How to Use joist in a Sentence

joist

noun
  • The joists must all be the exact same height.
    — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2026
  • This gave us a point where the edge of each anchor should be on the joist above.
    — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Probe joist ends and sill plates with a screwdriver or an ice pick.
    — Jim Gorman, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2015
  • These should be spaced at eight foot intervals along the front rim joist.
    — Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 8 Feb. 2018
  • To find the joist, simply look through the cracks between the boards.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2022
  • Mark the shims against the edge of the joist using a pencil, then remove them.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2022
  • Two years ago, a devastating fire took the beloved store down to its floor joists.
    — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, 23 Feb. 2018
  • Bob said, pointing at joists that had punched holes in the ceiling of their bedroom.
    — Matthew Ormseth, courant.com, 17 May 2018
  • The cellar was filled to the floorboards above, and barrels hit the floor joists.
    — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
  • The colony built its hive in the floor joists between the upstairs and downstairs in his home.
    — Mallory Hughes, CNN, 11 May 2020
  • But because that level rests on wooden floor joists, which bend a bit, the tiles might have cracked.
    — Dean Kaufman, Curbed, 30 June 2026
  • The balcony floor joists run right into the core of the property.
    — Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 9 July 2024
  • Next, form each front and rear band joist by nailing a 2 x 6 to a 2 x 8 mudsill.
    — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 19 Apr. 2017
  • Cut the panels to fit tightly between the floor and overhead joists.
    — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2019
  • Instead, drive screws at each end of the brace directly to the joists on either side.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Cut all the 2 x 6 floor joists to length and set them between the two band joists and on top of the mudsills.
    — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 19 Apr. 2017
  • This project is heavy, so attach it to a heavy-duty hook in a ceiling joist for hanging.
    — Beth Eslinger, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2021
  • The floor joists were cut in half creating a double height space along the entire back of the home.
    — Janet Eastman, OregonLive.com, 14 May 2018
  • If in doubt, prize up board as above, and take a look, marking the position of the joist on floorboard.
    — The Editors Of House Beautiful, House Beautiful, 11 Feb. 2015
  • Davis, Brody’s load-bearing masonry walls spalled; wood joist floors sagged.
    — New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022
  • If the insulation in your attic doesn't reach the top of the floor joists, there's not enough to trap heat.
    — The Good Housekeeping Institute, Good Housekeeping, 20 Nov. 2018
  • Twist a screw eye into the hole, tightening it fully into the joist.
    — Hannah Bruneman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Run piping from the backflow preventer to the pipe installed through the rim joist.
    — Merle Henkenius, Popular Mechanics, 25 June 2021
  • In the kitchen, the ceiling consists of the floor joists of the master bedroom upstairs.
    — Celia Barbour, House Beautiful, 30 May 2017
  • Structural work, including a new roof and floor joists, is included in the mix.
    — Amy Lavalley, Post-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2018
  • Next, drill through your home's rim joist, and run copper pipe and electrical cable through the hole and to the ground.
    — Merle Henkenius, Popular Mechanics, 25 June 2021
  • Insulation that fills to the top of the joists is about R21.
    — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 12 Dec. 2025
  • The headquarters was mostly beams and joists, with no walls yet constructed.
    — Emily Brindley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
  • The headquarters was mostly beams and joists, with no walls yet constructed.
    — Emily Brindley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Rough carpenters must install floor joists with minimal or no crown.
    — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'joist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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