Antrim · County Antrim
Floor joist repairs in Antrim
If a plumber or electrician has recently had the boards up at your Antrim home, the joists they worked around are worth a look. Deep notches and holes in the wrong place weaken joists quickly, and sistering them is usually a short, tidy job.
Guide price from£220per joist inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BT41
- Population
- about 20,000
- Area
- County Antrim
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
Is County Antrim prone to ground movement?
With roughly 20,000 people, Antrim spans postcode districts BT41 in County Antrim. Nearby places we cover include Ballymena (10 miles), Newtownabbey (13 miles) and Belfast (14 miles).
Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in County Antrim, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of County Antrim in the past. Housing stock in County Antrim: Red-brick terraces in Belfast, Victorian villas, and post-war and newer estates.
What should you budget for floor joist repairs in Antrim?
The ranges below reflect typical Northern Ireland costs for floor joist repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Splicing or sistering a damaged joist | £220 – £350 | per joist |
| Whole room of joists and boards | £1,750 – £5,300 | per room |
| Sleeper wall rebuild and ventilationest. | £350 – £1,300 | per room |
Repair options we may recommend
Sistering a joist
A new length of treated timber, the same depth as the original, is bolted or screwed alongside the damaged joist so the two share the load. It is the quickest fix for a notched, cracked or sagging joist that is otherwise sound, usually after lifting a few boards.
Best for: Cut, cracked or sagging joists with sound ends
Replacing joists and boards
When rot or woodworm runs through most of a floor, it is usually cheaper to replace the joists, strutting and boards together. Where joists run parallel to an outside wall, restraint straps tie the new floor back to it so the wall keeps its lateral support.
Best for: Widespread rot, or a whole floor that has dropped
What to expect when we carry out floor joist repairs
Photos and a call
Send photos of the dip or soft area, the outside wall at ground level and any air bricks. A short call about when it started, and any recent plumbing or heating work, tells us whether the problem is local or widespread.
Repair the structure
Boards are lifted and numbered if they are going back, and rotten timber is cut out. New treated timber is fixed and checked with a level before strutting, hangers and any restraint straps go in.
Relay and ventilate
Boards are relaid or replaced, skirting refitted and air bricks cleared or added outside. We point out anything that would let damp back in, such as soil heaped against the wall, so the repair lasts.
Is it time for floor joist repairs? Common signs
- Ceiling cracks below that follow the line of the joists
- A musty smell, or fungal strands showing between the boards
- Soft or spongy boards near outside walls, hearths or the bathroom
Rules for floor joist repairs in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, minor repairs usually need no approval, but structural work comes under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and council building control. There is no Party Wall Act in Northern Ireland.
Your floor joist repairs questions
What is the price of floor joist repairs in Antrim?
Guide prices for floor joist repairs in Antrim start from about £220 per joist, including VAT, on Northern Ireland rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out floor joist repairs in Antrim?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Antrim, including BT41, and from nearby places such as Ballymena and Newtownabbey. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Antrim cause cracking?
County Antrim is largely basalt over chalk, with soft estuarine 'sleech' along Belfast Lough that is notorious for settlement. Historic salt mining is recorded near Carrickfergus. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
What is sistering a floor joist?
Sistering is fixing a new length of timber alongside an existing joist so the two share the load. It strengthens a notched, cracked or sagging joist without removing it, so it is quicker and less disruptive than replacement.
Can floor joists be repaired without taking up the whole floor?
Yes, in most cases only the boards over the affected joists need lifting, and three or four boards are often enough to sister a joist or splice a rotten end. Widespread rot is the exception, because the whole floor must come up to remove the decay.
More repairs we carry out in Antrim
- Brick arch repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Structural crack repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Floor joist repairs near Antrim
Get a free initial assessment of a sagging floor in Antrim from your photos or a call, before you commit to anything.