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.

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.

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.

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.

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😍

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. :-)

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!

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

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

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 👍🏼

Very useful info. I’ve got a couple joists under my living room that are sagging a bit.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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 video. I might have thrown an asphalt shingle under those 2x8s to prevent wicking. Otherwise, perfect repair!

Whew! This one was a nail biter!! Great job! I'm always amazed at how much you know about so many things!!

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.

Wow I thought jacking up cars can sometimes be nervewracking. Never thought how stressful jacking up a house can be lol Good job though, makes the area look a lot more open now! Keep up the amazing work!

My house needs that. My house needs everything.😂

My wife and i are moving in 1 month and our new home in Pennsylvania needs some work i would love to hire u lol your work its truly perfection at its best

I love to watch all your basement job Good luck Nice to finish all works you start 🇦🇪 Emirati ENG. watching your videos

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

Great video absolutely worth 👌 👍 👏

Good work there Mister !!!

Excellent video. Id probably triple the 2x8 on the end adding support for the beam as its easy to do and just adds more support. I agree with the other comment saying to add screws to the lally to secure it. Honestly the ends ive seen people put five or six supporting 2x8s on beams, its ott but when its yours why not

That large post would make a nice fireplace mantle

Really like the way you roll, Fixer! Always learn something interesting on your channel....thanks?

Nice how-to video. I would wear safety glasses throughout the video. You also could use silicone or WD40 to spray the metal screws on the screw jack columns to make life a bit easier when turning the adjustment screws.

Great work dude! I need to take out some rotting beams in my old home I just bought. And replace them plus level since one side of the house is a little low, but I've only got 5 feet of clearance to work with since it's a half basement crawlspace with dirt floor and mounds of soil that are somewhat still supporting the house lol. Not very excited! Anyway that's why I'm here watching your video so thanks

This was very useful. I lived in a home that had a slope in the kitchen and you can literally roll in an office chair lol 😂

I did learn something, I didn't know that was called a lollie column and it has plates that are used with it. Thanks!

Thanks 👍 great video

great video man!! keep up the videos!

I need to do this exact same thing ! Thanks.

Wow man, nice work! You should make an basement remodel as well, and make a huge workshop in it! Keep up the good works!

Thanks for the video, definitely looks cleaner and is an improvement. Yet, the thick steel chunk would have been perfect for the first column. It gives a good bite on both joists ends because it would cover much surface and prevent the lally column to sink inside the soft ends of the joists. The plate it has is too small and only grabs the tips. Also, hydraulic cement is what is warranted for the space you filled up, it expands instead of shrinking like the one you used. It is also harder but you still should have used rebar or any metal shims and then fill it up with concrete. Treated wood is softer and it wicks the moisture so perhaps a thin material between it and the concrete would be ideal. I have a shop near my home and I ordered a 3/8 rectangular (18'' by 10' which is the height of my joist) steel bracket that they cut and pre drilled the holes for me. It was only $60 and it tied both ends very well in case there is some ground shaking in the future. You could also take the column and they can weld a bigger plate on top. Anyhow, it was a nice project and you did good, it is better now.

Great job as always 👏👍❤❤

nice job on the column, should never have to worry about that beam now

Great job Matt! Will you remodel your workshop and if so, could you do a series as well as a time lapse? That would be awesome 🙂🛠

You snapped that column like a boss.

Great job. I learned a lot

Mr Fixer has done this before. 👍👍👍

Way to go! You are progressing so well. You should be proud of yourself. (Hopefully, I will too.)

I'm getting worried...you haven't used your oscillating tool for some time now. You're probably going through some kind of withdrawal. Another great and informative video. Good information.

one thing I don't know if it is mentioned, is you can't just throw a few columns under your main beam and call it fixed. You have to demo the concrete where you plan to place your columns, and pour a much deeper footer about 2x2x2 feet(local codes vary) for the column to sit on, or your 3" thick floor will crack and your pole will sink.

Good job Thank you.

I had to do the same thing in the basement of my old house. The support beam was huge, about 6x11 douglas fir and spanned the whole length if the house. There was 1 piece of 4x4 cedar post right at mid span and it was warping under the pressure. No matter how many precautions you take, it is really nerve wracking doing this kind of work.

Dude! 226K subscribers?? That is awesome! Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. :)

WOW AWESOME JOB! That was exciting to watch! In the video at 4:08 where you mentioned you "didn't know what happened" the beam had been cut, if the beam had been cut at the top in that same position, would you replace the entire beam or continue repairing as you have here in the video?

Great video. I have never seen this before. Do people normally weld those columns in place?

In NC you can use screw Jack's but both the top and bottom plate have to be welded to post

LIKE A BOSS!

Very well demonstrated with cautions and explanations step by step. It is performed easy way and making sure everything is according to safety and construction code compliance. Great Five Stars Job by "The Fixer"⭐⭐👍👍

you want to make sure that the pocket where the main beam sits that there is a minimal of a 1/2" on the bottom and sides for air movement. Just a FYI thanks for the vid.

It looks like great work you did. Just a note though, I must have been in 1000 basements in my life that have teleposts. Not once have I ever heard them referred to as 'temporary columns' . I have no clue why that tube steel thing you instal is better in any way. Thanks for the video.

Luv ur videos. Safety glasses please.

did you use galvanized screws for that pressure treated wood against the exterior wall?

Could you use a 6 by 6 square tubing ? With thicker shin plates? Just curious

That will do the trick. What I usually do is cut two sets of sistered 2 x 4s an inch too long, hammer them into place, hammer them a bit more until the desired height. Multiple ways to accomplish the same feat.

I'm doing a new i beam in a older home that had brick wall holding up the first floor, the structural engineer required new footing and cement pads, are you concerned about the footing not being under the new post?

So I'm buying a house and it needs some floor lifting and support. I love how helpful this video is but I can't find where to buy a lally column with cement already in it. Am I supposed to do the cement part myself? Any help?

I’m using a steel plate with four lag bolts.

a question , why is the central beam splitted ? where you put the metal post , is it not necesarry to close the gap between both beams and to make a improvement to make the beam more powerfull , greetings from mexico

Next time you have to fill in a small gap with cement, try using the pastry bag method.

Fiber compression resistance is enough for those beam heads on top of that column?

I can't find those lally columns on home depot. Do you suggest a different source? I enjoyed your video. It is close to my scenario. Good to see.

It should be better ways of building houses in the future. Good job anyhway

Hi guys- do people usually leave the supporting column in and just support it or do they replace the column at some point?? By the column i mean that horizontal board that he just supported

I have a sagging floor and need to support the 21' carrying beam in the basement. I bought 3 Tiger Brand JS100 adjustable jack posts and started raising the beam. The center post is starting to buckle since it's a 2 piece post. I want to replace with the lally beams you are using but can't find them. Your link for them goes to Home Depot but they aren't coming up. Do you have any more info on these?

Was anyone else worried when he finally pulled that main support out? 😬 I'd love to see more as you work your way through, what looks like the beginning of, a basement reno? 👊 Thanks for sharing and Great work!

Can you tell where you purchased the concert column?

1 where to get the basement jack ? 2 if you hack up the basement one time to lavel the floor would it would do any demage to the house can you provide more detail about that ?

Really good job. Did you think about sistering the two beams in the Middle?

How many of those should an 800 sf house have? My home has only one and it's not in the middle. Good guess as to why the floors are slanted to the middle? 😟

Pressure treated lumber will rot. Especially the new formula stuff, unless it rated for ground contact, I've used the new stuff and had it rot in less than 2 years. Most of the 4 X 4 and larger stock is rated for ground contact.

I have to replace a rotting beam underneath my concrete patio. Are there any video suggestions anyone can refer.

Would 6 large beams be supported by 1 samillare beam. Coz that what i have in my loft out here in oran algeria. Or would i give it an extrat metal support. Imean what is the maximum weight could a single beam support ?

By code they do need to be fixed. Also wouldn't hurt to weld the column to the plates as well as bolting to the beam and floor.

Curious if that piece of pipe would work in the small section instead of the 2x8.

I think 3 2x8” boards would have been better.. but if you think those thin boards will hold up then you’ll be good. Awesome project, you’ll gain more space by taking out that border, and expand the work space

Are u worried about the pressure treated shrinking?

O my. This is scary 😳 wow!

Akways wear PPE/a respirator and have proper ventilation/dust control when cutting into concrete, that dust is no joke.

How bad does that main support need to be before it’s structural integrity is compromised? I have a house from the 30s and it’s main support has gotten many chunks removed over the years and it looks horrible. Previous owner even hid most the structural damage under paint…

Wish my ceiling was that high in my basement

How the screws drove into the wall without predrilling?

Where do you get those concrete columns? All the ones I can find are adjustable.

FYI: Lally column. Not lolly column. The Lally column is named after a U.S. inventor, John Lally, who owned a construction company that started production of these columns in the late 19th century

My butt was puckered the whole time!!

Hey Mr Fixer love your videos but my OCD is saying where are your gloves and eye protection 😂 those electrical wires were causing me anxiety but otherwise from that great job👍💙

I bought a house, paid a professional $400 to inspect the inside and outside. A year later we decided to start remodeling the bathroom because it started to bow and move in the middle of the floor. I’m pulling up the flooring and it has a rotten sub floor. I just had a baby, so I called my dad over, he goes down to the basement and they cut the support beam under the bathroom to make room for plumbing. How the inspector missed that I have no idea. Our bathroom has sunk about 2 inches. My dad managed to jack it up a little and put some supports in

👍🏾

How old is the house? I have a 1920 craftsman with those same issues

Pray you never have an earthquake.

Balls on fire 🔥 😂

🎉