Solutions uneven floors?
I am reaching out to the brownstoner community to help us with how to level brownstone floors. My husband and i bought a 1901 brownstone last summer and we are currently in the process of renovating each floor. Since the the top two floors are rentals we simply made cosmetic changes (i.e., new floors, baseboards,…
I am reaching out to the brownstoner community to help us with how to level brownstone floors. My husband and i bought a 1901 brownstone last summer and we are currently in the process of renovating each floor. Since the the top two floors are rentals we simply made cosmetic changes (i.e., new floors, baseboards, paint, new kitchen and retiling of the bathrooms). We are currently doing a gut renovation on the parlor floor and uncovered why the floors above “sagging”. The joists/beams are bowing or sagging in the middle. We have a delimma…. should we and can we repair the problem without removing the new floors above? what would it take to repair stop the sagging from increasing?
Also what type of masonry material should we be using to securing beams/joists into the parting walls (i.e., cement?)
Thanks everyone!
from first hand experience, if you decide to repair or replace these beams, remember to amend your plans!
I have a good woodworker who is reasonably priced, accurate, honest, reliable, with his own millwork shop. Guys, for all your woodwork, moldings, floors anything in wood – call Courtney at CYRUS WOODWORKS at 347-743-2435 OR e-mail mlg11208@gmail.com.
I AM AN ARCHITECT AND HIS WORK IS THE BEST.
See my previous posts in this regard.
Banana’d joists won’t straighten no matter what persuasion you try. It seems logical but it won’t work.
Assuming you have verified that there is no longer movement, sistering is probably your best bet. Disregard comment above re: blaming previous removal of support wall. This is rarely if ever the case, Brooklyn brownstones have no end of stupid simple reasons for getting crooked without scapegoats.
You can contact me off line bruce at jerseydata.net.
Most likely the beams are sagging because the previous owners of the Brownstone removed a bearing wall at some point. In order to accurately determine what is the best way to repair your problem it would be best to post detailed photos here in the forum or you can email them to me.
The materials needed to secure the beams into the parting walls is mortar mix, masonry water and sand.
Pietro Calabretta
AllRenovation Construction LLC
pietro@allrenovationllc.com
http://www.allrenovationllc.com
First you need to check the health of the joists. If they are in good condition, you need to brace them and use pressure to “correct” them. You can sister new composite joists, though I have also used steel. Brick is really soft, but there are anchors on the market that do allow for shear strength in masonry.
If you want to know more, I could possibly stop by. Email me at salemfilm@mac.com.