Joist: Wednesday’s Word Of The Week

Another word used to describe particular beams is “joist.” A joist typically refers to small, closely spaced beams in floor framing. For example, a floor system might consist of plywood sheathing supported by dimensional lumber joists spaced 16″ apart. The joists could span to glulam beams spaced 12′ apart, the glulam beams to glulam girders, and the girders to columns.


*Each Wednesday our structural engineer, Rik Vandermeulen, discusses a new term associated with glulam manufacturing. He will do this until we run out of words. If there is a timber or glulam term that you have heard of and want to know more about, let us know in the comments.