Supporting the Main Carrying Beam in My House

When grouting a tight gap like that you can put the grout into a gallon ziplock bag and cut the corner off. Use it like a pastry bag and it can help get into tight areas.

Nice work, and very good video. I have a few suggestions to improve the result for the longer term. I'm a retired carpenter, over 50 years experience, so far. Anyway, relying on the weight of the structure above to hold all the supports you added really isn't a good idea. I strongly recommend that you add structural fasteners at the top and bottom of the new steel column. What you have now, bent nails above and nothing into the concrete isn't remotely adequate, in my opinion. I'd be surprised if the maker of the pole didn't call for more/better fasteners, and every building code would absolutely require them. Drywall screws or deck screws are grossly inadequate. It would be a great idea to weld the bearing plates to the steel pole. I'd also add tie plates on both sides of the wood beam, like a Simpson PSQ 418, about $25 each, with the recommended structural screws, preventing any possibility of sideways slippage . My opinions, easily worth every penny you paid for them.

I love to watch your basement projects. We have two 100+ yr old old houses with creepy Michigan basements. We’ve had to add support to our sagging floors as well. It’s just nice to see that we’ve done it correctly. My husband and I really enjoy watching your videos for extra tips that we haven’t yet learned over the years of home ownership.

13:50, pro tip. Put the concrete powder in a larger zip lock, add water, close the zip lock and knead it like dough until fully mixed. Cut the corner of the bag and squeeze it in the gap.

Oh boy, the 1855 house we just bought has lots of those temporary things down in basement 😂 Thank you, this is teaching me a lot!

We have a 1945 house that is a fixer upper. Your videos help me understand when I can do things myself and when I need to hire a professional. Thanks so much for sharing 👍🏼

I live in an area where farmland is being taken over by suburbs. It's actually common for a lot of these old farm houses to be lifted and moved hundreds of feet to make efficient use of farmland for new builds. It's amazing to see these houses lifted lock, stock and barrel and placed on new foundations. It always surprises me when the house doesn't collapse on itself.

I literally applauded you when you added that second piece of 2x8. Many people would have left it with a single one. Given this is a carrying beam, I would even add a third piece to make it a triple block. You have plenty support on that concrete below. ... And of course replace those bended nails with proper screws. :-)

I admire this Man’s resourcefulness and his ‘get it done’ attitude! Common sense approach to things helps as well. Very good Sir! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍👍😁✌🏻🇺🇸

Is your wife impressed with all you can do. If not she should be. I was married for 25 years and my husband was not handy around the house. He could work on cars though. I enjoy watching you work on your projects and you finish what you start😍

My house needs that. My house needs everything.😂

Omg, it's like u were workingin my basement. Im watching you video. It's like he's in our basement...like this video was meant for me. It was the first video I clicked on. I shared it with my sister for her husband to watch cus he may repair our beams.

My husband is for sure a MacGyver. He blows my mind with his knowledge of everything🤷🏽‍♀️I’m very grateful for him🙏🏽.

nice to have an husband who is a handyman also with such a great workshop

Your the real deal my friend!!!! Jack of all trades🤙🏼💪🏼

Nice job. But I did construction carpentry. When you walk into a basement and you see adjustable steal Support polls. You use the same thing that you used the 2x4’s for. I have seen 2x4 basically explode when you drop the weight on them or they’ll take the weight you’ll hear some funny noise and then they explode. You’re lucky. The only other thing that I’ve seen is where you put the permanent support pole at. That looks like two beams coming together. I was trying to see if it wasn’t but the one angle shows that it looks like two ends coming together. On top of the permanent pole you should add 2 plates you should have at least a 12 inch long plate however wide the beams are that should’ve went on first. Put some screws in it just to hold it in place then you sit your permanent pole underneath it with its plate on the 12 inch plate. I probably wouldn’t worry about it if your permanent pole had a endcap plate. And then it look like that permanent pole only had what a 5 inch wide plate you put it to a uneven beam. Let alone it was two beans one of them was on even coming together. Basically think of a teeter totter houses continuously settle. supports always move with the settling. With that little 5 inch plate that’s just sitting on top of concrete nothing else holding it but a nail and pressure. That’s why I was saying put a 12 inch long plate across the bottom of both of them making it a one solid suport point. For the permanent 5 inch plate to support it. You understand that those are support beans that’s why you’re using the concrete poles the adjustable support poles but do you know what happens when you apply pressure to things like I said 2x4 I’ve seen them explode. Now your support polls won’t explode because they’re made to handle the weight. But if they get kinked or forced to Suport at an angle those polls will come shooting out of they’re like a rocket. And remember your permanent pole is only connected to that 5 inch plate by sitting on top of each other. You should go to Home Depot or Lowe’s and ask them if they have the proper end caps for that support polls. If I remember right the proper end caps come in two different sizes 6 inch plate or a 12 inch plate and it’ll look like they’ll have a pipe welded to the bottom of them but that just slips over the end of the pole that’s going to be supporting it.

Really good, I learned a lot but would be super nervous doing this myself. I was nervous for you and I totally know you are an expert.

A telapost is what we call them here in Canada and they are good for around 9000ibs, perfectly capable of holding that load. Love the vids.

Great job, that was pretty exiting. Watched with a lot of pleasure and learned from you, again. Thnx from a Dutchman with a fixer upper.

I have a lally pole that is leaning, which needs attention. Thanks for the video sir!