Rim Joist Vs Band Joist- All Key Differences to Know

Rim and band Joists play an important role in your home’s flooring or ceiling structure. These wood or metal blocks provide the required support to the floor and ceiling. So that no jiggle or sagging occurs after years of your home construction.

Rim and band joist is the same piece of the board supporting your home’s ceiling and floor structure. Depending on their installation position, joists are called by different names. If the joists are placed horizontally on the base of the floor, it’s called rim joists, sill plates, or band boards. On the other hand, if the joists are attached to the wall exterior or make boundaries around the floor joists, it’s called band joists.

They provide stability, distribute weight, and hold the construction for years. However, there are a few key differences between rim and band joists that must be known. This article explains Rim and band joists, their sizes, strength, installation, and factors.

Content

What is Rim Joist?

Rim joists are horizontally placed wood beams supporting flooring joists and other joists. They are found at the base of the foundation wall that nails the flooring joists. In floor framing, rim joists wrap around the perimeter and butt to the flooring blocks.

Rim joists mainly support the flooring blocks and help to prevent trapping. These horizontally placed wood beams also ensured the strength and stability of the joists over the years. To ensure the complete floor structure, woodworkers drive nails through the rim joists and end of the floor blocks to keep your flooring lines stable and in an upright position.

Depending on your flooring system, rim joists are placed. If you are willing to install a wooden subfloor, rim joists are placed on the wall. If using a plywood subflooring system, rim joists are installed between pre-installed plywood layers.

These horizontal wood beams’ main purpose is distributing the weight, preventing sagging in floors, and keeping the structural system over the years.

There are some other benefits also available for using rim joists. For example,

Help to attach floor joists to the wall
Offers excellent stability, strength, and support to the floor, ceiling, and roof
Connecting other farming components became easier like studs and rafters
Distribute weight throughout the home
Provide additional strength to attach windows and doors directly to the rim joists

These horizontal wood beams are used for both residential and commercial building structures. Lastly, the rim joists are made from pressure-taking lumber, making the constructions highly durable for a long time.

What is Band Joist?

Band joists also refer to wood beams that support a frame structure in the exterior wall. These wood beams are placed to distribute the weight from the main joists. Band joists are also made from metal or wood blocks. Load-bearing balls mainly rest on the band joists. The following wood blocks are placed at the end of the floor joists in the floor structure.

These wood blocks nailed floor and ceiling joists to support the structure. As a result, other joists get the required strength and stability in the floor or roof frames. In most home construction, band joists are placed on the sill plates. If you plan to create a deck using floor joists, it is essential to make a boundary of band joists first.

Without band joists, other wooden blocks can lose their durability over the years. These wooden blocks were also used to support stairs and railings. Some people call them chunky blocks that create enough space for nailing other joists. Indeed, the band joists are similar to wood blocks made from lumber or metal components.

However, the band joists are made slightly larger than floor joists, as they take more lead to keep a structure stable. That’s why woodworkers increase the area of these blocks to reduce floor bouncing problems. Band joists run parallel to the sides of a house. So each floor joist nailed through the band joists as they placed longitudinal sides of the perimeter.

6 Key Differences Between Rim Joist and Band Joist

As mentioned, the Rim and band joist are the same wood or metal-made blocks. They act as a support to each other and stable a structural frame. Rim joists support the floor or ceiling joists. On the other hand, band joists distribute weight and connect other joists in the construction. Still, there are a few more differences available between rim and band joists to know

Material

As we already mentioned, Rim and band joists are made of lumber or metal. It depends on your preference and the construction projects which you require for. Some joists are also made from engineered wood which is called TJIs. These components are a little stronger and bigger than lumber blocks. However, lumber joists are cost-effective, durable, and less likely to split, shrink, twist or bow.

Size

A noticeable difference between the Rim joist and band joist is their size. The rim joist supports the base of the foundation wall and additional floor, which you are willing to put on them. So rim joists are made larger, generally available in sizes 2-by-6, 2-by-8, and 2-by-10.

On the other hand, band joists are typically made smaller but thick and wider than floor or roof joists. The wood blocks carry more load in the framework and distribute the weight from its foundation blocks.

Installation Connection

This is another common distinction between a Rim joist and a band joist. Both are installed and connected to stabilize and strengthen a floor or roof structure. Still, the placement of these joists is different.

For example, rim joists are attached to other floor joists by driving through the nails. Framing nails are placed outside the rim to connect the end of the floor or roof joists.

On the other hand, band joists installed on top of the wall provide the required support to the floor or roof structure. They take most of the load and distribute weight throughout the home.

An L-shaped bracket connects rim joists to support all sides together. While band joists hold the floor or ceiling joists and connect through nails or metal hangers.

Compatibility and Suitability

Your home’s size and structure also determine how band and rim joists are used in a frame. Experts say band joists are good for tall ceilings that need more support and load to structure the frame. On the other hand, rim joists should be a good option for horizontal floor beams in larger rooms as the joists provide better fitting in the structure.

Strength

Indeed, both the Rim joist and band joist work together to support a roof, floor, or ceiling structure. Band joists are relatively thicker and wider than other joists in the construction. The main goal is to provide stability and weight distribution for long-term use.

On the other hand, rim joists are smaller in thickness that connects the end of the floor joists. They also provide strength in the structure and prevent floor bouncing issues.

Which is a Better Choice? – Rim Joist Vs Band Joist

The Rim and band joist is important to support your floor, roof, or ceiling structure. They provide the required support, strength, and stability to your construction. The installation, connection, and use are many differences in woodworking projects. Still, their purpose is to give structure to a home.

Now band joists are relatively small but much thicker and wider than rim joists. It makes the wood or metal block cable take more load on the frame. On the other hand, rim joists are also important to hold floor joists and prevent trapping or sagging over time.

Which is a better choice depends on your preference and how comfortable you are with these joist types. There is no wrong or right choice while picking these wood blocks. They both are important and provide the required support to a structure.

FAQs Relate to Rim Joist Vs Band Joist

How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Rim Joist?

Repairing rim joists or sill plates may charge you per square foot for $10-$67. Depending on the length of these wood blocks and damages, complete repairing can go up to $1000 – $10000.

Can You Drill Through a Band Joist?

You can drill through the rim joists as they support floor joists and prevent twisting or trapping. Using nails or metal hangers, band joists are placed on top of the foundation wall.

Is Insulating Band Joists Worth It?

Insulation placed near the rim and band joists helps restrict air leaks and keeps moisture outside the home. Proper installation can also make a strong thermal barrier in your space.

Can Band Joists be Reinforced?

Using rim joists and band joists according to your floor or ceiling is important. The installation will increase stability and strength and reduce the bouncing of the framework.

Conclusion

So remember, both rim and band joists are important to structure your floor, ceiling, or roof. They may come in different sizes and installation processes. Still, both are important to design your home framework. You can use these wood or metal blocks according to your floor or ceiling structure. Using proper tools and placement is important to keep the structure rigid and stable. So we hope you go through the above discussion between rim and band joists.