If you’re considering a new floor plan on your next project or looking to modify the layout you use, you have some structural decisions to make. That starts with a choice of a floor system: Should you go with dimensional lumber, open web trusses, or I-joists?
Like any building material, each has pros and cons. If you’re experienced with dimensional lumber or an open web truss system, you know the strengths and weaknesses. Both are proven across thousands of residential installations.
However, I-joists continue to be home building pros’ top choice in most markets. Why is that? Licensed professional engineer Dan Cheney has an explanation that may surprise some.
The veteran engineer has studied floor framing systems for more than three decades, most of them in senior development and application roles at Boise Cascade, a leading building product manufacturer.
Key Differentiator
Cheney says a big reason I-joists get the nod goes beyond system quality, performance, and installation ease.
“A key differentiator is pro support,” Cheney explains. “There are lots of flooring truss manufacturers out there. And dimensional lumber? That’s sold nearly everywhere. All that availability is good so long as you know and trust the source. Most builders can’t afford to take callback risks and the reputation damage that goes with it.”
A home builder should expect a lifetime warranty on anything as structurally critical as a floor system. “Try asking most open web truss manufacturers or lumberyards about their lifetime warranty,” Cheney suggests. “That conversation tends to be very brief. Any floor system that relies on dimensional lumber is subject to shrinkage as the wood dries. That dimensional change can put long-term floor quality and performance into question.”
6 More Reasons
Cheney cites at least six more reasons why I-joists merit serious builder consideration:
- Tested performance. Cheney says I-joists from Boise Cascade are designed and built to exact manufacturing standards. Because they are manufactured to specific building code requirements, no engineering seal is required. Each joist is tested for optimum performance before shipment.
- Consistent and predictable. A large national homebuilder has built their brand through home building quality, durability and comfort. After a careful vetting process, they selected BCI Joists from Boise Cascade as their floor framing system across all 16 U.S. markets. Cheney explains the builder “… wants the same floor performance and quality no matter where the home is built. Boise Cascade’s software using BC Floorvalue floor performance rating tool allows them to do that.”
- Pricing stability. I-joists offer extremely competitive and predictable pricing without price swings commodity products often face. For example, BCI I-joists from Boise Cascade are made with engineered wood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), both of which can be confidently quoted with far less pricing surprise.
- Field forgiveness. Stick-built construction seldom goes without a hitch. Think change orders, daily modifications, or less than perfect material sizing. What then? I-joist modifications usually won’t require you go back to the mill or the engineer for a revised floor framing plan. Code-compliant I-joist length cuts can be made on the fly or new spans ordered quickly without lengthy lead time delays.
- Computer-designed precision. Breakthrough software solutions developed exclusively for builders allows pros to confidently test out various “what if” scenarios to optimize I-joist series, spans, spacing, depth (up to 24″ with AJS joists), helping create good-better-best floor framing options for more buyer choice and pricing flexibility.
- MEP contractor friendly. Cheney says it’s an easy matter to precisely cut large holes in the I-joist web for the trades, up to 22” in certain situations. “Because of the design software, customized hole placement can actually result in a more efficient layout for the mechanicals,” Cheney notes.
There are few things more fundamental to a winning home design than the floor system. As you weigh your options, it makes sense to mitigate risk, complexity, and support concerns by trusting a brand pros have counted on for more than 60 years, Boise Cascade.
Learn more about how I-joists from Boise Cascade can benefit your next project.