What’s your trade?

 

I am a general contractor.

 

What is this picture of, and what is the location of the stud wall,i.e, basement?
Anyway, looks like someone is trying to raise the sunken room floor... The question is, why is the ledger sitting on the edge of the plate when there is room for the joists to have proper bearing and sit on the plate? Looks like someone didn't want to order the next size of lumber and used a ledger strip instead.
What is above that, and what load will this floor going to support?
Other than that, that ledge strip can work, given it's properly fastened using structural fasteners and approved by an architect.

 

What is this picture of, and what is the location of the stud wall,i.e, basement?
Anyway, looks like someone is trying to raise the sunken room floor... The question is, why is the ledger sitting on the edge of the plate when there is room for the joists to have proper bearing and sit on the plate? Looks like someone didn't want to order the next size of lumber and used a ledger strip instead.
What is above that, and what load will this floor going to support?
Other than that, that ledge strip can work, given it's properly fastened using structural fasteners and approved by an architect.

Floor joists are supporting a large storage area/loft for equipment, parts, and supplies for mechanic shop.

The first photo provided is of the corner of the intended load bearing wall and floor joists of the upper storage area. Wall location is on the second floor of the building/shop. This was all new installation/construction within the last month.

Thank you for your information and questions.

 

Similar answer.
It comes down to load, and needed performance.
The 2x4 can be as good as a hanger for load. However, it appears we have small headed fasteners for 2x4 to wall. We need load per joist calc, and actual fastener embedment, style, and performance sheet if you're really getting technical.
Larger GRK (or similar) would provide ample load capacity (@ 2x4 under joist) for each joist, though.

 

Thank you for that confirmation. Small head fasteners were used on the 2x4 and agree that the larger head structural fastener would be the superior fastener to meet the required performance.

 

So its a mezzanine at a mechanic shop that most likely will be crammed with heavy stuff

 

That assumption is correct. 3 to 5 tier racks full of parts and stock.

 

Yeah, that framing is not going to fly for so heavy a load.

I think it should have full bearing from the joists to the floor.

Andy.

 

Appreciate the advice of a full loading wall under the joists to the floor.

 

oh Squat !!

You are a GC ?

What do the plans call out ?
What does the architect and the Engineer specify.

What does the local jurisdiction say ?

You have an odd story for a GC.

 

You have an odd story for a GC.

Why? The way i read it, he is talking with the customer about additional, new work, and he saw this existing framing. He is concerned about the previous work and doesn’t want to get his name attached to something that doesn’t meet code or is unsafe. Sounds like good due diligence to me.

 

Studs look 12” on center. One 2x4 is rated for about 1k lbs. vertical pressure. But that connection floor to wall is chit.

Probably ran the rim so he could toenail to the top plate easy and not worry about blow out on backside.

exterior wall looks like sheet metal so no good connection there without decent work.
Originally I would set the rim on backside with lags coming from underneath using an 1/8” bell hanger bit. Where those aren’t I’d put at minimum a-35s. But I like the L-50 with the nail holes being further away from edge of board. All that with a layout consistent to mid span of joist layout. Then pressure block and or clip joist to rim.
then every 4-6 feet and within 2’ of ends (or whatever makes sense with wall length). I would remove stud and run deck tension ties with all thread to hold downs anchored to the slab floor. Doubling the stud wherever hold downs are. Connecting floor to wall that way as well. Block mid span of joist with straight block line. Sheer the wall and maybe and I mean maybe add knee bracing that could double as light load hanging spots.

since this is already built and the board stretcher isn’t in Home Depot yet, you could double up the joist to achieve bearing. Or replace since it’s not a skinned product.

or at the very least add structural screws. But I would also screw 2x4’s on the flat to studs to get direct bearing under that 2x4 ledger. Clip and pressure block joist.

 

Thank you for that response. Much appreciated!

 

Clip joist to top plate is what I should’ve said.
Being inside weather won’t be a hindrance. But that be a lot of weight and either the og GC or the client didn’t wanna deal with permits.

an engineer stamp would alleviate any fall back on you…I think.

not sure of what spans you got going on, but I’d definitely go beyond code minimum if possible.
Good luck. Many people have to follow chit work, just better be a real trades /GC and not an owner trying to save a buck, cuz it could cost more in the end.

 

As a fix I dont think its that big a deal,,, some more screws and some to insure it doesnt come skidding off that 2x4 girt. Add another under it or a 2x6 and some screws. I also dont think loading is a great deal,,, while it can get some heavy parts doesnt mean it will and the area/span is small and short.

 

Depending on weight of stored load I’d consider a girder and posts in middle of basement area, if not too impractical for business.

 

Overkill bill instead of miss kiss. Since tipsy tom did the original.

few clips and screws. Be fine

 

That has a possible load of 200lbs per sq ft from my wild a$$ guess considering the use of the building.

 

I do prescriptive structural design for stuff like this, and I would have to know the plan of the platform before giving any code advice on a small aspect like this.

Andy.

 

Let's not overthink this here. Couple cases of beer and some fat chicks to give'er a test run.

 

Ouch!
That was my first expression seen this picture!
The floor joists (2x10 ?) need to sit at least on half of the width of the top plate 2x4s!
in this picture the load is primarily transferred and held by the screws or nails!
My golden construction rule philosophy is in general is "a proper framing can stand/hold any load on its own" and the fasteners ( nails, screws) are merely the "placeholders" so nothing can move away and stays where it's supposed to be. No load should ever go over a fastener unless otherwise specifically designed i.e. joist hangers.
In other words, any load and stressors must flow through the lumber and not rely on just a few nails at the edge of the wood to be transferred onto another lumber! split-y-split... collapse...
the floor joists stress/load flow in the picture rely mostly on the tacked on 2 x 4!
Imagine this: increase the load on the floor in theory and imaginative with a hydraulic press. or any weight. Imagine increasing the pressure to half a ton, to a ton, to 2 tons and so on and so forth.
What's gonna start moving?
the floor joist nailed into the header joist will pressure the 2x4 its sitting on and gradually bending pulling out the nails subsequently all nails from the header joist as well!

Do an image search for "floor framing" and you will see the correct way and what I mean!

 

I have been under the belief you needed 2" of bearing ,not 1 1/2" .

 

The OP quotes the code paragraph. I wonder why masonry and concrete require double.

 

Looks like someone missed their length measurement by 1.5" and thought that putting a 2x4 there held up by only nails would be adequate to hold that load.

 

Add another 2x4 wall next to the other one. Done.

 

One time I saw that "ledger" board stacked with 4-5 two by eights. So the joists attached to the stack instead of sitting on the foundation.

I don't know why it was like that. But quite crazy. The house has many issues. And once upon a time was renovated by a prominent area EC and Is GC brother. The EC was the owner with big dreams...

 

That is not platform framing. It’s called bad framing.

 

Always perform a walkthrough before attempting to perform a ribbon strip.

Were you able to elaborate on other violations?