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New Home - Floor Joist 12" or 16" OC?

Posted on 8/3/24 at 7:53 am
Posted by GAFF
Georgia
Member since Aug 2010
2604 posts
Posted on 8/3/24 at 7:53 am
About to start framing my new home. Trying to decide between 2x12's on 12" or 16" OC.

Longest span is 15' with majority being 10'-11'. I know 16" would be very sufficient but I plan to be in this house until I die. I'm not concerned about load (heaviest item will probably be my gun safe) as much as I am about floor bounce.

Would 12" OC be overkill and not worth the extra money? One other thought is I'm going to insulate the crawlspace (North Georgia) and unsure of how 12" OC would affect the batts? Any thoughts?
Posted by mdomingue
Lafayette, LA
Member since Nov 2010
38013 posts
Posted on 8/3/24 at 8:50 am to
If you do the math you will need about 25% more joists for 12 inches vs 16 inches.

What is the size of the area you would be flooring? If it were 30 x 50 squared that would amount to roughly 25 more (101 vs 76) 16 foot 2 X12s. Those are about 30 bucks apiece at Home Depot which is about $750 plus hardware depending on how you're mounting/attaching them.

If it gives you peace of mind, it is probably worth it. Make sure you account for the extra weight when sizing your supporting beams though I think that won't be much of an issue.

2X12 fir is about 5 pounds per foot of length.

ETA: Maybe consider spraying in foam insulation?

Good luck with the build
This post was edited on 8/3/24 at 8:53 am
Posted by jmon
Loisiana
Member since Oct 2010
9243 posts
Posted on 8/3/24 at 8:56 am to
If it's in your budget, ABSOLUTELY 12" OC. (That is to say make it part of your budget.)

Future you will be very happy you spent the money.
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
86772 posts
Posted on 8/3/24 at 9:12 am to
quote:

If it's in your budget, ABSOLUTELY 12" OC. (That is to say make it part of your budget.)

Future you will be very happy you spent the money.


This this this! If this is your forever home do it right and make your floor solid as a rock.
Posted by Jmcc64
alabama
Member since Apr 2021
1291 posts
Posted on 8/3/24 at 10:25 am to
12". there are a few rooms in my house that are 12" o.c. and they are really solid feeling.
Posted by Reubaltaich
A nation under duress
Member since Jun 2006
5192 posts
Posted on 8/3/24 at 9:35 pm to
16" OC is what most codes call for but if 12" OC makes you feel better, then do it.

16" is pretty much the standard for batt/insulation. Going 12" OC would require a lot of extra cutting to fit between your floor joists.

12" is fairly hard to find but I am sure you can purchase it somewhere.

2"x12" seems excessive, the standard for a floor joist is 2"x8", and again, its your choice.

One thing I would highly recommend is to skip fir wooden joists and go with 'pressure treated' floor joists for protection against termites.

Also, get a few gallons of Bora Care, I purchased from domyown.com, and a good sprayer like a RYBIO electric sprayer from Home Depot and spray your floor joists real good.

Furthermore(LOL), get something like Taurus SC and trench around your home.(plenty of YouTube vids on how to do this)

I recently dealt with a termite infestation and those evil little devils can cause some major damage.
Posted by 9rocket
Member since Sep 2020
1422 posts
Posted on 8/3/24 at 9:44 pm to
Reducing the 15’ span will go a long way towards reducing bounce putting another support beam midway will make a huge difference
I would not use 2x8s on a 10 or 11’ span.

Oh, and use treated lumber as mentioned
This post was edited on 8/3/24 at 9:47 pm
Posted by GAFF
Georgia
Member since Aug 2010
2604 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 7:09 am to
Thanks for the recommendation.

Framer said I could get by with 2x10's easy. When I told him I was considering 2x12 on 12" OC he looked surprised . I've just been in a lot of homes where the floor feels soft and I can't stand it. If I have extra money to put into the build I figured the floor system is as good a place as any.

The insulation in definitely something to consider. I'm not sold on the spray foam yet (especially for attics) but it might be something I'd consider for the crawlspace. Seems like it'd make it a lot more air tight.

I've heard of people doubling up on the flooring and making it 1 1/2" instead of 3/4". Seems to me that would greatly increase the load, no?
Posted by Shanegolang
Denham Springs, La
Member since Sep 2015
4335 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 7:32 am to
I would also use "real" plywood vs OSB crap. Especially on the roof.
Posted by Jmcc64
alabama
Member since Apr 2021
1291 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 8:40 am to
for the OP. Is your new house in the South? why do you need insulation under the floor?
Posted by Turnblad85
Member since Sep 2022
3145 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 8:54 am to
I'd lean on your builder for advice like this. Trying to glean info from the internet right before a build is going to drive you and him insane.
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
86772 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 10:14 am to
There's no debate 12" spacing feels like a whole different world than 16.

I've done it. 16 feels soft. 12 feels like I'm walking on concrete.
Posted by GAFF
Georgia
Member since Aug 2010
2604 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 11:04 am to
Spoke to my framer today. He said if I was really doing 12" OC then I should really consider 2x10 instead of 2x12 for the cost. Said by going with 12" OC I could possibly drop down to a No.2 instead of a No.1 as well. So I could get a better price on size and grade. Said that along with the 3/4" flooring would really stiffen it up.

Still unsure on the 2x10's over the 2x12's tho.
Posted by jmon
Loisiana
Member since Oct 2010
9243 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 11:40 am to
quote:

Still unsure on the 2x10's over the 2x12's tho.


I recently built as deck and was faced with the same dilemma.

In the end I went with the larger as I never want to build the deck again, and the cost difference on the whole dec, using this approach,, meant a $700 difference. It's a rather large deck, so see if the amount it will cost to do the X12 matters, money wise.
Posted by Churchill
Member since Apr 2009
562 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 12:48 pm to
Go with the 2x12 and 1" tongue and grove plywood. You will not regret it. Do not do 3/4.
Posted by Churchill
Member since Apr 2009
562 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 12:50 pm to
Also, make sure he uses liquid nails on the joist for the plywood. It will eliminate squeaks later.
Posted by Reubaltaich
A nation under duress
Member since Jun 2006
5192 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 1:44 pm to
You are paying attention to detail which is a lot better than most do.

3/4" plywood & 2"x10" joists is plenty unless you are going to have a M1A Abrams tank in your home.

Its your castle and your money.

Go with what your framer is suggesting.
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
86772 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 2:00 pm to
Nothing and I mean nothing is more annoying in a house than a spongy, squeaky floor.

Spend the extra to make your foundation solid whatever it takes. The liquid nails comment sounds legit as well.
Posted by 9rocket
Member since Sep 2020
1422 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 2:52 pm to
I agree with your framer. If you’re gonna do 12” OC, then 2x10 is plenty. Really would like to cut that 15’ span down, though, no matter what you choose.
Also, look into Advantech subfloors. Either 3/4 or 1 1/8. You’ll really like it.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
43178 posts
Posted on 8/4/24 at 3:10 pm to
I just built a raised deck (level over a 15-20 degree slope) with 2x10” rim and cross joists and 2x6 at 12”. It supports two cast iron tubs that when filled weigh about 1000# each. Solid as a rock.

2x10 at 12” for a house floor is PLENTY. The structural gain of 12” vs 16” can reduce your joist sizing tremendously
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