What is this crossbracing on my floor joists?

09-29-2012, 09:00 AM	#1
huesmann Member   Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Washington, DC area Posts: 54	What is this crossbracing on my floor joists? Just wondering what purpose this serves (see attached photo). It's about 7' from the wall only on one side of the house. Attached Thumbnails

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09-29-2012, 09:48 AM	#2
Ed911 Member   Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: East Coast of NC Posts: 157	What is this crossbracing on my floor joists? Check out this website, it pretty much explains all you need to know about cross bracing. http://www.homeadditionplus.com/fram...oor_Joists.htm

09-29-2012, 11:38 AM	#3
hand drive AHH, SPANS!!!   Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Durham NC Posts: 1,197	What is this crossbracing on my floor joists? If needed now a days we add blocking mid span of the floor joists instead of the cross type bracing. It keeps the joists from twisting and moving over time.

09-29-2012, 12:46 PM	#4
woodworkbykirk journeyman carpenter     Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: nova scotia canada Posts: 2,160	What is this crossbracing on my floor joists? x bracing adds much more strength to the floor as compared to blocking. also x bracing completely block off the joist spacing in case plumbing or electrical needs to be run.. no drillinng or notching required

09-29-2012, 06:31 PM	#5
Gary in WA Moderator   Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8,775	What is this crossbracing on my floor joists? Only if a 1x4 or ceiling ties them together underneath. Apples to apples, the solid blocking is 66% stiffer than x-bracing, add the 1x4 to the bottom= 167% less deflection; http://www.ewpa.com/Archive/2004/jun/Paper_278.pdf Gary __________________ Clothes taking longer to dry? Clean the dryer screen in HOT water if using fabric softener sheets. They leave a residue that impedes air-flow, costing you money. Clean the ducting in the last six months? 17,000 dryer fires annually!