saggy beam

[num1jeep]

I have a load bearing beam that is sagging. So i went under the building and found no foundation support. So my plan is to dig and pore a footing, lift the beam back in to place and replace the support post. The question is do i run the post to the sub floor and then support the subfloor or take the post through the floor to the footing?

[lefty]

num1jeep

Welcome to the forums.

You're on the right track. Pour the footing, then use a jack on that footing to lift the beam into place and install a post from the footing to the beam.

You'll have to make the footing large enough so that you can set the jack off-center on it, so you can set the post in the center with the jack in place.

Don't try lifting the subfloor with the jack -- you'll probably tear it apart. Lift only the beam, which in turn will lift the subfloor.

[num1jeep]

So it's clear, this beam supports the 2nd floor. So I should run the new post though the first floor post the sub flooring and straight to the footing? Or should it sit on the sub floor and then I support the sub floor with the footing

[chandler]

The beam you are talking about is under the first floor, right? Is it sagging? If so, your footing should be poured and a post installed after the beam is jacked back to correctness. I am not understanding what you mean by running the post through the first floor, etc. Do you have any pictures you can share with us so we can see what you see? How To Put Pictures In Your Post

[XSleeper]

Let me see if I have this right:

You have a load bearing "support post" that supports an unknown load point (a header?) on your 2nd story and it's settling.
You have a "beam" under the building that is sagging because the "beam" is not sized to support the load.
Therefore you need a footing and another "support post" to transfer the load to the new footing?

If it's anything like I would imagine, the "beam" is a 4x4 or 6x6 that's now shaped like a banana, right? If so, I'd remove and replace it and use something a little more substantial.

Pictures sure would help to clear things up, if you'd still like additional input.

[lefty]

num1jeep,

In your original post you neglected to mention that this sagging beam supports the SECOND floor. THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING!!

No, you don't run a post through the first floor that extends to the beam that supports the second floor. Instead, you create a load path that will support the sagging beam.

If you drop a plumb line down from the sagging beam to the floor below it, what support for the first floor is present at that point? Is there a supporting beam for the first floor DIRECTLY below the sagging beam?

If so, you load path will be easy. A footing and post to the beam under the first floor, and then a second post on the subfloor above that beam up to the sagging beam.

If not, your project just bacame a whole lot more involved (not to mention a lot more expensive!!)

You can't use the first floor subfloor to support a beam between it and the sagging beam unless there is a beam that supports the first floor directly below that point. And you can't cut a hole in the first floor subfloor to extend a post from a footing to the sagging beam. First, it would weaken the subfloor of the first floor, and second, you won't be able to install a 12' or so long post without removing the first floor ENTIRELY in that area.

Tell us more about the situation, and we'll go from there.