Old House Structural Repair - JUOT

Jays89YJ · 11-11-2009

I'm trying to compose an estimate to repair a ridge beam and sag in an old house myself and bring it to the table when negotiating on price. The house needs a new roof too, metal FTW.

The house was built in the early 40's and was moved about 10 miles to a new spot and put on a reinforced, block wall foundation w/ a poured daylighter basement. Some moron cut the ridge beam towards the end of the house to throw a stove pipe through it. They installed 3 4x4 columns to supposedly support the roof after doing so.

I'd have to start in the basement with floor jacks and i-beams to jack the first floor back up to level. Then I'd have to go to the first floor and jack the second floor back up a little before making the repair. I'm pretty sure I know where I need to set the jacks and i-beams. I assume opening up the roof and cutting a piece of wood to insert where they messed it up, then have two 3/8" thick metal plates to sandwich the inserted wood w/ the existing beam and bolt it in a boxed X pattern. That would secure it. I'm not sure if the ridge beam has fallen into itself, thus making it shorter and would require me to actually spread it. But when looking at the sag that's taken place within the house, I can see it's directly related to that ridge beam. I believe that end wall has tilted inward.

There's no attic. The second story of the house is the underside of the rafters and ridge beam. Perhaps it would be best to tackle the ridge beam from the inside and not the exterior?

The guy that lives there doesn't even realize the repair is necessary to make the house structurally sound. He's done a lot of good stuff to the house, just nothing structurally. He just finished up a very bitter divorce, owns the house outright and will sell to go back to the Seattle area. He's in no hurry to sell. The market continues to fall.

Jays89YJ · 11-13-2009

I've got my estimate summed up as far as I can take it. I'm sending a drawing to a contractor buddy of mine and asking for a ROM. I'll take his ROM figure and integrate it into mine for negotiating power. The owner's going to flip.

Jays89YJ · 12-01-2009

$13,000.

*Yooper* · 12-02-2009

Not bad, there's a shit-ton of labor involved.

gcb · 12-03-2009

Good luck. Pix?

11-11-2009	#1
Jays89YJ Udaho JUOT 5K Post Club! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,464 Gameroom cash: $137855 Rep Power: 258	Old House Structural Repair I'm trying to compose an estimate to repair a ridge beam and sag in an old house myself and bring it to the table when negotiating on price. The house needs a new roof too, metal FTW. The house was built in the early 40's and was moved about 10 miles to a new spot and put on a reinforced, block wall foundation w/ a poured daylighter basement. Some moron cut the ridge beam towards the end of the house to throw a stove pipe through it. They installed 3 4x4 columns to supposedly support the roof after doing so. I'd have to start in the basement with floor jacks and i-beams to jack the first floor back up to level. Then I'd have to go to the first floor and jack the second floor back up a little before making the repair. I'm pretty sure I know where I need to set the jacks and i-beams. I assume opening up the roof and cutting a piece of wood to insert where they messed it up, then have two 3/8" thick metal plates to sandwich the inserted wood w/ the existing beam and bolt it in a boxed X pattern. That would secure it. I'm not sure if the ridge beam has fallen into itself, thus making it shorter and would require me to actually spread it. But when looking at the sag that's taken place within the house, I can see it's directly related to that ridge beam. I believe that end wall has tilted inward. There's no attic. The second story of the house is the underside of the rafters and ridge beam. Perhaps it would be best to tackle the ridge beam from the inside and not the exterior? The guy that lives there doesn't even realize the repair is necessary to make the house structurally sound. He's done a lot of good stuff to the house, just nothing structurally. He just finished up a very bitter divorce, owns the house outright and will sell to go back to the Seattle area. He's in no hurry to sell. The market continues to fall.

12-02-2009	#4
Yooper Taco Eaters Club JUOT 5K Post Club! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Michisconsin Posts: 7,891 Gameroom cash: $35320 Rep Power: 827	Not bad, there's a shit-ton of labor involved. __________________ Who'd care to be a bee and sip Sweet honey from the flower's lip When he might be a fly and steer Head first into a can of beer?

11-13-2009	#2
Jays89YJ Udaho JUOT 5K Post Club! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,464 Gameroom cash: $137855 Rep Power: 258	I've got my estimate summed up as far as I can take it. I'm sending a drawing to a contractor buddy of mine and asking for a ROM. I'll take his ROM figure and integrate it into mine for negotiating power. The owner's going to flip.

12-01-2009	#3
Jays89YJ Udaho JUOT 5K Post Club! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,464 Gameroom cash: $137855 Rep Power: 258	$13,000.

12-03-2009	#5
gcb The 'In' Crowd JUOT Grand Master Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: for today...Georgia Posts: 1,104 Gameroom cash: $176820 Rep Power: 122	Good luck. Pix?