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Re: Cracked support beamFrom: arkeathley@comcast.net
Category: Carpentry and Framing
Remote Name: 68.60.210.136
Date: 25 Feb 2004
Time: 09:01 PM
CommentsI am a licensed contractor with 15 years experience. Since your house is so old your beam has sagged and cracked. You need to give me some more info to determine what to do to remedy this. If you have a dirt floor it will help. I am thinking that you can dig a 20"w x 20"w x 16" deep footing hole directly under the crack. Install two pieces of 1/2" re-bar in an "X" tied together in the middle, then pour concrete into it, making sure to lift the re-bar to the center of the slab. Now you will have to get two screw jacks (you can either buy them or rent them). Place them on either side of the crack leaving approximately 4' between them, place double thick 2 x 12 boards under them and a thick metal plate on top for support. Lift the beam little by little by screwing the jacks up 1/4 turn every day until the beam has sraightened to your satisfaction.I doubt you will get it completely straight nor do I think you should try to. After all this you will have to install a 6 x 6 cut to fit between the screw jacks and screw or nail it to your cracked beam. Then measure the distance to your new concrete pad and cut a 6 x 6 to fit (you can cut it slightly smaller to ease installation). Install this 6 x 6 using a level to plumb it up. Nail or screw it to your 4' section of 6 x 6 which is already fastened to your old beam. Then you can slowly let the screw jacks come back down to put pressure on your new support post. All done. Aaron
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