Floor joists in attic not supported?

[Dave962399]

Right, I’m still in the attic, in the process of boarding but have a question.
The floor joists do not touch the wall at the party wall. There’s a two inch gap and I can feel all the way round it.
It runs from the loft hatch to the wall.
No visible signs of support in bedroom below.
The house is 1940’s but think may have been reroofed in 60’s.
Before I go any further with the boarding, is this something that needs sorting.
Can’t see any sign of cantilevering, but not sure what I’m looking for.
Joists seems sound, no wear and tear on it just bit concerned that this is a defect.
Any thoughts on this?

 

[Dereekoo]

Well if you are saying they are only fixed at the hatch and the rest is just floating in thin air it needs to supported. Assuming ceiling joists either side of floating joists are fixed in to the wall you could lay a joist over the top of these joists across the floating joists and then fix the floating joists to this support joist with some metal angle brackets

 

[Murdochcat]

what happens if you put your weight on them at the "unsupported" end?

 

[blup]

Right, I’m still in the attic, in the process of boarding but have a question.
The floor joists do not touch the wall at the party wall. There’s a two inch gap and I can feel all the way round it.
It runs from the loft hatch to the wall.
No visible signs of support in bedroom below.
The house is 1940’s but think may have been reroofed in 60’s.
Before I go any further with the boarding, is this something that needs sorting.
Can’t see any sign of cantilevering, but not sure what I’m looking for.
Joists seems sound, no wear and tear on it just bit concerned that this is a defect.
Any thoughts on this?

Some pics of the overall area would help. Are the joists joined by noggins between them, or binders above them. Do they offer or receive support from a strut or similar via the rafters or ridge board? What signs of damage or sagging are there to the ceiling below?

 

[Dave962399]

what happens if you put your weight on them at the "unsupported" end?

I haven’t dared put weight on it but I tried lifting it and it doesn’t budge

 

[Dave962399]

Some pics of the overall area would help. Are the joists joined by noggins between them, or binders above them. Do they offer or receive support from a strut or similar via the rafters or ridge board? What signs of damage or sagging are there to the ceiling below?

Can’t see any signs of support at all. On the ceiling below there is a hairline crack running the length of the joist above but as the ceiling is artex I always just assumed it was a crack in that. Will post pics when I get up there shortly

 

[Murdochcat]

I haven’t dared put weight on it but I tried lifting it and it doesn’t budge

I’m not suggesting you jump on it but carefully putting weight on one has to be a sensible step.

I can’t imagine these wouldn’t move over so many years if not supported

 

[blup]

Can’t see any signs of support at all. On the ceiling below there is a hairline crack running the length of the joist above but as the ceiling is artex I always just assumed it was a crack in that. Will post pics when I get up there shortly

Some pics of the gapping would also help. Is there room to fix joist hangars?

 

[blup]

Is the ceiling below a false ceiling hiding a supporting beam?

 

[Dave962399]

It looks as if the joist is nailed on to the rafters (?). As you can see from other pics the joists seem to be a bit haphazard (to my eye). Stopping in the middle of the floor etc.
I’ve had a fiddle with the joist and there’s no movement on it at all.
I’m assuming it’s being supposed by the rafters underneath with the nails?
There’s no false ceiling below but it looks as if previous owners may have lowered the ceiling. There are plugged gaps in the party wall where I assume old joists were.
Possibly for a roof extension that never happened.

 

[Dereekoo]

When you said floor joists I assumed you meant ceiling joists and just to confuse me even more you now talk about rafters, pity you didn't put photos on originally

 

[blup]

The rafters are the sloped roof timbers, the joists do appear to be supported and the ones that fall short are binders that stiffen the joists. So board between them or build up the floor with those plastic feet if you want a seamless finish

 

[Dave962399]

When you said floor joists I assumed you meant ceiling joists and just to confuse me even more you now talk about rafters, pity you didn't put photos on originally

Sorry, I’m a total amateur so wasn’t sure what what I was talking about

 

[Dave962399]

The rafters are the sloped roof timbers, the joists do appear to be supported and the ones that fall short are binders that stiffen the joists. So board between them or build up the floor with those plastic feet if you want a seamless finish

Many thanks.

 

[Dereekoo]

The rafters are the sloped roof timbers, the joists do appear to be supported and the ones that fall short are binders that stiffen the joists. So board between them or build up the floor with those plastic feet if you want a seamless finish

Binders have to be supported at the edges otherwise they would not provide any supports to the joists, only add an additional point load due to the actual weight of the binder??