What’s the Difference Between a Wrap Over Hanger and a Face Fix Hanger?
When working with timber joists, choosing the right joist hanger is essential for strength, safety, and long-term performance. Two of the most common options are wrap over hangers and face fix hangers. While both are designed to support timber, they are used in different ways depending on the structure and fixing surface.
What Is a Wrap Over Hanger?
Wrap over joist hangers, are designed to wrap around three sides of a timber joist. They sit over the top and sides of the timber, providing strong and secure support from above.
These are typically used in timber-to-timber applications, where the joist is being supported by another timber member. Because they wrap around the joist, they offer excellent load distribution and added stability.
At Speedy Fixings, we supply a range of wrap over hangers, including:
What Is a Face Fix Hanger?
Face fix joist hangers are designed to be fixed directly onto a vertical surface, such as timber, masonry, or concrete. The joist then sits inside the hanger and is secured in place.
These are more versatile than wrap over hangers, as they can be used in a wider range of applications, including:
- Timber to timber
- Timber to masonry
- Timber to concrete
Face fix hangers are commonly used in situations where there is no access above the joist, or where the joist needs to be fixed directly onto a wall or vertical structure.
Popular sizes available at Speedy Fixings include:
- 38mm joist hangers
- 76mm face fix hangers
- 150mm and 200mm wide hangers
We stock face fix hangers up to 250mm wide.
Key Differences
The main difference comes down to how they are installed and where they are used:
- Wrap over hangers sit over the top of the joist and are best for timber-to-timber connections
- Face fix hangers are fixed to a vertical surface and support the joist from the side
Wrap over hangers generally offer strong support when you have access from above, while face fix hangers provide more flexibility when fixing into walls or solid structures.
Choosing the Right Option
The right choice depends on your project setup. If you’re working with timber beams and have access from above, wrap over hangers are a strong and reliable option. If you need to fix joists to masonry, concrete, or vertical timber, face fix hangers are the better solution.
At Speedy Fixings, we stock a wide range of joist hangers and structural fixings to suit all types of construction work, helping you find the right product for the job.