Cut a piece of 2 by 6 or 2 by 8 lumber according to the width.
Adding cross bracing to floor joists.
Bracing will stiffen a floor system prevent floor joists from twisting and increase overall stability.
Measure the width between the span of two joists.
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Even if your joists already have a row of bridging at the center of the span adding a row on each side of the existing bridging will stiffen the floor.
When cross bridging is used wood or metal the upper portion of the bridge is nailed into the top of the floor joist if it is metal.
Cross bracing and solid blocking.
A floor that bounces as you walk across it may just need to be stiffened with bridging which spreads the load on each joist to adjoining joists strengthening the whole floor.
If it is wood it is nailed to the upper top of the side of the floor joist before the floor or sub floor is installed on the joists.
This can allow for floors to be sturdier and more stable.
Residential building code requires the use of cross bracing or blocking for floor joists exceeding 2 inches by 12 inches but many homes especially older ones have creaky uneven floors because.
As a footstep falls on one joist some of the force is transferred to neighboring joists.
Nail the block in place with 16d.
Place the lumber block between the two joists.
Because of this x shape one brace will be forced upon and under tension while the other brace will be compressed.
Bridging or x bracing allows joists to share weight.