Floor vibrations are a common issue that most of us have faced at some point of time.
Be it the creaking and thumping from the movement of the people above or the
complaints of people living on the floor below, both sides of the problem can be
annoying. While there can be a number of reasons for floor vibrations, there are
ways to fix or minimize this problem. Once the cause of the vibrations is
identified, the appropriate method can be used to resolve the issue.
1. Flooring systems in construction
Flooring systems in a house are generally safe and comply with the standard building
codes. However, even if the floor system is adequate, movement caused by deflection
can cause vibrations, creaks, and other undesired consequences. Many homeowners are
sensitive to floor vibrations as a result of heavy foot traffic, and this is often a
subjective concept as what feels fine for one person can be irritating for another.
Squeaks and sounds can also be mistaken for a rickety floor. Often times it is
simple changes in floor usage or joist spans that result in floor complaints. When
building a home from the ground up, the homeowner and builder will want to take
floor vibrations into consideration when determining the framing of the home, in
order to avoid complications.
2. Causes of floor vibrations
Floor vibrations are generally related to human activity, vibrating machinery and
external forces. Walking is the most common source of floor vibrations and more than
anything is simply considered a nuisance. Machine-induced vibrations, like a running
washing machine, can, fortunately, be fixed by isolating mounts or motion armrest
pads.
Wood-framed floors are the most typical culprit of floor
vibrations due to small deflections up and down as the joists are loaded and
unloaded. While this type of floor is designed to support people, furniture, and
large appliances, certain movements can cause a floor to vibrate over time. In newer
construction homes, wood flooring is installed with wood screws and construction
adhesive which can help to stabilize vibrations, and joists are designed to minimize
these deflections. However, in older homes where subfloors were nailed in, the nails
can begin to loosen over time. Thus walking across a floor with a loose subfloor or
running an appliance like the dishwasher can cause vibrations.
3. Steps to preventing floor vibrations
First, homeowners must determine where the floor is in need of fixing. Hiring a
contractor or engineer is an easy solution to locating and advising on how to fix
the problem. If you have a general idea as to where the vibrations occur, mark these
areas so you can easily identify them.
Once the area of concern is located, the underfloor will need
to be accessed in order to fix the vibration problem. A contractor can open up a
small, repairable hole in the ceiling underneath these spots for them or the
engineer to identify possible causes. Structural plans of the existing building can
also help to identify issues. The contractor and engineer can then work to provide a
solution, such as extra blocks between joists, wood screws, and adhesives, or
additional joists or supports.
In new construction, code requirements take deflections and
vibrations into account more than previous designs, and this tends to reduce these
issues when building from scratch. However, you can always discuss these concerns
with your engineer. He or she can advise on if increasing the size of new joists or
decreasing certain spans may help to reduce this effect, or designing for a larger
live load than required. Test results have found that increasing joist depth and
sheathing thickness can greatly reduce floor vibrations. A final element to help
prevent vibrations is making sure floor sheathing is glued and screws are used over
nails to control long-term bounce.
4. Alternate Joist Systems
New systems have also been created with this problem in mind. One example is TJIs,
which provide longer acceptable joist spans while using less wood material and
providing less deflection over these spans. To help designers and builders avoid
complaints about floor vibrations, especially with new construction, they provide a
free floor analysis system called the TJ-Pro Ratings System. The software uses
algorithms to correlate floor vibration with customer satisfaction. The information
is then used by the builder to control joist depth, joist span, joist series, and
floor sheathing thickness.
TJI joists were designed to help to ensure high-performance flooring, especially in
newly constructed homes. According to Weyerhaeuser.com, the TJI joists resist
warping, twisting and shrinking that often leads to squeaky, vibrating floors. They
offer a source of framing that is easier to install and comes in long lightweight
lengths.
The benefits of utilizing TJI joists for your floor plans
include:
· Long lengths for versatile floor plans
· Ease of installation
· Durable performance
· Lifetime product warranty
· TJ-Pro Rating system to ensure customer satisfaction
How We Can Help?
At Design Everest, we have experience with many different types of floors
including TJIs. We can provide structural evaluations of your existing structure, as
well as design services to update your existing home or construct a brand new
one. Contact Design Everest to get
started.
