Another Jack Post Question
Like a recent post, I have an issue, with the non-code support posts in the basement under the main beam. The house is solid brick, 1922, 20 ft wide and is not noticeably sagging. But the pre-purchase inspector did say this arrangement of non-code posts should be rectified. My GC (who, for better or worse…
Like a recent post, I have an issue, with the non-code support posts in the basement under the main beam. The house is solid brick, 1922, 20 ft wide and is not noticeably sagging. But the pre-purchase inspector did say this arrangement of non-code posts should be rectified.
My GC (who, for better or worse is a family member) says both that there’s no reason to fix it, and that if you were to fix it in the future, which would of course involve digging up the basement floor to pour cement footings, that this would in fact not jeopardize any newly finished elements, such as tile floors/walls or skim coated plaster. The inspector meanwhile had said, do this first, so if there’s any movement as a result, you don’t crack the new plaster, window seals, etc.
So I guess my question is, does this seem reasonable? Specifically, any comments about leaving it as is, since it’s not ailing, and also whether doing the proper support method in the future would in fact not risk cracking things upstairs?
I m a bit worried that GC is just not interested in that particular project, and wants to prioritize other things (e.g. finishing baths and kitchens) that are underway.
Anyone to recommend?
Get another assesment from a professional engineer and take it from there. You don’t need to spens that much for a structural assesement anywhere from 350.00-750.00
Being the guy who plasters and paints after all the ‘under the hood’ work is done, I’d get the posts fixed first.
Any plaster, sheetrock, tile floors, ( anything that uses plaster, joint compound, cement ) has the potential to crack if you do the post replacement after the upstairs work.
I had to jack up my house in CT to repair the cement walls, and cracked a lot of drywall seams upstairs, though I only raised the basement beams 1/4″ .
Your contractor is shying away from this task as it is messy and pain to do. One has to dig down into a basement floor, get rid of that dirt, pour footers, then slide in new beams.
There’s always a risk this MIGHT happen but not if it’s done correctly. There’s only going to be a quarter inch or so movement during the process so it usually is never a problem.
It all depends upn how thick the current slab is. this sort of jack post support without a proper footing is done all the time. A lot of times it is fine without a footing, though not proper.
If you detect any sagging at all in the structure then it is probably settling and you should get it done now. With a major renovation, similar to what you speak of, this will be an incidental expense.