Humber/Ontario Real Estate Course 3 Exam Practice

How is the most common method to strengthen joists during construction described?

1. Add more insulation between the joists.

2. Add a thicker sub-floor.

3. Increase the depth of the joists.

4. Increase the span of the joists.

5. Use metal in addition to wooden joists.

6. Reinforce joists with cross-bracing.

The correct answer is: Increase the depth of the joists.

Increasing the depth of the joists is a widely recognized method for enhancing their strength during construction. Deeper joists can support more weight and span larger distances without sagging, which is particularly beneficial for maintaining the structural integrity of floors and ceilings. This method effectively improves the load-bearing capacity because it increases the moment of inertia, meaning that the joists can better resist bending and deformation under heavy loads. While other approaches exist for reinforcing joists, like using cross-bracing or incorporating metal, modifying the joist depth has the most significant impact on overall strength and load distribution. The use of insulation or adding a thicker sub-floor does not directly address the structural capacity of the joists themselves and increasing the span would actually put more stress on the existing joists, potentially compromising their performance.