I'm dealing with a sagging central beam in my one-story, 1200 sqft home located on the east coast of the US, where the clay soil isn't exactly the best. The beam is bent, leading to cracks in my walls and sagging floors. Although the professionals I've consulted say it's not as dire as it looks and have seen worse cases, we're eager to fix it. I've received a quote of $8000 for installing six jacks, each on a reinforced concrete pad; however, I worry this might just be a temporary fix. Should I be looking to replace the beam entirely instead? I also want to gather more quotes, but I would love to get your thoughts on this beforehand. Thanks!
1 Answer
Jacks can sound temporary, but they function as a permanent solution too since you can adjust them later if needed. It's crucial to keep in mind that the main beam might not be the right size for your home, so adding more support could be a feasible option without necessarily replacing it. If you're not planning to finish the crawlspace, sticking with jacks might be the cheapest route.
You could also consider sistering a new beam alongside the old one after leveling everything out.