Joist Hangers are designed to hold timber joists in place. They are used to anchor things like decking, floors and ceilings. Most joist hangers wrap around three sides of a wooden beam and nails or screws are put into the holes to keep it in place. There is a connecting plate on the joist hanger that is fastened to the surrounding frame. Joist hangers are versatile and are much stronger than using nails or screws alone. They are also easier to fit and relatively cheap given the length of time they will last. Provided all the holes have nails or screws inserted, they provide excellent stability. Joist hangers can also be welded if needed and can be attached to masonry as well as timber. If you install them properly, joist hangers will keep your decks and floors strong as wood dries, twists, shrinks and ages.