Sistering required for joist?


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Old 02-23-19, 09:36 AM
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Sistering required for joist?

Hi there,

I noticed that, during the HVAC installation in our home, someone cut a nudge in one of our floor joists. When we purchased the home the inspector pointed it out, as well and asked me to sister it.

I’m not sure how I would go about that here considering that the HVAC junction box is installed right there.

My question is: is it really all that necessary to do the job at all? The other joists all seem in great condition and there is no extreme sagging that I’ve noticed.
And my second question if you would fix this would I first need to get an electrician to remove the box? Or could I just apply a sister joist with less height to avoid having to move the box at all?

 
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Old 02-23-19, 09:41 AM
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someone cut a nudge in one of our floor joists.
What is a "nudge"? (post too short)
 
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Old 02-23-19, 09:58 AM
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My question is: is it really all that necessary to do the job at all?
With no information about the size of the joist... the size of the notch... or its location in the overall span of the joist, its quite impossible to say. Give us more information and we might be able to help.
 
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Old 02-23-19, 07:30 PM
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Some pictures would help a lot. Here are instructions for posting them.

Generally I would say it's better to sister the joists now while they are still straight and in good condition. Over time they can crack and sag which makes the repair and sistering more difficult.
 
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Old 02-24-19, 09:23 AM
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Thank you all for your feedback. I meant to edit the post to add pictures but couldn't figure out how to do it. Thanks Pilot Dane for the instructions. Here is what it looks like:

Attachment 102049

The joist is 1 3/4" by 7 1/4". The nudge is about 2" deep.

Name:  nudge.JPG
Views: 213
Size:  89.0 KB
 

Last edited by PJmax; 02-24-19 at 09:50 AM. Reason: reoriented/resized picture
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Old 02-24-19, 09:52 AM
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Ahhhh...... yes. A true tradesman at work.

Are there just those two visible BX cables in that box ?
 
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Old 02-24-19, 10:56 AM
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Nudge is what you do when you poke someone with your elbow.

Yes, the "notch" is too deep. At least they 45'd the corners. I don't know why that notch is even there!

Here is a guide for notching, fyi. https://cdnassets.hw.net/dims4/GG/91...22-2183893.jpg

Those flexible cables can surely be bent out of the way for you to sister another joist along side. Technically, the sistered joist needs to run from bearing point to bearing point.
 
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Old 02-24-19, 11:05 AM
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Yeah, just looking at it made me think somethings not right. Thanks for the notching guide, that’s super helpful.

I’ll try to bent the cables out of the way. I assume the sister joist needs to be 7 1/4” then, as well? Or could I shorten it a little in case I can’t bent those cables down enough?
 
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Old 02-24-19, 11:09 AM
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If it's just the two BX cables..... you could lower the box.
 
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Old 02-25-19, 05:31 AM
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It looks like someone was trying to make the bottom of the joists flat so they could install a finished ceiling. Still not permitted because it would have concealed the electrical enclosure.
 
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Old 02-25-19, 03:26 PM
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Yes Pilot Dane, I think that’s exactly what it is. We have another one of those in the finished part of the basement so I might call an electrician here to move both of those boxes or install them in a way where they remain visible without affecting the floor joist.

Thanks again all, really appreciate you sharing your advice!
 
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Old 02-26-19, 04:48 AM
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Rotating the box 90 degrees so it's opening faces down into the room and installing a blank cover plate that is visible and accessible in the finished ceiling will work. The cover plate can be painted to match the ceiling so it blends in.
 
 

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