Cost of Joist / Structural Repair?

Cost of Joist / Structural Repair?

Member since 2021 · 2 posts · 1 vote

Hi, first post so I hope this is the correct forum. 

Situation:
 Typcial two-story Philadelphia row home. Second story beam at the stair is sagging / deflecting. Was previously supported years ago with lolly columns at both the front and back of the stair... Front: one between first story floor and first story ceiling, another lolly directly beneath that, and cement footing w rebar in the basement slab beneath everything. Same thing at the back of the stair... 1st floor lolly, basement lolly, and footing. A new header beam was also installed underneath the stairs in the basement (the basement lollies push up against this). 

Problem: Joists are making impressions in the first floor ceiling and at a couple points in the walls upstairs and downstairs. Also a couple cracks in a the walls. Second story floors are very noisy and mushy in spots. Definitely some shifting happening, but slowly. My guess is that the two lollies were not leveled properly, and the weight of the 2nd floor shifted, causing increased pressure on other joists and a new set of problems over time. 

I plan to have a structural engineer inspect and make a plan. Assuming I'll have to open up the 1st floor ceiling and pay to have several joists sistered. Also assume the lollies will need to be replaced or maybe just re-leveled. And would somehow like to stiffen up the upstairs floor so it feels level and firm. 

Question:
 Wondering what this will cost in total to set right. I've looked for pricing info related to this kind of thing and it's very hard to find, so I'm praying someone out there who has done this sort of thing can give me a realistic ballpark of what this would cost. 

Thank you! 

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  • Accountant · NJ · Member since 2015 · 210 posts · 167 votes
    5y

    Very difficult to determine pricing without seeing it.  If you want a rough estimate do the following: Count the number of beams that you think are affected and get the pricing for those joists, get the pricing for the joist hangers  and then replacement of drywall and electrical.  Take that price and 2x it to get the cost of labor and add them both.  

  • Member since 2021 · 2 posts · 1 vote
    5y

    Thanks, just realized I could have added photos ... I'll try to repost later with pics. 

  • Contractor · Chadds Ford, PA · Member since 2015 · 567 posts · 460 votes
    5y

    @Matthew Do I find the lolly columns to be a temporary, crude solution. If you are reframing everything, might as well do it correctly and run your double joists from party wall to party wall, properly hang your headers on the double joists, and sister/replace the remaining joists. This should be able to be completed without disturbing the upstairs flooring system too much. Additional cracking and shifting upstairs should be expected as you put everything back in place. 

    Unfortunately, with the cost of material right now this could be an expensive job. I don't have a good ballpark for you unfortunately. 

    The structural engineer will be able to tell you more, but I would try to remove the columns and open it back up. 

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