 Replacing Girders / Main Center Beams Girders are a main beam that acts much like a foundation wall as it supports the floor joists. Most homes will have one or more of them. There are a couple of different types. The simplest is just a beam probably 3 or 4 boards thick that runs below the floor joists and is supported by piers or columns. Sometimes the best way to replace this type of girder is to get the whole thing cut out and replace it all at once but that's a real big bite. We will tackle it one section at a time. Starting at one end install tempoary supports under the floor joists up to the first pier/column. Now place a hydrolic jack under the girder about 1 foot past the pier. Now cut the girder out from the end to about 6 to 8 inches past the pier. Use a recipricating saw (sawzaw) and cut it into sections you can handle. Use the sawzaw to cut the nails between the girder and the josits and the section should fall right out. Now using a tounge and grove kind of method build your new section. Measure from where the girder starts to the center of the pier. Cut some of your boards about 4 inches shorter than that and some about 4 inches longer. For instance for a 3 board wide girder (most common) and your measurement to the center is 72 inches then you would want two 68 inch boards and one 76 inch board. Nail these together with the center one sticking out at one end. This is so you can tie in your next section securley and also have all of the breaks on top of the pier. Clean any nails or obsticles and set it in place, Jack up as needed, toenail to floor joists. Now move down to the next section and repeat. Hint:It's alot easier if the pier can be moved out of the way.
Ledger Syle Girders This type of girder has a 2x4 or similar board nailed to the side of it and the floor joists will butt up against the girder and be notched to fit over the ledger. As you may have guessed this type is a bit more difficult than the type described above. |