[DYI2]

An old 1950s single story 1 room kitchen addition.
Sill system termite damage and water rot - 16' of entire sill rotted out including ends of most floor joists and wall studs - discovered wall top plate also similarly destroyed and most wall studs rotted out at top as well as bottom meaning they are just "hanging". Only thing holding wall was 1950s plaster board and clapboard siding and two corner double 2x4 beams. We used 4"x6" beam under all floor joists (to carry their load) with three heavy duty floor jacks mounted on 6" cement pads placed on crawlspace dirt and one more 8' ceiling post mounted on solid basement floor (in an exterior entry way to basement). Each post was placed on the beam under a 2x6 floor joist. Then we mounted a 4" cement pads placed on crawlspace dirt and one more 8' ceiling post mounted on solid basement floor (in an exterior entry way to basement). Each post was placed on the beam under a 2x6 floor joist. Then we mounted a 4" beam above these in kitchen ceiling with three 8' metal support posts to support the roof rafters. Will this sufficiently serve to carry load of exterior wall so it can be safely removed to do a complete rebuild from sill plates up to the top plate?

We have taken out 3' of flooring between floor joists to access crawlspace and we've taken all the plaster off the exterior wall to see extent of damage. Tomorrow we will remove a 4' x 16' section of ceiling plaster to expose all the ends of roof rafters to see the extent of their damage. If these beams (I was told they would work but am double checking) will carry weight then we remove clapboard siding, the top wall plate, the wall studs and the sill beams and begin rebuilding. Since a new wall must be built in place I begin with sill system i.e. "Sill Seal", new treated sill board, then corner studs, new top plate and wall studs? Can I sister new wood to ends of roof rafters and tie these into new top plate? Then I add wall studs and new fascia and soffit boards? I know how to sister new ends to floor joists.

[hkstroud]

Then we mounted a 4"x6" beam above these in kitchen ceiling with three 8' metal support posts to support the roof rafters.

Sounds more than adequate to me.

Logically:

discovered wall top plate also similarly destroyed and most wall studs rotted out at top as well as bottom meaning they are just "hanging". Only thing holding wall was 1950s plaster board and clapboard siding and two corner double 2x4 beams.

we've taken all the plaster off the exterior wall to see extent of damage.

Right now your temporary beam and the old top wall plate, supported at either end, are supporting the roof and ceiling joist. When you remove the exterior siding you will be reducing the weight on the beam, not increasing.

Good luck, not fun work. Hope it doesn't rain on you, be prepared.

[DYI2]

Sounds more than adequate to me.

Logically:

Top wall plate boards rotted out as well - offering no support. Are we still ok in your opinion?




Right now your temporary beam and the old top wall plate, supported at either end, are supporting the roof and ceiling joist. When you remove the exterior siding you will be reducing the weight on the beam, not increasing.

Good luck, not fun work. Hope it doesn't rain on you, be prepared.

Top plate all rotted as well - in your opinion r we still OK with load bearing ?

[hkstroud]

From what you describe the wall wasn't and isn't doing anything to support the roof. Roof must be supported by the framing of the rafters to the ceiling joist. And that was before you added your temporary support.

Final removal of the wall shouldn't change anything relative to support of the roof.

You might want to brace end walls, or tie them to the temporary beam to insure that the tops don't move before removing exterior siding.

Don't know how fast you can work but because of weather, you may wish to remove a couple feet of exterior siding from bottom, cut away the bottom of wall studding, then do your sill plate, floor joist and band board. That leaves the remainder of the siding to keep end walls tied together. Also helps keep out the weather should you have my kind of luck.