[LarryMc]

Termites got into the end of a beam supporting the floor joists in a crawl space under the first floor. I think I can use floor jacks and termporary beams on either side of the damaged beam to support the floor, then cut our the damaged beam. It is about 8 ft from the concrete foundation wall to the first steel post supporting the beam (the termite damage is only in the first 2 - 3 ft from the foundation). The beam is double thickness (2 x 10 I think). Should I cut the beam so that the two 2 x 10's are staggered (how much stagger?) with the stagger right over the steel post? The replace and bolt (and glue?) through the stagger between the new and old beams.

Thanks

[Kstar4u]

First things first... if you've discovered termite damage at all... the most important thing to address before you make repairs is the infestation. You certainly don't want to "feed" those critters with some fresh "food" that will enable their colony to grow and cause additional damage. I'm assuming that the type of termites that you are dealing with are "subterranean" termites. Have you contacted any professional termite control folks?

Chances are good that if you have termites present in one location... they may be found elsewhere in your structure. Once you can be reasonably confident that they are gone, or have a chemical barrier in place to prevent further activity... then the repair(s) should be done.

As far as your repair questions are concerned... I would recommend at least 4 feet of overlap (staggering) of the floor joists/floor support beams and using two 1/2" or 5/8" bolts and washers every 16" to laminate the two 2X boards.

Good luck (I always try to over-build at the foundation level)

[LarryMc]

Thanks, yes I didn't mention that the termites were baited and they took enough bait back to the nest that they should be destroyed. In New England they do not appear to set up barriers anymore - they surround the house with traps and when termites are found they are baited. I am pretty confident they are gone - it is a necessary problem if you want to live in the forest.

Thanks for the rec. I probably would have only overlapped them about 2 ft - 4 ft makes sense.

Larry