What is the easy way to add additional support for my floor??
- Thread starter Elite
- Start date
Phong,
I would support the subfloor directly. I would run the two 4x6 perpendicular to the subfloor. The only thing that concerns me is that the ground has a lot of loose soil. If I were you, I would try to compact and level the soil as much as your can. You will probably experiencing some soil settling. Once you install the extra support, I would readjust the lally jack a few times.
Overall - it doesn't look too bad if your have the right size lally column.
Minh
I would support the subfloor directly. I would run the two 4x6 perpendicular to the subfloor. The only thing that concerns me is that the ground has a lot of loose soil. If I were you, I would try to compact and level the soil as much as your can. You will probably experiencing some soil settling. Once you install the extra support, I would readjust the lally jack a few times.
Overall - it doesn't look too bad if your have the right size lally column.
Minh
fishme
Premium Member
I don't see a fish tank anywhere? do you? 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9940274#post9940274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elite
That sound like a lot of work..
Dang that is a nice bathtub/bathroom.
This outdated, cramped and awkward bathroom was due for a makeover.
LOL .. If my bathroom look like that I would be happy..
..
Tong - I don't think that a cinder block would work as well. You need to shim the blocks so that there is a tight fit.
Phong - That looks good. How many lally columns are you planning on using? I used 4 total and my neighbor thought it was an overkill. But since they were so cheap, I felt it was worth the extra insurance.
Phong - That looks good. How many lally columns are you planning on using? I used 4 total and my neighbor thought it was an overkill. But since they were so cheap, I felt it was worth the extra insurance.
.
Vincerama2
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9944245#post9944245 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishme
I don't see a fish tank anywhere? do you?
The window overlooks a nice koi pond with a water fall...does that count? That pic of the new bathroom is actually just half the bathroom, the part you can't see is the walk in shower (it has no door or "tub" you walk into this glass enclosure and shower!)
They had small tanks around to keep the baby koi away from some terrorizing egret or something that was eating them.
Back on topic ...
how far apart are those 4x6 beams? (Too lazy to extrapolate using width of the beam...)
V
I know that several have advocated using dimensional lumber (IE: 4x6s), but if you are worried about strength and capacity then look into some engineered lumber (IE: LVL, glulam, etc). They come in all sizes and lenghts (and can also be cut down from std lengths to fit your needs). When we cut the opening for our inwall tank, on the bottom floor of a 2-story house, in a load beraing wall, we used an LVL header. Multiple times stronger than dimensional lumber, and not prone to warping from the elements. Barring that go with laminating some plywood to whatever dimensional lumber, and/or your existing floor joists (as was mentioned already). The end result will be to the multiple times stronger.
Another way to maybe make your life easier is if you decide to marry some supports to your existing floor joists, rent or bottow a framing nail gun to help with the initial placement. Try use glue in between the old and the new before hand and also to carriage bolt it afterwards, for added security.
For establishing a ground support for any new joists you can always use the concrete deck blocks. The ones that are shaped like a pyramid with a square indentation in the top meant for holding a verical 4x4. Dig our a little sand, flattening the grade as much as posisble, then come behind with some gravel to shore up the ground and prevent the sand from ****ing too much underneath, then level the block and put in your support and tie it into your joist. When grading and shoring it up with gravel, do it in an area 2 to 3 times the size of what you need for the block. So if the block is 6" square, clear an area 12" from the center in all directions.
As others have prefaced their recommendations with.. I am also not a strucural engineer, and these are just my suggestions based on previous expereinces with building and supporting structures. Whatever you chose, the best of luck to ya
Another way to maybe make your life easier is if you decide to marry some supports to your existing floor joists, rent or bottow a framing nail gun to help with the initial placement. Try use glue in between the old and the new before hand and also to carriage bolt it afterwards, for added security.
For establishing a ground support for any new joists you can always use the concrete deck blocks. The ones that are shaped like a pyramid with a square indentation in the top meant for holding a verical 4x4. Dig our a little sand, flattening the grade as much as posisble, then come behind with some gravel to shore up the ground and prevent the sand from ****ing too much underneath, then level the block and put in your support and tie it into your joist. When grading and shoring it up with gravel, do it in an area 2 to 3 times the size of what you need for the block. So if the block is 6" square, clear an area 12" from the center in all directions.
As others have prefaced their recommendations with.. I am also not a strucural engineer, and these are just my suggestions based on previous expereinces with building and supporting structures. Whatever you chose, the best of luck to ya
It is an Industry Standard term/acronym that stands for Laminated Veneer Lumber. Just about any lumber yard will carry it, but I doubt that you will find it at HD or Lowes. We ent to a local lumber yard out here to buy ours. There are pictures of it in our tank build thread . LVL (and Glulam) are basically made from laminating a bunch of thing pieces of wood together, similar to how plywood is made, but thicker, to match industray standard sizes (IE: 4x12, etc). but when you buy LVL you need to know the exact dimensions (IE: a 4x6 piece of dimensional lumber is actualy 3.5" X 5.5", give or take).
. LVL (and Glulam) are basically made from laminating a bunch of thing pieces of wood together, similar to how plywood is made, but thicker, to match industray standard sizes (IE: 4x12, etc). but when you buy LVL you need to know the exact dimensions (IE: a 4x6 piece of dimensional lumber is actualy 3.5" X 5.5", give or take).There was a thread in the large reef tank forums about a guy (mrcrab I think) that built his stand from home made engineered lumber (basically what you are planning on making). I recall for sure, but I think that he spends a little bit of time explaining what he did to made his beams. I also seem to recall that he, or one of his relatives that helped, was an experienced carpenter. Don't know if it will or not, but hope it helps
