Cover floor joist?

clintnelms · November 27, 2016, 02:26:20 PM

I've posted about this project for my wood shop I'm building previously. Got another question. I'm about a quarter of the way thru building the floor joist. We're expecting some rain this coming week and I'm wondering if I should cover the joist with plastic to keep off the rain? I'm building with green lumber so I'm concerned about it drying under the plastic. But I'm also concerned about the rain causing warping. The joist are about a foot or so off the ground so there's plenty of air flow underneath. Should I be concerned about the rain and cover it?

Planman1954 · November 27, 2016, 02:35:00 PM

I would not. Just keep on trucking putting on the joists, and it will be ok. I wouldn't leave the ones remaining to be installed laying around. Getting wet sometimes, and laying around with the sun can make them cup and warp. Most houses get rained on while being framed.

york · November 27, 2016, 02:37:51 PM

Waste of your time to cover,between each joist you will have a pool of water,nope...

clintnelms · November 27, 2016, 02:38:44 PM

Fortunately or unfortunately however you want to look at it, I don't have any laying around. I just finished up with all I have milled. Time to get back on the saw mill again. I'm finding out this is a slow building process, especially by myself with no hrlp. But very rewarding building out of lumber from trees that I cut down and milled myself.

Sixacresand · November 27, 2016, 02:40:45 PM

I wouldn't worry about green, fresh cut joist. If it were kiln dried store bought, absolutely, I would not let it get wet. JMO

fishfighter · November 27, 2016, 07:35:46 PM

Don't cover. It would be ok. To help keep them from twisting, take a couple of 1x4's and nail them across. If you have them spaced at 16" center, make sure you nail the 1x4's at 16 center. Do two or three runs across and that will keep things straight.

drobertson · November 27, 2016, 09:27:15 PM

Quote from: fishfighter on November 27, 2016, 07:35:46 PM
Don't cover. It would be ok. To help keep them from twisting, take a couple of 1x4's and nail them across. If you have them spaced at 16" center, make sure you nail the 1x4's at 16 center. Do two or three runs across and that will keep things straight.

You need to do this anyway, a rain, and dry period won't hurt then cross tie them. All of them