How to Make a Header for a Floor Joist

The key floor framing members, called floor joists, for the typical wood-framed house attach to large beams called header joists, or band joists, placed around the perimeter of the structure. The size of these header joists must be carefully calibrated by a professional to ensure that they meet with your local building code requirements. Once this is done, you can create a proper header yourself with a few tools and the use of some specialized fastening hardware.

Tape measure
Piece of lumber
Circular saw
Pencil
Hammer
Nails
Joist hangers
10d nails

Instructions

- 1
  Extend a tape measure along the length of the wall on which you will place the header.
- 2
  Consult your local building department or seek advice from a structural engineer to determine the proper size header joist for the type of wall you are building. Have them tell you the proper spacing between joists that fasten to the header -- typically 12, 16 or 24 inches.
- 3
  Cut to length with a circular saw a piece of lumber for the header board that has the proper width and depth for the wall.
- 4
  Mark on the header where the joists will go, at the proper spacing as indicated on the building plans. The span between floor joists will typically be 16 or 24 inches.
- 5
  Have some helpers assist you in placing the header on the sill. Toenail the header into the sill. Check with your local code officials for the type and quantity of nails required.
- 6
  Center the metal hardware joist hangers over the marks you made for the stud placement. Nail the hangers to the header with 10d nails.
- 7
  Position the floor joist into the hanger. Nail the hanger to the floor joist using 10d nails driven through the holes in the flanges of the hanger. The flanges fit over the sides of the floor joist and have nail holes to secure them to it.

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