Distribution of Loads in a Wood Floor

Floor Distribution Basics

• Floors contain an inherent advantage when it comes to load distribution because they entail very broad systems. In a wooden floor, all parts of the floor connect to one another to form a single surface. Thus, when you place weight directly on a floor, this weight naturally spreads across the surface of the floor because of the interconnectivity of the wood. The more interconnected the parts of a wooden floor, the better the floor distributes a load across its surface. Despite this natural distribution, wooden floors require other weight distribution networks to ensure optimal performance.

Distribution Systems

• Distribution systems are structures built beneath the surface of a floor that distribute loads. Joists and trusses are the two most common systems in wooden floors. Joists are a series of wooden I-beams placed perpendicular to the primary support beams in a floor. Joists take weight placed directly on floor beams and distribute them along their length, lessening the impact on any single spot. Trusses are triangles made of wood and placed in rows in a floor to form a zigzag shape. The wooden beams within a truss system create a series of load distribution paths that direct weight in numerous directions from all points of the floor.

Distribution Networks

• Distributing networks allow floors to share load-bearing responsibility with other parts of a building’s frame. Joist and truss systems, for instance, often connect directly to walls. These walls, in turn, connect directly to the foundation of a home. Assume you place a washing machine on your wooden floor. A joist or truss system absorbs some of this load through diffusion, while distributing the rest of it to the nearest walls. The walls absorb yet more weight, while distributing the rest of it down to the foundation.

Distribution For Your Wood Floor

• When it comes to developing a distribution system for your wooden floor, a handful of factors affect your choices. For instance, joist systems often appear in second floor floors because joists can connect directly to and even become part of a wall frame structure. Trusses work well in first floor floors. A number of truss types exist, some of them very complex. The more complex a truss system, the more avenues along which it distributes weight. Talk to an engineer about your exact needs, which also include the weight of your house and the type of soil in your area.