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So I'm replacing floor joists after fixing a long time under floor leak. The originals are imperial 4x2 and I've got 95mm ...
First I got some ply the right thickness, its above the damp course can I use ply as a shim?
Second above or below the joist? Probably don't have enough ply to do all above and laying chipboard then laminate so underneath is better unless there is a reason not to.
you dont need to turn the entire length of joist into 4" do you.
Just shim the points at which their load is carried surely.
Just shim underneath at the wall mounts to ensure the top's of the joists are all level.
Are you upstairs or downstairs? If downstairs, are you sure where the joists meet the wall aren't below the DPC? I had to wrap my joist ends in dpc.
I use playing cards as shims. Cheap, don't compress, tidy-looking and thin so you can get the height of the stack just right.
I think John's idea trumps ply
Cheers all ... downstairs and definitely above DPC. (in part that's what led to the problem as a leaky mains pipe coming in was leaking above the DPC then spreading out because of it)
Either way I reckon it won't hurt to weatherproof the ply... and putting it below seems ideal, just wanted to check it wasn't stupid..
The previous owner extended and when I replaced the floor in the extension they had used bits of cardboard (and just about anything) that had then compressed... doubtless the same person put the stopcock on with a damaged olive leading to this!!
Use slate.
It'll never rot and never compress.
#oldskool
As per perchy, my downstairs floor joists are just floating on pillars of slate, wood wrapped in dpc or whatever else they could get their hands on back in the day.
I think John’s idea trumps ply
I see what you did there.
Use slate.
It’ll never rot and never compress.
and theres plenty of it on the roof
The whole DPC in the 1920's house is slate ... but don't have any readily to hand.
That said I do have some grade 4 ceramic tile offcuts and a diamond saw... but they are probably a tad thick without planing a bit off the joists.
but don’t have any readily to hand.
use your imagination - your neighbours have roofs. Which one do you like the least?
Wow, ever since I had the smart idea to "just put the laminate down" the first thing to go right one of the sets of tile offcuts was exactly the right thickness plus the 12' joists just went in (room just about wide enough) and bridged across the centre wall... into the other room (larder/boiler) .. to replace the joists I'd had to cut out.
Ghastly thought I know but if the floor is up, now might be a good time to stick some underfloor insulation down
sorry!