This illustrated guide has diagrams that show how a typical wood-frame floor is built, from floor joists to subfloor and the sill plate.

Though some floors of houses are built on a concrete slab flat on the ground, most residential floors are raised above the ground. Raised floors are more resilient under foot and provide access for heating equipment, insulation, plumbing, wiring, and other mechanical equipment.

A raised floor is constructed with a wooden framework that bridges from one exterior wall to another. This framework may or may not be supported intermediately by girders, beams, or walls.

On upper levels of a house, the underside of the floor framing generally serves to back ceiling materials. Ceilings are usually built just like floors, only they’re usually constructed of lighter materials because they’re not intended to carry the same loads.

Cut-away diagram of a raised floor including parts of a wooden framework.
Raised Floor Framing Diagram ©Don Vandervort, HomeTips

What Are Floor Joists?

A floor’s framework is made up mostly of wooden joists (thin wooden beams) that run parallel to one another at regular intervals. Floor joists are typically 2 by 8s, 2 by 10s, or 2 by 12s; ceiling joists are usually 2 by 6s or sometimes 2 by 4s if it is an older home. Some newer homes have manufactured, I-beam–shaped joists.

Cut-away diagram of a floor’s framework including parallel wooden joists and a girder supported by a post.
Floor Joists and Subfloor © Don Vandervort, HomeTips

Floor joists, spaced on regular intervals, span the areas between supports such as walls, foundations, girders, and beams. Normal spacing is 16 inches “on center” (from center to center), though some floors may have joists on 12-inch or 24-inch centers. Joist sizing and spacing are determined by building codes, which are based on engineering requirements. Joist headers run perpendicular to the joists, capping their ends.

Joists are spliced over beams or other supports. They may be butted end-to-end and connected with plywood gusset plates or lapped. Solid blocking or metal bridging prevents joists from twisting and helps distribute loads evenly.

Wherever an opening occurs, such as for a staircase, joists are doubled up at the perimeter and capped with perpendicular headers.

Illustration of a floor’s framework with a staircase opening including its parts.
Floor Framing for Stairs Don Vandervort, HomeTips © 1997 to 2023 | HomeTips

What Is a Subfloor?

Subflooring provides a base for finish flooring and also serves as a platform during construction. It may be made of boards laid either at right angles or diagonally across joists. Or the subfloor may be made of plywood or other panel products that are laid perpendicular to the joists.

A plywood subfloor has panels that are laid in a staggered fashion, with the ends and edges butted together; the panels are nailed (and sometimes also glued with construction adhesive) to the floor joists.

Cut-away illustration of a house flooring and a wall frame including internal and external parts.
Diagram of Typical Floor Construction © HomeTips

The thickness and stiffness of the subfloor determine the types of finish materials that can be laid on top of it. If your house is built on a concrete slab, the slab can serve as a base for almost any type of flooring. But, if your home has a plywood or board subfloor, it’s important to check out the type and thickness of the material you intend to use to determine what your limitations are. For instance, a floor that is slightly flexible or springy is not suitable for rigid materials such as ceramic tile and stone because the grout or materials will crack with movement.

What Is a Sill Plate?

At the foundation level, floor joists rest directly on a sill that is treated with preservative so that contact with the foundation will not promote termites or rot. Their exact construction and connection with the wall studs depend on the method of framing that is utilized.

Drawing of a footing and its foundation with a sill plate tied by an anchor bolt on top, including internal parts of a concrete slab.
Anchor bolts tie the sill plate to the top of the foundation wall. © Don Vandervort, HomeTips

 

Featured Resource: Get a Pre-Screened Local House Framing Contractor


Author Image
About Don Vandervort
Don Vandervort has developed his expertise for more than 30 years as a remodeler and builder, Building Editor for Sunset Books, Senior Editor at Home Magazine, author of more than 30 home improvement books, and writer of countless magazine articles. He appeared for 3 seasons on HGTV’s “The Fix,” and served as MSN’s home expert for several years. Don founded HomeTips in 1996. Read more about Don Vandervort