Rotten Beams - must replace - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

MHMConstruction · 02-26-2007, 06:26 PM

I posted this in the framing section too...

Rotten Beams - must replace
I'm doing a remodel and the house (old cracker shack, here in North Florida) had termites and the main affected area is a back corner of the house. It's set up on concrete block footings, about every 8 feet, and on top of the footings are 6x8 beams that run the length of the house, from front to back. The joists (2x8 old wood) sit on top of the 6x8 beams, and so forth.

The termite-eaten parts are about 3 feet long on both joining beams in the back corner. My plan is to get a few car jacks and set them up at 3 different locations in the back corner (possibly with a temporary 'joist to evenly support the lift), jack it up 1/4", and cut out the old rotten beams to the center of the next footing, and replace with.......

1) home made beam made up of 4 2x8's sandwiched together?

2) an 8x8 post, laid down?

what do you think?? And any other methods would be appreciated..

B.McCarthy
MHM Construction
Gainesville, FL

osborn · 02-26-2007, 08:21 PM

Steel if you can. LVL would be easier to to get into a tight spot. Take them in there one by one then nail them together down there and put them in place. Whats the span? And how many levels including roof will it be holding?

**Cole** · 02-27-2007, 12:18 PM

Consult and engineer!

dayspring · 02-27-2007, 04:20 PM

I wouldn't lay a 8x8 down, it'd sag in time. Osborn had good advice.

MHMConstruction · 02-27-2007, 05:25 PM

osborn,

when you say 'nail them down there' do you mean, to make my own LVL, like by nailing members together, or get a 7.5" LVL from the lumber yard?

i'm not really worried much about sag w/ the 8x8 - that's what's been holding it all up so far, but the existing beams run the length of the house - my repair it only spans about 8 feet (both ways, it's in the corner) and supports just one story. it's the back corner of the house, and the back corner of the kitchen.

not looking forward to it - looks like its my project for tomorrow. wish me luck

any more tips would be very helpful

MHM in Florida

osborn · 02-27-2007, 07:12 PM

Drag 2 or 3 members down there, sandwich them together, nail them 3 nails 16 o.c. and put in place. You could nail them together in the driveway if its not too awkward to get them down in the space. 1 inch tall for every 1 foot span.

recruit4meisner · 02-28-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole

Consult an engineer!

No question about it.

kapena · 02-28-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole

Consult and engineer!

Not for a 8 foot span. Osborn has the right idea.

MHMConstruction · 03-05-2007, 04:45 PM

osborn-

very good advice on putting it together one piece at a time - that saved my back.

I got 'er done today finally. I had to rent two 10-ton jacks and jack up the joists while removing the rotten beams. It wasn't fun, but looks good now.

many thanks,
MHM