Replies

1. 
   Mike_M._Va | Oct 05, 2000 04:52am | #1

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   Tim, I just quoted the same job ona house built in the 1800's, with the exception that the beam is around 12x12. That is the plan that I have is to use screw jacks moving the house a little at a time prob. within a couple weeks, then going in to cut out the beam. The olny advantage I have is the floor has to be replaced anyway so I can romove that first and work from there. Hope it helps, good luck. Mike M.

2. 
   Guest_ | Oct 05, 2000 05:56am | #2

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   Tim,

   I just replaced a section of the sill on my own house a few months ago. It also has a crawl space. I used a 6"x6"x12' railroad tie and a few bottle jacks. You don't have to lift up very much ; just take the weight off the sill. Get a bunch of 12" sawzall blades and a cats-paw nail puller. Carve out the old sill and add in a new pressure teated one same height. Not very hard, just awkward getting the RR-tie under there. Go slow and don't lift very much at all.

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 05, 2000 12:56pm | #3

   *Thanks for the advice. It doesn't seem like it will be all that bad of a job. Lucky for me I am getting paid by the hour! I'll let you know what happens in a couple of weeks. Thanks again.

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 05, 2000 02:24pm | #4

   *Tim,It really helps if you have a complete understanding of how your project is framed. Do you know the construction date? Houses with sills that size can be either post and beam or early balloon framing. How you approach each is different. Both have their difficulties and advantages when it comes to sill replacement. If you know more, I can elaborate.Steve

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 06, 2000 02:52am | #6

   *Steve, I do not know the date the house was built. I belive that it is post and beam. The strange thing is this is a gable wall. The second floor joists are parallel to the sill to be replaced. However, there was a beam installed about 8' from the sill running parallel with it. The first floor joists are perpendicular running from this beam and resting on the sill. I can not make sence of this practice. It seems like it could be original.

3. 
   Guest_ | Oct 06, 2000 02:52am | #5

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   I am working on an older house. I uncovered a rotten sill when I was looking at sagging floor joists. The current sill seems to be a 6.5"x6.5" beam. The other problem is that I will be working in a crawl space. I thought about trying to replace it from the outside but there is a set of concrete steps in the way. What I would like to find out is if I can just cut out the rotten part and replace it with a treated beam. If so then should I just jack up the floor from the inside and try to replace the sill. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.