You should select a hanger that closely matches the exact height and width of your timber. The hanger needs to fit snugly around the timber to provide adequate support, and the height should ideally reach at least two-thirds of the way up the timber to prevent it from twisting.
Reliable Structural Metal Joist Supports and Struts
This category features a variety of essential structural metalwork, including timber-to-timber joist hangers, timber-to-masonry hangers, mono truss hangers, and herringbone joist struts. These components are primarily used to connect and support load-bearing timber within floors, ceilings, and roofing structures. For instance, timber-to-timber joist hangers are frequently applied when adding a new floor deck, providing a secure connection between structural joist & studding timber. To ensure maximum stability during installation, these metal brackets are typically secured using square twist nails or specialised structural wood screws, which help prevent movement and ensure the load is adequately supported across the framework.
When connecting timber floor or roof joists directly to brickwork or blockwork, timber-to-masonry hangers offer a robust solution. They eliminate the need to cut holes into the masonry, which helps maintain the fire rating and structural integrity of the wall. These hangers slot directly into the mortar joints between concrete brick & block during a build, providing a flat flange that sits securely on the masonry. Many of these metalwork products are manufactured from galvanised steel to prevent corrosion and meet current UK building regulations for structural load-bearing applications. Incorporating herringbone joist struts between the timber joists further improves the setup by preventing the joists from twisting under load, which is especially useful before laying down OSB or chipboard flooring to create a solid, stable surface.
The primary benefit of using these specific metal brackets and struts is the ease and speed of installation they offer on site. They provide a precise, uniform method for joining structural elements, ensuring that timber sits flush and remains level throughout the build. By relying on standardised metalwork, the process of aligning and securing frameworks becomes much more straightforward, reducing the time required to complete floor and roof structures. Furthermore, the versatility of these hangers allows them to accommodate various timber widths, ensuring compliance with strict building standards while maintaining long-lasting structural rigidity without the need for complex traditional carpentry joints.
Joist Hangers & Struts FAQ's
Position the hanger against the supporting beam and secure the back flange using the manufacturer-recommended fixings. Once the hanger is fixed securely in place, sit the joist inside the hanger, ensure it is level, and insert nails or screws into all the provided side holes to lock the timber into position.
You must always use specific structural fixings designed for metalwork. Heavy-duty square twist nails are the most common and cost-effective choice, but specialised structural screws can also be used if they are approved for load-bearing metal connectors. Standard woodscrews should be avoided as they lack the necessary shear strength.
Herringbone struts are installed between parallel floor joists to stop them from twisting or bowing under heavy loads. They are generally required when the span of the joist exceeds 2.5m, helping to distribute weight evenly across the floor structure and reducing overall movement.
Yes, retrofitting into existing walls is possible. You will need to carefully cut away the mortar joint to a sufficient depth and width, clear out the dust, and insert the top flange of the hanger securely into the slot. The gap must then be tightly packed with an incompressible material and sealed with mortar or epoxy resin before applying any weight.