Hello. I recently purchased a circa 1915 house in northern NJ. The house shows no signs of settling...straight ridge lines, minor hairline plaster cracks, level and plumb walls, no bouncing floors, no foundation cracks.
The house has a 21 foot center beam in the basement that is holding up the floor joists. It is made of 2 sistered actual measure 2 x 8 beams, apparently tied into foundation/sill and supported by 2 tree trunks appx 7 inch diameter. The concrete floor has a few weep holes which have been dry during the 7 months I have owned the house. Using a feeler gauge, the concrete appears to be 9 inch thick. What we have is 1/2 to 3/4 inch sag between the tree post spans.
Need to mention we removed a lot of weight from the floor including radiators and stonework...probably a ton.
I realize the 2x8's are undersized by today's standards, though they have yielded to the sag...
I would like to straighten or minimize the sag, and reinforce the situation. I would prefer to not replace the horiz beams or dig up the basement floor. Is there a prudent way to do this? Thanks.
The house has a 21 foot center beam in the basement that is holding up the floor joists. It is made of 2 sistered actual measure 2 x 8 beams, apparently tied into foundation/sill and supported by 2 tree trunks appx 7 inch diameter. The concrete floor has a few weep holes which have been dry during the 7 months I have owned the house. Using a feeler gauge, the concrete appears to be 9 inch thick. What we have is 1/2 to 3/4 inch sag between the tree post spans.
Need to mention we removed a lot of weight from the floor including radiators and stonework...probably a ton.
I realize the 2x8's are undersized by today's standards, though they have yielded to the sag...
I would like to straighten or minimize the sag, and reinforce the situation. I would prefer to not replace the horiz beams or dig up the basement floor. Is there a prudent way to do this? Thanks.