Hey everyone! I've lived in this charming 110-year-old home for about four years now, and I'm starting to get a bit concerned about the condition of the floor beams. I want to make sure I can keep living here for another 5 to 6 years without major issues. From what I can see, they look old and worn—how much trouble am I in? Check out this photo: https://imgur.com/gNJEm2c.
3 Answers
Generally, cosmetic wear isn't a huge issue unless you spot crumbling wood or notice that your floors are starting to slope. Investing in a pro inspection early on could save you a lot of headaches down the road.
My place is 107 years old, and my beams looked pretty similar back in the day. If you're really stressed about it, it might be worth bringing in a structural engineer to take a look. Another simple check is to mark any cracks you see and monitor if they get bigger over time.
It's tough to give a definitive answer from just one photo, but based on what I've seen, those beams have lasted 100 years already, so they should hold up for many more! Maybe not a huge worry just yet.
That makes sense! With all the comments I've seen, I think I'll definitely hire an inspector. Honestly, even when we bought the place, nothing was level or square, so it's been a bit of a challenge!