Can I add a sister beam on the beams supporting a bathtub that has a 1 1/2 ft hole in the plywood next to it?
Dee D asked:
Recently acquired a house from my mother. One major concern I have is the bathroom which has a gapping hole (from kids splashing water on the floor ) that’s about 1 1/2 ft long and about 6 inches wide (irregular size actually). My original intent was to get the tub removed and plywood the floor over again. However, money is an issue. I’m not familiar with this type of stuff but been reading home improvement books and websites. Is it possible to add sister joints to the beams holding up the tub and add a sheet of plywood over the whole bathroom floor?
I have a sheet of plywood covering the hole nailed to the 2 beams but I need to get the floor covered so that one piece wouldn’t work.
Any ideas??
Thanks SO much in advance!!!
Thanks for the answers!!!! You guys are great! One more question… how do I check to see if I actually need the sister beams? I’m just paranoid that my bathtub will fall through although the hole has been there for some time now, nearly 2 years!! Is that same to assume the beams underneath are fine?
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Recently acquired a house from my mother. One major concern I have is the bathroom which has a gapping hole (from kids splashing water on the floor ) that’s about 1 1/2 ft long and about 6 inches wide (irregular size actually). My original intent was to get the tub removed and plywood the floor over again. However, money is an issue. I’m not familiar with this type of stuff but been reading home improvement books and websites. Is it possible to add sister joints to the beams holding up the tub and add a sheet of plywood over the whole bathroom floor?
I have a sheet of plywood covering the hole nailed to the 2 beams but I need to get the floor covered so that one piece wouldn’t work.
Any ideas??
Thanks SO much in advance!!!
Thanks for the answers!!!! You guys are great! One more question… how do I check to see if I actually need the sister beams? I’m just paranoid that my bathtub will fall through although the hole has been there for some time now, nearly 2 years!! Is that same to assume the beams underneath are fine?
November 18th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Yes, a sister bean adds additional support, it won’t hurt anything having it there. Just make sure it won’t interfere with the existing plumbing, tow nail or use metal hangers to secure it to the existing framing.
I have found metal hangers and screws are the easiest way to work with old dry hard lumber.
Be sure to remove all dry rotted wood from under the tub, or you will just waste your time and money.
And be sure to use exterior grade plywood, or it won’t hold up to the moisture.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:14 am
Yes you can sister the floor joist. Your on the right track keep going.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Yes you can sister onto the existing joists. Laminate the beams together by glue and ***** method. If there is any dry rot shown, be sure to sister all affected beams.
Now from the topside. Dealing with the irregular hole is easier than you might think. Mark this area by finding the joists below, square the hole, cut and remove. Cut a patch using the same dimension (thickness) plywood, apply glue to joist tops, place plywood patch, and fasten with screws.
You are now patched, and ready for flooring. If your new flooring requires an underlayment, you can install 1/4″ luan sheets for products such as vinyl flooring. (Glued and screwed again)
If you have big box stores, or local lumber yards nearby, either one should be able to offer small cutoffs of plywood to fit your need, you wont have to purchase entire sheet.