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So What is Involved In Replacing a Beam?

By
Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819

 

So What is Involved In Replacing a Beam?

 

I recently posted about a deck that had signs of movement and cracking in Sacramento. The cracks were in the stucco covering the wood support beam and need to be looked at. Upon opening the area of the beam support, we could see that the wood beam was rotted and needed to be replaced.

So how do you remove a wood beam to is holding up a very heavy upstairs deck? Very carefully!

It is important that there is enough support to hold the existing deck in place while removing and replacing the damaged wood. So the best approach is to build a temporary beam or support system that will hold things safely for a little while.

In our case, this Sacramento deck had to be lifted a bit to get it back up to the original height before the framing started to rot and sink. We built the temporary support structure, removed the damaged beam, lifted the framing to the new height, and secured the beam to the posts and deck joists.

This process does take some time and probably should be done by a qualified general contractor with experience in repairing rotted and sinking decks. If you feel that this is something that you are dealing with and need help, contact your local contractor and ask if they can replace a rotting wood beam in a deck. If they say yes, follow-up with the rest of the reference and licensing requirements.

 

 

Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366 decks that are not supported properly could be the cause of a tragic accident with a load of people on it.....

Feb 10, 2015 10:39 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing this experience. Home owners need to pay close attention to rotted wood that may lead to major damages.

Feb 11, 2015 12:14 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Support is the name of the game here! I get clients all the time say things like "We just gotta replace that one beam and we are good" and I have to explain to them why there's more to it than meets the eye. Good one Tom!

Feb 11, 2015 01:56 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It seems I remember an Olympics when they discovered the girl's gymnastics beam to be a problem.  And it had to be replaced.

Same thing?

Feb 11, 2015 07:56 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Okay that made me get up, to out in the cold to inspect the supports on my porch.  It's 11 feet in the air and I don't want it fall.  They look fine.  Nice reminder to keep an eye on them.

Feb 12, 2015 05:33 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

You are right Barbara Todaro , we can't have that can we?

Feb 12, 2015 11:57 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Some rot is hidden, some not. Finding it is important Roy Kelley 

Feb 12, 2015 11:58 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

You are so right Fred Hernden , they is much more involved. Other rotted wood, things that are in the way when replacing, blah, blah. You've heard this before I am sure.

Feb 12, 2015 11:59 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I think you are right on track with that thought Jay Markanich 

Feb 12, 2015 12:01 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

They say you have to get the reader to act Tammy Lankford , I think I did pretty good here. 

Feb 12, 2015 12:01 PM