Fluther: What can cause a floor joist to break?

What can cause a floor joist to break?

Asked by Dutchess_III (46827

) February 18th, 2023
15 responses
“Great Question” (2

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1 story house, built in 1950.

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Topics: broken, Floor joist

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Answers

Termites, fungus/mold a knot in the wood or simply rotten from water infiltration over time. Also ants depending on where you live.

Dig_Dug (4249

)“Great Answer” (5

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House settling or sliding down the side of a mountain. Stuff like that.

SnipSnip (6793

)“Great Answer” (2

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Lots of things, but usually water in one form or another. A physical stress that breaks a joist seems very unlikely unless you live in a bad earthquake zone or your house got Dorothy’d.

Smashley (12406

)“Great Answer” (0

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Depression. Even a joist can breakdown every now and then.

Forever_Free (8573

)“Great Answer” (1

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@SnipSnip Hate when my house slides down a mountain and stuff like that! ;P

smudges (10749

)“Great Answer” (2

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@Forever_Free or even anxiety!

sorry, am in a mood today, still sick and need to make myself laugh

smudges (10749

)“Great Answer” (1

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Oh them moods..

Dig_Dug (4249

)“Great Answer” (2

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I’ve only seen one; the joist was not properly supported (where located to foundation) on the end and moved, then broke. Also sometimes the piers in the middle shift.

Tropical_Willie (31131

)“Great Answer” (1

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@smudges We owned a house built on the side of a mountain over limestone. It shifted and we had to have extensive work done. There was another in my city, at that time, that slid so far and it caused so much damage it had to be torn down. Our house was built in 1900. So, yeah, ‘stuff like that’ really happens. Thanks for the laugh, for sure. :)

SnipSnip (6793

)“Great Answer” (2

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@smudges No apologies. I am in that same mood

Forever_Free (8573

)“Great Answer” (2

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