"Pete C" wrote in message
...



If you're replacing the downstairs ceiling you could 'sister' the
existing joists with some extra timber to stiffen them up a bit,
doubling the width will double the stiffness.

Is 'sister' a recognised term for that process? I've never heard of it but
it's good and I don't know of another.

It certainly works, we did it in our loft.

Having lived in the street so long, my observations make me doubt any of
the
other houses have had so much trouble expended on them ...

Why not ask your neighbours? If they've done OK for 140 years they
can't be too bad.

:-)

Mary

cheers,
Pete.