800x800mm acrylic jacuzzi bath located on the external wall (opposite side to the corridor), a shower (adjacent to the separating timber stud partition) and other standard fittings (WC, basin, units, etc).
My first question is whether the existing joists are sufficient (which I doubt). If not, do I need to double up the joists (same size as existing for between every joist or every other joist?
If I need to double up the joists I then have the problem of fitting them (4,200mm) due to the timber stud partition at 3,200mm. Don't think this is feasible but could I install two shorter lengths of joist at 2,100mm each with an overlapping wood joint and some fixing between them - I appreciate this gives a weakness in the joint but would this not help to reinforce the existing floor.
Sorry for all the questions but hopefully I given all the facts. With any luck somebody will tell me that the existing joists will suffice but maybe that's wishful thinking!
Look forward to hearing from anyone who can help as I'm now at a dead end.
Thanks.
I'm installing a new bathroom on the 1st Floor of my house and I'm not sure how to overcome the problem of what I believe to be insufficient strength/size of the joists. :(
The joists are 170x47mm @ 350mm centres with a span of 4,200mm. The bathroom is 3,200x2,700mm (the 3,200mm is the distance along the 4,200mm length at which point there is a non load-bearing partition timber stud wall (which separates the proposed bathroom and a corridor).
The bathroom will include a 1,800x800mm acrylic jacuzzi bath located on the external wall (opposite side to the corridor), a shower (adjacent to the separating timber stud partition) and other standard fittings (WC, basin, units, etc).
My first question is whether the existing joists are sufficient (which I doubt). If not, do I need to double up the joists (same size as existing for between every joist or every other joist?
If I need to double up the joists I then have the problem of fitting them (4,200mm) due to the timber stud partition at 3,200mm. Don't think this is feasible but could I install two shorter lengths of joist at 2,100mm each with an overlapping wood joint and some fixing between them - I appreciate this gives a weakness in the joint but would this not help to reinforce the existing floor.
Sorry for all the questions but hopefully I given all the facts. With any luck somebody will tell me that the existing joists will suffice but maybe that's wishful thinking!
Look forward to hearing from anyone who can help as I'm now at a dead end.
Thanks.