The failure over time of basement ceiling joist supports to hold up the weight of the floor above typically causes sagging. While the floor edges are generally supported by the masonry walls of the basement, the center of the floor must rely primarily on the strength of the joists alone. The sagging is simply a symptom of the failure of the joints. Reducing the sagging is a matter of adding additional joist support. This is done by bracing the joists with adjustable metal poles. Installation of the poles is a quick process, but the adjustments needed to reduce the sagging can take months to complete.
Instructions
1. Measure the height of the ceiling from the floor of the basement to the base of the joists in the potions of the ceiling where no sagging is present. Use a tape measure to do this.
2. Measure the length of sag in the floor. Put on a pair of safety goggles and then use a circular saw to cut a 4-by-4-inch beam to match the measured length.
3. Place two of the 8-foot adjustable posts beneath the sagging area, placing each beneath one of the outside joists of the sagging area. Raise the posts until they are a little more than 4 inches from the base of the floor joists.
4. Place the cut 4-by-4 on top of the adjustable posts so that it spans the joists beneath the sagging joists. Raise the posts the remaining distance to the ceiling until the 4-by-4 is against the base of the joists, spanning the sag.
5. Raise the floor slowly over the next few months by screwing the jack under the 4-by-4 a turn or two a month. The jack is the adjustable top portion of the posts. Each turn of the screw on the posts will raise the height of the jack slightly, pushing upward on the joists. The slow speed of the raising process is necessary to prevent cracking the floor joists as you raise the floor. When the floor no longer sags, you can then proceed to reinforce the joists to provide additional support for the floor before removing the posts. The easiest method of reinforcing the joist is to add a second joist alongside the first, spanning the length of the joist. Gluing and then screwing the second joist to the previously sagging joist adds strength along the entire joist length.
Tips Warnings
You can purchase the adjustable posts from a home improvement store.
Adjusting a sagging floor may result in the development of cracks in plaster wall coatings.
If the basement floor is a dirt floor, create a strong base for the adjustable posts by constructing concrete piers to place the posts onto before beginning the floor jacking process.
Related Posts:
Fix A Sagging Secondfloor Joist
Repairing a sagging second story may require stripping to the framing.Sagging floors are often the symptoms of structural damage to the floor joists below the surface. Termites can rot or damage t...
Fix A Sagging Joist
Floor joists in older homes often sag over time.Slightly sagging floor joists create an incredible nuisance, causing floors to creak and furniture to rest unevenly on the floor. Many homeowners co...
Level A Sagging Ceiling Joist
Slightly sagging ceilings can cause the drywall to crack and if not fixed soon can lead to greater structural issues. The likely culprit of a sagging ceiling is a weakened ceiling joist. Repair we...
Install A Dropped Ceiling & Tile On A Basement Ceiling
Dropped ceilings offer a quick, easy way to give an unfinished basement a finished ceiling. Drop ceiling tiles come in 2-by-2 foot squares or 2-by-4-foot rectangles. While tile size determines the...
Install A Drop Ceiling In Basement
Install a Drop Ceiling in BasementDrop ceilings are made from lightweight panels that are suspended a few inches from the overhead joists in the basement. They provide a good sound barrier and all...
