founation sill rot - how involved is it to fix
#1
05-01-02, 11:48 AM
founation sill rot - how involved is it to fix
I have just discovered that a four foot section of the foundation sill in my basement is half rotted. I believe the problem is due to the lack of pitch on my outside slate steps. The slate is dead level and the water just sits there. Over time, rainwater has seeped down at the joint where the steps meet the house, ran down the foundation and rotted the sill. I'm getting the steps raised to get more pitch and I now must address the sill. How invoved a repair is this for a small section. I have seen this done on tv for colonial rehabs and it looks like a huge, big time job.
#2
05-02-02, 03:42 PM
Member
Sill rot repair
What do I do about wood rot? Rotten wood must be replaced. If any rotten wood is allowed to remain, the rot will start in the adjacent new wood as well. In the case of floor or wall sill replacement, it may be necessary to jack up the house in order to remove the rotten wood.
05/02/02 http://www.voyageur.ca/~seabird/repair.htm
05/02/02 http://www.voyageur.ca/~seabird/repair.htm
#3
05-04-02, 08:07 AM
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This is not a too hard of a job, but it can be a difficult job. You will need to put jacks on an 8' area. 2 feet on each end of the rotten sill and jack up the floor joists about 1/8 of an inch. Get a couple of 20 ton hydraulic jacks and a 4x6 or 5x6 beam. Next you will need a sawsall or reciprocating saw with a metal blade to run over and under the sill and cut the bolts and nails. Then with the same saw with a wood blade cut out your bad portion. Replace with treated lumber, and toenail the joists to it. Before putting it back in, I would put a heavy coat of 100% silicone on the bottom of the sill board your replacing. Good Luck
