When looking up various floor joist repair methods online, you might come across a process known as joint sistering. This can be a rather extensive process that ultimately does not solve your over spanned joist problem.
Sistering a Joist
First, it might help to know what sistering a joist does. Basically, sistering is when you add another joist alongside the old one with nails or other adhesives. The additional joist is meant to bolster the old joist as well as your sagging floor against future issues. Of course, sistering a joist requires just as much precision as an expert will need, so it is not recommended that you sister a joist on your own.
Sistering joists will help to level your floor for some time. You might even notice the extra beam has stopped your floor from bouncing as well. Unfortunately, sistering works only as a temporary repair, at best, especially if your crawl space still suffers from a moisture problem. Calling the crawl space experts at Ohio Basement Systems is your best bet!
Why It Will Not Work In the Long-Run
Sistering joists might work to level your floor for a short period of time, but it will not be long before these additional joists face issues of their own, too. This is especially true if your floor joists only started to sag due to a mold, mildew, or pest problem. If you have not gotten rid of these issues before installing a new sister joist, then this merely delays the sagging or bouncing rather than fixes it. The mold and mildew can easily spread to the new joist and affect it as well.
There is also the matter that sister joists will not block out humidity or other moisture. Sister joists can only do so much for your home before these too start to wear down. It is best for you to set up an appointment with our crawl space experts as soon as possible to prevent this from happening.