A recent letter from a remodeler
describes a common problem: a
springy great room floor, framed with
2x10s 16 inches on-center spanning 15
feet on both sides of a center girder. The
existing condition poses no real safety
issue; it's just plain too bouncy. What's
the best way to stiffen this floor, the
reader asks, with minimal disturbance to
existing finishes? Upstairs there is tile in
the great room kitchen area and carpet in
the living and dining area; downstairs, in
the basement, there is a dropped ceiling.
The usual methods would be to either
double the joists or add a second girder
in the middle of the 15-foot span.
Adding joists becomes less attractive
because of