How To Install Metal Floor Bridging

Solid bridging are the pieces that are put in between the floor joists so that they don t twist and warp.

How to install metal floor bridging.

Correct installation of cross bridging top view for engineered floor joists such as i joists or trusses you must follow the manufacturers specifications for installing bridging. If properly installed solid blocking any style of metal x type bridging and wood x type bridging again are equivalent in my book. Various types of metal bridging are available at home centers and lumberyards. An excellent galvanized steel product for outdoor patio decks.

Which system is easiest to install squeaks the least and holds up the longest. If span is greater than 16 use more than one pair. Measure out the distance from one floor joist to another. The choice comes down to the details you described.

Before you begin make sure you have all of the materials you need to complete it. To install the type shown here drive the toothed end into the joist and nail the other end. I used metal strap bridging for years and was never happy with the results except for the drive in type that gives the same benefit of wood x in regards to joist shrinkage. Use metal bridging instead of wood blocking if you wish.

Typically i joists are braced with metal strap cross bridging and truss style joists use continuous 2x4 lumber as bracing. Figure 3 bridging removed for duct work although not as good as solid or cross bridging a 2 x 4 supporting the duct work as shown in figure 4 would provide more support and load sharing than a light piece of metal. With the top bottom nailed straps we would toe nail them and when plucked they would have a high pitched ring. Metal floor joist bridging the whole idea of bridging is to nail the top and come back a year later when the wood has dried out and nail up the bottom.

Ez x bridging will help eliminate the floor from flexing and squeaking install easier look cleaner and also save labor installation costs. If span is greater than 8 install on 2x8 or larger joists. The joists shown here for example span 12 ft so we added rows of bridging 4 ft. Metal bridging is less effective for eliminating bouncy joists than blocking but it is easier to install and may stiffen the floor for.

Adding two rows of bridging costs a few dollars per joist. We set three 8d nails in the bottoms of 2x3 bridging and when i was an apprentice it was my job to go back a year later and drive the nails in. Tension bridging works only in tension so must be used in cross pairs. Installing solid bridging is easy and it s a project that won t take very long.

Great for do it yourself homeowners.