Fixing Rotted Floor Girder

Stepping through the floor was not the first hint that it had rotted out but it sure moved the floor repair up on the priority list for a house with plenty of remodel projects to do.

Fixing rotted floor girder.

When replacing rotted floor joists it s important to be sure the girder and sill are still intact. Sagging floors doors that won t close and cracks that appear in interior walls can be symptomatic of a more serious problem. It s easier and much cheaper to prevent rot rather than fix it. Seal all cracks.

You may have undersized support beams support posts that are rotting and losing their structural integrity or undersized post footings that are settling. Deteriorating floor joists posts or beams can be caused by termite infestation water damage or dry rot. Raise these jacking timbers just enough to relieve the load on the girder. Girder and joist jacks also known as steel lally columns can be installed at key locations along the structure.

Once in place the floor can be jacked up in an attempt to lift the floor back to a level position. Support the floor joists and or any concentrated loads the girder carries with jacking timbers set under the joists on both sides of the girder. The following steps will help keep the wood in your house dry so fungi don t have a chance to set up shop. Checking joists is easier if you have a basement or crawl space foundation because the joists are exposed.

If joists or floorboards are nailed into the beam cut the nails with a reciprocating saw before you try to remove the beam. To check joists and diagnose the problem a pro must pull up the flooring and the subfloor to see what shape they re in. We offer an encapsulation system that keeps water away from your crawl space and protects the structural integrity of your floor system we also offer steel floor supports. If your floor systems is damaged affordable foundation home repairs can offer free advice on how we repair your home.