How to Attach a Joist on Top of a Beam- 6 Steps Solution!

Joist hangers can assist maintain your deck and floor firm as wood ages, shrinks, and rot. It’s simple to install a joist on top of a beam. You need to follow some basic steps.

How to attach a joist on top of a beam?

Firstly, you need to attach the toenail joists to the ledger. Toenail decking joists should be fastened with a 16d galvanized nail to the wall ledger. Then hang the beam hanger. Then, using 16d galvanized nails, attach the joist hangers—lastly, secure joists to the floor with a double shear hanger.

Still, you may be confused about the whole process. Here we’ve added just a teaser. You can get to know more in this article.

So without further ado, let’s get into the main part!

Types of Joists Hangers

Bending, cutting, or altering hangers is risky and negates the manufacturer’s performance guarantees. Straight hangers support joists at 90 degrees, while angled hangers hold them at 45 degrees.

There is hardware for practically every building application. It would help if you found the perfect connector. If no connectivity is available, you may need to reassess your method. In that case, you must have to know how to install joist hangers and their variations.

However, before doing the attaching process, you must know the different types of joist hangers. It’ll help you to choose the perfect one for your work. So let’s get a brief idea.

Sizing Joist Hanger

Always use the largest hanger size for a joist. Joist hangers are developed for specific purposes. Every circumstance has its pressures and load-carrying capacities.

You are asking a joist hanger to accomplish something it was not designed to do. And as a result, its performance will suffer.

Concealed Joist Hangers

They can be utilized where standard joist hanger side flanges are not attached. This hanger is great for attaching rim joists to the ledger board’s edges.

The concealed joist hanger can be nailed to the edge of the ledger board instead of the end grain, which is code forbidden. Concealed hangers can be attached to the sides of support posts to secure exposed stair stringers.

Angled Joist Hangers

Right- and left-skewed joist hangers are needed for angled decks. These hangers are 45 degrees bent and can be placed with joist hanger nails. Just like straight hangers. Angled joist hangers for 2×6 and 2×10 should be readily available.

The most expensive angled beam joist hangers are double right and left-skewed joist hangers. All deck hardware and fasteners should be triple zinc galvanized or stainless steel. That will help to work with ACQ lumber. Never cut, bend or modify deck hardware.

So, the next time you host a weightlifting or square dancing competition, you can relax. Because you used joist hangers and installed them correctly.

6 Steps for Attaching Joist on Top of Beam

As wood ages, twists, and shrinks, joist hangers can help keep your deck and floor strong. Installing joist hangers is easy if you follow our four-step guide. That will help keep your deck or floor level and sturdy.

Don’t be confused between joist hangers vs resting on beam deck. Always better to use joist hangers.

However, before we start, there you’ll have to gather some tools. Let’s get the list of required materials.

Required Materials

• Hammer
• Galvanized Joist Hanger Nails (1-1/2-in.)
• Galvanized Nails (10d) 
• Galvanized Nails (16d) 
• Joist hangers

After collecting these materials, you need to select the standard beam for doing the whole process.

Specifications for the performance of each type of beam hanger have been meticulously developed and tested. To meet the requirements of local building standards, it’s necessary.

Keep your joists in place using a basic 2×8 hanger like this. You can hang (or “set”) joist hangers by selecting the relevant ones and then turning (or “setting” them).

Step-by-Step Instructions

To ensure that your floor or deck stays flat and strong, we’ll demonstrate a four-step procedure. For installing joist hangers that will meet the criteria of your building inspector and the manufacturer.

Step-01: Attach Toenail Joists Directly to the Ledger

Using a galvanized 16d nail, secure the toenail decking joists to the wall ledger. Make sure the top of the beam is level with the top of the flashing on the wall ledger. So that the decking may be installed properly.

Nails for outside work should be hot-dipped galvanized, while those for inside use should be common (not sinker-type). It would help if you began nailing before putting the joist into place.

Step-02: Connect the Beam Hanger

Press the speed prongs into the ledger board and squeeze the joist hanger around. It temporarily secures the joist. Ensure that the joist is firmly seated in the joist hanger. Also, ensure that there are no gaps on either side or underneath the joist.

Step-3: Nail the Ledger in

Using 16d galvanized nails, attach the joist hangers to the wall ledgers. Beam hanger manufacturers recommend nailing all holes in the joist flanges. It ensures that the joist hanger can withstand its rated load capacity.

Step-4: Use a Double Shear Hanger to Nail Joists

To secure double-shear joist hangers, nail four galvanized 10d nails. Do it at a 45-degree angle through the beam hanger, the joist, and the ledger board.

Step-5: Use a Standard Hanger for Nailing to Joists

1-1/2-inch galvanized joist hanger nails should be used to secure conventional joist hangers to joists. It’s essential to keep the hanger from slamming against a joist with nails that are too long.

For nailing in remote locations, utilize either quick tapping strokes or side-to-side hammering with the hammer side. Then by following this try to adjust corner joist hangers.

Step-6: Use Flange Hanger with Inverted Specialty

Attach joists at the end of a ledger board. Try to use inverted flange single or double 2×8 joist hangers. Pre-drill the holes for the 16d galvanized nails in the wall ledger before nailing them in place.

Our discussion has come to an end. Try to follow the instructions step-by-step. Your work will be less than ideal if you skip even one of these steps. Pay attention to what you’re doing.

FAQs

Conclusion

Now you have a clear view on how to attach a joist on top of a beam. While doing the work, don’t be panicked. It’s not so tough to do.

Remember not to cut or bend the exterior flanges of joist hangers, And don’t use them again. It’s not suitable for the joist hangers.

Have a good day!