We have an addition that we are adding to our house. We built a new foundation (J-shaped, see image below). Building the floor frame over the new foundation will be done with the standard sill plate and rim joist setup on the right side, but how we do connect the joists to the existing rim joists on the left? I see two options but not sure which is code compliant and easy to get approval from the building inspectors:
- Use a joist hanger on each joist (lost of hand nailing!) to connect them to existing rim joist.
- Build a standard frame with a new rim joist on both sides and nail the new rim joist to existing rim joist.
Structural details: the new area is 12 feet by 4 feet, pretty narrow. So we are using 2x6s for the joists.
Best Answer
You'll need to use hangers regardless. Face-nailing (as I assume you're implying by your mention of a "standard frame") isn't adequate to carry joists. They need actual bearing.
An alternative could be a new ledger set below the existing rim joist, itself mounted with structural steel ledger hangers, on which the joists rest. I suspect that your inspector would still require a more substantial wall connection for each joist, though.