[crazychef55]

I just bought a house and a few of the joists in the basement have pocket rot. The joists are 18' and are in good shape otherwise. I was going to build the wall out another foot to support the joists. There are about 5 of them that are next to each other. Do you think that is a good solution? If so should I use cinder blocks and then put a wood beam on top of the blocks of should the joists just rest on the blocks?

Thanks.

[hkstroud]

First tell us what pocket rot is. Second tell us why those five are rotted and others are not. My first thought would be to sister in another joist along side of the damage ones.

[musto]

The existing joists should already be resting on the foundation walls so, why would you need to build more walls? Sister another joist to each rotted joist.

[crazychef55]

They are under the kitchen and the floor is dirt. I will be putting concrete in there in the near future. The place where the joist goes into the wall has suffered decay and that is what I was told is "pocket rot". There is no room to sister next to it unless I want to pull out bricks.

[musto]

It's hard for me to picture this. But, if you can't sister the joists, you can put a beam across (one foot out) and have it rest on columns instead of building a wall. It's easier, faster and cheaper. Put a 3 1/2" micro lam beam or 2 - 2x10's nailed together across and have it rest on colums, cemented in concrete 2 - 3 feet deep. Undecliffconstruction.com

[crazychef55]

Sounds good. Thanks for your help!