Best way to frame in a lateral bracing between joists

miamicuse

I need to insert a piece of 2x4 in between two joists (actually the bottom chords of two parallel trusses). The 2x4 will be perpendicular to the two joists and fit right in between and it's bottom is to be flushed with the joists.

The reason I need to do this is to attach the metal bracket for the track at the ends of a garage door. The track is parallel to my joists and does not reach either one so I am putting in a perpendicular piece so it can be mounted to. I need to do this in four places (two garage doors, two brackets each).

What is the best way to secure this piece of wood to the two joists?

(1) Just cut to fit between the two joists and hammer in 8d nails from the other side, through the face of the joists into the ends of the new lateral member.

(2) Use Simpson's 2x4 joist hangers or metal angles.



(3) Use a 2x6 and notch both ends, so that the longer section sits ON TOP of the two joists, where the shorter section fits in between. Apply the nail from the top through the top of the joists.

cleveman

Just pre-drill and screw. Use min. of 2 1/2" screws and 2 on each end. You can use larger than 2x4 wood if you like. I just use whatever scrap I have on hand.

Don't be afraid to run a support up into the attic alongside a truss or ceiling joist/rafter. If you can run something down from the rafter, past the ceiling joist, screwing into both, it will be more stout than just something hanging down from the ceiling joist.

If you can't do that, then build some triangle as a support.

I hate to have something for an overhead door which is not very stout. Seems that overhead doors and operators are the number one problem in property management.

miamicuse

I am sorry I wasn't clear.

I am not mounting a piece of lumber to the bottom of the joists. I have unlimited access to the attic and the sheetrock is down (for other reasons) so my question is actually how to add the support *in the attic* between the two joists. Once I added them and repaired other things I will hang new sheet rock and the doors will be ready to be mounted at the right spot.

Since I have access from below, that's why I have all those options to add these support beams.

I agree I want the strongest possible because it's supporting the weight of a 2 door garage door.