Short Deck Joist

671 Views 25 Replies 14 Participants Last post by greg24k, 2 d ago

David-Remodeler

Discussion Starter · 4 d ago

2

Home inspector found this gem, home owner wants me to deal with it. The joist next to this one looks about right and there aren’t any other signs of things shifting (though the j bolts in the footers landed in the wrong spot somehow) so it’s probably just a case of the builder trying to hide a dumb mistake and not any kind of structural failure right?

Thanks!

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Half-fast Eddie

· #2 · 4 d ago

Wedge a brick under it.

Reactions: 1

Joe Fairplay

· #3 · 4 d ago

Why can we not see damage on the end of the joist where the side flange nails "tore out"?
So the joist was short and they just inserted two nails into the holes?
Either way, a concrete deck block from Home Desperate will fix the problem for $10.

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David-Remodeler

Discussion Starter · #4 · 4 d ago

That’s the thing, I was looking all over for signs that the joist tore free and there weren’t any, it really looks like someone just tried to cover it up.

now I feel kinda dumb for not thinking of putting a block under it. Oh well.

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Kingcarpenter1

· #5 · 4 d ago

It’s not “torn” because the nails missed & went to ledger/rim. At least they had sense enough to put the oopsie cut on top. Did you cut decking out. What’s going on w/ hose bib

Mike

Kingcarpenter1

· #6 · 4 d ago

Looks like the piece to right just lays on top (stain) for acces to vent. Oh, look here

Mike

David-Remodeler

Discussion Starter · #7 · 4 d ago

That “cover” was just sitting over the hole when I got there. All I’ve done there is pick that piece up and set it out of the way so I could get a good look

WBailey1041

· #8 · 4 d ago

Send your helper for the board stretcher.

Reactions: 4

G&Co.

· #9 · 4 d ago

Take out the hanger, sister both sides of the joist for a few feet and re-hang with a 3-wide hanger.

Reactions: 3

Calidecks

· #10 · 4 d ago

Cut it 6 times and it's still too short!

Mike.
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Reactions: 3

rrk

· #11 · 4 d ago

G&Co. said:
Take out the hanger, sister both sides of the joist for a few feet and re-hang with a 3-wide hanger.

don't even need the 3rd one

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David-Remodeler

Discussion Starter · #12 · 4 d ago

The thing that really sucks about it is that I’d probably have to pull up all the decking to get more than a tiny sister joist in there

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splinter.picker

· #13 · 3 d ago

A concrete paver with some composite shims might be the easiest route depending on how much space is underneath that joist; its hard to tell.

You could also try throwing a piece of treated 2x6 in as a vertical leg going down to a paver and putting a 90° hanger on that...its up to you how much you feel like messing with it.

G&Co.

· #14 · 3 d ago

I would absolutely NOT support that joist with anything sitting on the ground. In MN you may get seasonal frost heaving.

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splinter.picker

· #15 · 3 d ago

G&Co. said:
I would absolutely NOT support that joist with anything sitting on the ground. In MN you may get seasonal frost heaving.

This is a good point.

Are the boards held down with the trex T style hidden fasteners? If so, remove the two boards to the right of the short joist, remove the hanger, sister a piece onto the rim on both sides and reinstall a new joist hanger.

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nickko

· #16 · 3 d ago

Maybe get a 1/4 inch steel L bracket made and lag it into the ledger and through bolt it into the joist.

Bldbiz

· #17 · 3 d ago

Just cut it back enough to get a short piece of 1.5" ledger in between the existing ledger, bolt the short ledger to the old ledger and put a new hanger on the joist.

Reactions: 5

Calidecks

· #18 · 3 d ago

That joist isn't holding much when you consider the distributed load throughout.

Mike.
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Reactions: 2

Calidecks

· #19 · 3 d ago

Bldbiz said:
Just cut it back enough to get a short piece of 1.5" ledger in between the existing ledger, bolt the short ledger to the old ledger and put a new hanger on the joist.

Best idea yet. Just packout the ledger.

Mike.
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Reactions: 1

Joe Fairplay

· #20 · 3 d ago

Pack (shim) between the end of the joist and the rim joist.
Replace the hanger with a Simpson HGUS-26.
The bearing on the HGUS-26 is 5" long so it will reach and carry without a problem.
Problem solved for $3.

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