Need help with water damaged joist on frame house

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4fbd49b3e6c2d-.jpg

The abandoned house next door to me is slowly being dismantled by the city. They are not going to tear it down completely because my house is connected to it, and that would bring down my house as well. However, one of the workmen told me that my house has a lot of water damage to it and a main joist should probably be replaced, and quickly. Attached is a pic. Can someone recommend a contractor that’s reliable and does this type of work?

kiki

in Facade and Brownstone Repair 13 years and 1 month ago

1

Please log in, in order to post replies!

1 replies

Newest Oldest

Bond | 13 years and 1 month ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4885 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4866 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "10545"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(4) "Bond"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bp3RFao3u7M5Jg6R5xu1G6CW6fjBM6/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(4) "bond"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(13) "BDW13@aol.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(19) "/forums/users/bond/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:14:46"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(4) "Bond"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(10545)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I think based on the photo that Kiki17 does in fact own the problem. It looks like the corner post beam on her house is fairly rotten.  When the city is done, they will in all probability encapsulate the problem, making it more difficult to fix, and probably sealing in lots of moisture and/or mold.  A big issue as I see it is that most of the wood frame houses that I’ve worked on in Brooklyn are a hybrid of post and beam and balloon framing. If you are looking to have the original beam replaced as it was originally done, it’s a big difficult job.  If you are okay with having several beams cobbled together to the right size and metal hangers used instead of mortise and tenon, any decent carpenter should be able to handle it.  It’s still not a small job, just not a very difficult or unusual job.  It will be a lot easier to do if they will let your contrator access if from the other side.  It sounds like you already have a rapport built up with one of the workers, see if you can talk to him or her and get an idea of a timeline that the building side will be open and if you can work on it from their side.  On principal, they probably will tell you that you can’t work on their side, but a lot of times they’ll also let you know if they’re not going to be around for a few days giving you a window to take care of business.  Another option is to ask them if they could fix it.  Since they are  there on the city’s dime, they might give you a good price.  That is assuming of course that you’re comfortable with the work that you’ve seen them do so far.  Good luck either way.