Joist Hangers are used to support joist beams of the ceiling. Joist Hangers are manufactured by different companies. They can be of different materials like metal or galvanized. Joist is a horizontal supporting structure that is usually found in between wall to wall or a wall to beam. Joist hangers are the structures that are used to attach joists to these walls and beams. Different joists made of different material and engineered differently are capable of handling different loads. Generally, a beam is larger than a joist and thus is different from it. I-Joists which are used in the modern world are highly engineered joist structures that eliminate many defects and problems of conventional joists. These I-Joists should be very carefully used. Any small indifference or incompatibility of joist hangers with these joists could pose a major problem to the entire structure.
The intended use of I-Joists is for floor joists, wall studs etc. Generally, joist hangers are made up of metal. These metal joist hangers are used very widely in many construction projects. They are strong and they last very long. These joist hangers are very easy to install and maintain. They provide good support to the structure and keep it strong for a long time. Joist hangers should be properly installed. If these joist hangers are improper, then it may cause problems in holding joists and can compromise the entire building. Every joist hanger should be properly matched and tested with the load of the joist they are going to hold. If they do not match, then another joist hanger of different size and capacity is to be chosen. Galvanized joist hanger also can be used. Galvanized joist hangers are corrosion resistant and carry few advantages over metal joist hangers.
You can easily install an adjustable joist hanger by yourself. To install a joist hanger, what you will need are adjustable joist hangers, nails and few tools. First you will need to take the measurements to install your joist hanger at an exact specific point. Start from one corner of ledger board and mark a spot at every 16 inch interval. Once you are done with marking on your ledger board, place a joist hanger at one of the spots you have marked. Make sure that the top of the metal joist hanger is lined with the top of the ledger board. Fix your joist hanger without considering the advantage of its adjustability. Hold the joist hanger tightly and fix it to the ledger board.
You should be very careful while choosing nails for your project. Choosing the right kind of nails can have a lot of impact on your project’s quality. You can use common nails if you are working indoor with the floor. If you are working outdoor, then you have to use hot dipped galvanized nails. Whichever nails you may be using, make sure that you use largest nails which can be used with your adjustable joist hanger.
Attach your adjustable joist hanger carefully to the ledger board and hammer the nails properly. It is recommended that you nail every nail hole on your hanger. Finally, insert your joist carefully and make sure that it is installed correctly and tightly with the joist hanger.