How to Change Damaged Joists

Joists may become damaged for any number of reasons. Water damage, termites or severe impacts can crack or weaken your joists. The problem with these scenarios is that your joists are the structural support of the entire house. Joists are built into the house before it is sheathed with floors and walls. So, removing an old joist would require massive reconstruction. Fortunately, home inspection codes allow for a quicker fix called sistering. This is the process of bracing a damaged joist with new wood to re-establish the structural integrity of your home.

Treated lumber
Pencil
Circular saw
Bottle jack
16d nails
Hammer
Work gloves
Safety glasses

Instructions

- 1
  Choose treated boards that are the same dimensions as the damaged joist. Hold each of your new boards against the existing board it matches. Mark the new lumber with your pencil so your cuts will be true.
- 2
  Use your circular saw to cut each of the new boards. Follow your pencil marks to get the appropriate length and angle on every board.
- 3
  Have an assistant hold the damaged boards in your old joist in their original position. Use a bottle jack to lift any pieces that your assistant can not lift by hand.
- 4
  Hold each new board beside the board in the old joist that it will be replacing. Use your hammer to drive 16d framing nails through the old board and into the new one to secure the new wood. Drive a nail every 12 inches along the length of each board.
- 5
  Attach a second piece of new wood on the opposite side of the old joist. Drive a nail through the wood every 16 inches to secure the second part of your new frame and complete the repair.

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