Best filler for floor joist holes

[DKenn]

Hello...

 

I am fixing down some loose floorboards to firm up a floor. I have found under one of the boards a row of rough (unused) holes (around 25mm) running through the joists. The holes are central in the 6x2 joists, so I am not too concerned about the loss of strength, but I would like to fill them anyway. Can you advise on a good filler to add some structural integrity back to these holes?

 

Thanks.

[markc]

If the holes are in the centre then the loss of material does not affect the beam as this area is not in tension or compression. If you do want to fill them use wood down or whittled to size and glue in with wood glue

[JohnMo]

I doubt you would add any structural integrity by filling holes. Wouldn't overthink it.

 

If you are finding loose boards, sounds like like an older not new house, so holes have been there for years, why fix it if it isn't broken 

[DKenn]

All true... I am a bit "belt and braces" with things like this - so it is more for piece of mind.

[JohnMo]

57 minutes ago, DKenn said:

All true... I am a bit "belt and braces" with things like this - so it is more for piece of mind.

Put a doubler on to strengthen. To do this correctly you would drill and bolt both the doubler and the original joist. So you are making more holes, is this fixing the issue? What issue so No.

 

Will filling make it look pretty possibly, will it add and structural integrity - No

 

Move on with more important stuff, like putting the floor boards down so no one breaks their neck.

[Gone West]

4 hours ago, DKenn said:

Can you advise on a good filler to add some structural integrity back to these holes?

I would use 25mm dowel, glued in with PU adhesive.

[DKenn]

2 minutes ago, Gone West said:

I would use 25mm dowel, glued in with PU adhesive.

Thanks for the advice.

 

The holes look like they were done by a wild animal; they are rough and far from straight. I would need to re-drill them to get a dowel in. I was thinking of a strong and flexible filler of some kind that would fill the uneven holes.

[ProDave]

Leave them alone.

 

Some future electrician will thank you when he can thread a cable through the existing hole rather than drill a new one.

 

[Gone West]

1 minute ago, DKenn said:

Thanks for the advice.

 

The holes look like they were done by a wild animal; they are rough and far from straight. I would need to re-drill them to get a dowel in. I was thinking of a strong and flexible filler of some kind that would fill the uneven holes.

Why not glue in a looser fitting smaller dowel with epoxy wood filler. You'll use a lot of filler otherwise.