Hung securely, ceiling joists serve as the substructure of your ceiling.
Repairing a cracked ceiling joist or installing a new one can create unanticipated problems if not done correctly. Done incorrectly, you might find finishing your ceiling difficult or even impossible. Additionally, you could create a joist system unable to support ceiling material such as sheetrock. Done correctly, joists will support the ceiling.
Instructions
1. Position a ladder near the first horizontal ceiling stud where you want to hang the new joist or beside the cracked or damaged joist that needs replacement.
2. Pry the nails free from the cracked or damaged joist using a hammer.
3. Slide the damaged joist out of its position from the opposite wall beams. The joist spans from one wall to the other.
4. Measure the angle of the ceiling using a miter gauge.
5. Mark the cut angle on the new joist using the miter gauge and a carpenter's pencil.
6. Lay the joist across three sawhorses evenly placed so they support the joist.
7. Cut the angles using a circular saw.
8. Slide the new joist into the position of the old joist. If you do not have to replace old joists, slide the new joist in at the edge of one wall and place additional joists every 16 inches.
9. Nail the ends of the joist into place using a hammer and eight-penny nails. Make sure to nail the joist's exposed edge such that you pierce the joist and connect with the adjoining roof beam.
10. Mark "vertical support" marks on the ceiling joist at 36-inch intervals using a measuring tape and carpenter's pencil.
11. Measure the distance between each vertical support mark and the upper roof beam using the tape measure. Because your roof rises, these distances will increase as you move inward toward the center of the ceiling. Make sure you note the required angle for each using the miter gauge.
12. Cut the required number of vertical support beams from 2-by-4s using the circular saw. Make sure to cut them to the lengths indicated by using your "vertical-support distance" measurements.
13. Mark the angle on the "upper tips" of each vertical support beams using the miter gauge. The upper tips consist of the end that will face upward and attach to the roof beams.
14. Cut the vertical support beams to a right angle using the circular saw.
15. Attach vertical support beams every 36 inches to the joist and the upper roof beams using a metal elbow bracket.
Tags: vertical support, miter gauge, support beams, using miter, using miter gauge