Sagging Main Beam! - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

wizendwizard · 02-23-2009, 10:59 AM

Ok guys, I have a problem and need a solution.

House is 30' x 30'. Built in 1946.
Block foundation with 12"x12" beams on top.
1 12"x12" beam running down center and Joist nailed running opposing.
Original build had 4 stacked brick columns running under center beam only.

The problem, the middle 2 brick columns have settled. (Indicated in yellow on SKU.) The 2 end columns are old and crumbling.(Fear of jacking center beam.)

This has caused the center beam to sag 2", in the middle only. This beam holds the entire weight of the interior walls.

The entire floor in the interior was wavey and sloped to the middle beam.

We jacked each joist up and dug and poured 18"x18"x12" footers and blocked up with 8"x8"x16" cinder blocks. This removed the wavey spots in flooring. The floor still slopes to the center from the outside edges, Like a bowl.

Any suggestions on raising center beam?

neolitic · 02-23-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizendwizard

Ok guys, I have a problem and need a solution.

House is 30' x 30'. Built in 1946.
Block foundation with 12"x12" beams on top.
1 12"x12" beam running down center and Joist nailed running opposing.
Original build had 4 stacked brick columns running under center beam only.

The problem, the middle 2 brick columns have settled. (Indicated in yellow on SKU.) The 2 end columns are old and crumbling.(Fear of jacking center beam.)

This has caused the center beam to sag 2", in the middle only. This beam holds the entire weight of the interior walls.

The entire floor in the interior was wavey and sloped to the middle beam.

We jacked each joist up and dug and poured 18"x18"x12" footers and blocked up with 8"x8"x16" cinder blocks. This removed the wavey spots in flooring. The floor still slopes to the center from the outside edges, Like a bowl.
I'm not sure what this means?
Did you build a pier under each joist?
Any suggestions on raising center beam?

Have you checked to see if there
are any footings under the piers?

wizendwizard · 02-23-2009, 11:22 AM

No footers just stacked brick with crumbling mortor.

This house was improperly supported from the start and now the little lady that bought the house without an inspection is screwed until we can figure something out.

fixitpete · 02-23-2009, 12:04 PM

Lots of choices.

You can do a slow-jack and sister steel w/lam beam, only if you have points that can take the load.

Are the footings under the sag done settling? If so, that's much easier... if not... you can do new footings...

There are really lots of solutions. You can pump material under the footing to lift it...

The list goes on and on.

Edit:

Just re-read. If the piers don't have footing, you'll either need to pump some or you'll need to re-do.

I vote for redo footings/pier and then slow-jack the sag and set on on new footings with proper span.

That's a fun job... LOL

kevjob · 02-23-2009, 12:14 PM

can you pour new footings and use lally columns, steel adjustable posts?

WarnerConstInc. · 02-23-2009, 12:51 PM

New footings and slow jacking with screw jacks, could take a year to get everything settled back into its original spot.

wizendwizard · 02-23-2009, 12:53 PM

Thanks guys, now for the twist!

Clearance under home is 24" on left end and 13 1/2" on right end.

24" ...............................................13 1/2"

skymaster · 02-23-2009, 01:14 PM

I know ya dont want to go here but all I can think of is get a rigging outfit in there, let them lift and level the house, then build new foundation.
Yes I know NOT cheap, probably more than house is worth :{:{ sorry thats all I can think of, plus that is WAY SAFER then trying to git ur butt under a disaster waiting to fall on ya

neolitic · 02-23-2009, 01:24 PM

The man with the Corsair gets
the cigar!
The only way I would think
of doing it would start with
ripping out a lot of flooring.

RUSH CAMARATA · 02-23-2009, 01:36 PM

Tear it down and just sell the raw land or start over.It's only 900sqft?

cleveman · 02-23-2009, 01:57 PM

Drive under it with a low clearance excavator, lift it up, pour footings and basement walls, drop house. $20,000=$22.22 per square foot.

wizendwizard · 02-23-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleveman

Drive under it with a low clearance excavator, lift it up, pour footings and basement walls, drop house. $20,000=$22.22 per square foot.

I don't think thats going to work. Did I mention 13 1/2" clearance on the end where any lifting would need to take place?

A multi stage hydrolic house jack would do the trick I think, but I don't have one sitting in my tool barn! lol

wizendwizard · 02-23-2009, 02:12 PM

Neo, Sorry I missed your question earlier. Yes we piered under EACH joist to level the floor. But, the center beam is the problem now. It's sagged in the middle forming a shallow bowl.

As you see here all the weight of the house is resting on that center beam.

neolitic · 02-23-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizendwizard

Neo, Sorry I missed your question earlier. Yes we piered under EACH joist to level the floor. But, the center beam is the problem now. It's sagged in the middle forming a shallow bowl.

As you see here all the weight of the house is resting on that center beam.

If all the joist are supported,
and you have been able to work
with that clearance

,
pour some pads, replace the beam
with LVL, and new posts or piers.
You've already done more than I
would even think about with 13"
headroom.

BTW: Nice rendering.

wizendwizard · 02-23-2009, 02:31 PM

Yes we were able to raise the joist via piering. The problem I am having is the 4 original brick piers.

I am afraid of trying to lift the center beam that holds the entire weight of the house. If the existing end piers crumble during the lift the whole house comes down.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is,

Does anyone see the possibility of the original piers crumbling and the house falling?

Would a slow raise (1/4" a week) be better (less dangerous) than a quick raise (2" in one day)?

Thanks for the cudo's!

neolitic · 02-23-2009, 02:36 PM

You aren't coughing something up here.
The joist are holding the house up, no?
Can you draw up the "beam to joist"
detail?

Got to take Mom to Dr.
Back in a while.

the big 12 inch · 02-23-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUSH CAMARATA

Tear it down and just sell the raw land or start over.It's only 900sqft?

Plus it's in S.C....It couldn't be worth too much...Whats up Rush?

wizendwizard · 02-23-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the big 12 inch

Plus it's in S.C....It couldn't be worth too much...Whats up Rush?

The home is actually on the Georgia side of the river...... Thats an equal statement!

wizendwizard · 02-23-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

You aren't coughing something up here.
The joist are holding the house up, no?
Can you draw up the "beam to joist"
detail?

Got to take Mom to Dr.
Back in a while.

The only answers I haven't given are the ones as yet unasked! LOL

As requested,

The left side shows how I placed my footers and piers 7 1/2' apart, 24" on center.

The right side shows the joist layout.

The red mark indicates the area that is sagging 2".

This indicates how the joist fell on my piers.

Keep in mind there is still 7' to the center beam on each side of my piers.

My piers are only a temporary solution until we can figure out how to jack that center beam back into place.

olzo55 · 02-23-2009, 03:58 PM

just curious. How did you get those piers in?