[VAL] frame separation

[Chris Koehn <timberguides@xxxxxxxxx>]

I want to pass along a fix I came up with for plywood sub floor 
separating from the aluminum channel. Simpson Strongtie, which 
manufactures wood and metal connectors for the construction industry, 
make a galvanized angle clip meant to connect wood members joining at a 
right angle to one another. The clips are bent at 90 degrees and 
measure ~ 3" X 1 1/2 (3" X 3" before bent to 90 degrees). They are 
available through building centers and lumber yards. I used these to 
firm up the connection of the plywood sub floor to the aluminum channel 
in a few spots in our '79 International 31'.

After removing the rear twins I found some spongy sub floor- no "frame 
separation", but a few areas where the plywood to channel connection 
was questionable. The clips screwed to the aluminum channel with 
self-tapping sheet metal screws, and to the sub floor with jack bolts. 
Jack bolts compress to form a flange below the sub floor and offer a 
threaded nut in to which I screwed machine screws. This allowed me to 
get a very firm connection to the sub floor without cutting an access 
hole through it to install a washer and nut.  I always dab a little JB 
weld on the threads to be sure they don't back out. Space the clips as 
needed: I put mine on ~ 1' centers: increase or decrease frequency as 
needed. I also used Minwax wood hardener to firm up the plywood. This 
helps a lot. If your sub floor is still solid enough to benefit from 
this treatment it might be worth trying, to save the pain and 
aggravation of replacing the sub floor entirely.

Chris K.
#8638
camped west of Des Moines