Hey everyone! I'm reaching out for some opinions on a recent situation with a contractor I hired. I asked him to sister some sagging floorboards in my first floor while he was working on other basement projects. He mentioned installing a post, which made sense to me since the previous owner had removed a load-bearing wall in the basement, causing sagging in the floors above. I didn't supervise the work closely, but when he finished, I noticed a wooden post that extends into the finished ceiling and connects to the floor joists for support. However, what's concerning me is that the post just rests on the floor without any visible attachment or footing. When I asked the contractor if it was anchored, he said it wasn't and claimed, "there's a lot of weight on it." I'm planning to finish my concrete basement floor, but I worry this post might be prone to water damage or could move over time, given my century-old house in the Pacific Northwest has persistent water issues. Should I ask this contractor to come back and secure the post somehow, or is it okay as it is? I'd really appreciate any advice!
Edit: [is this a skimpy post](https://imgur.com/a/wE0VsSE)
3 Answers
Honestly, I'm not convinced that setup is right for long-term support. It seems like that’s not even suitable for temporary work. If your contractor just nailed it to the floor, that’s a red flag! You might want a second opinion on this.
You should consider using a stand-off post base; it could really help secure that post properly. They have some at Lowe's that might work for you. You just need to make sure the existing post is attached correctly with this hardware. You might need to remove it first, though!
A picture would help clarify things! Have you shared one already?
Here's the link to the photo: https://imgur.com/a/wE0VsSE. Any thoughts on what you're seeing?
Thanks for the suggestion! Would this involve taking down the existing post to attach it with that hardware?