FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Framing

Guide Home
  • Introduction to Framing
  • Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Framing Floors
  • Framing Walls
  • Framing Stairs
  • Framing Roofs
  • Efficient Framing Methods
  • Timber Framing
How-To

Safe Beam Replacement

Personal protection, sturdy shoring, professional engineering, and careful planning mitigate the hazards when replacing overhead structural beams.

By Jake Lewandowski Issue 300 - July 2021
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Construction project manager Jake Lewandowski gives an overview of all the steps you need to take when removing and replacing beams in a house, from the initial assessment of the existing conditions to final placement of the new structural members. Jake shares tips for working with an engineer, choosing personal protection gear, setting up shoring, safely removing the old beam, and working in tight spaces.


Most humans battle gravity as a daily routine, whether it’s lifting our bodies out of bed or stepping on that dreaded bathroom scale. But for a home, that battle is waged in the structure—the framework that keeps the building upright in spite of (and because of) gravity. The structure of a properly built home holds gravity and other forces at bay, but once the structure is compromised, gravity can get the upper hand. If not fixed, this can ultimately spell the building’s demise.

Implementing a safe structural repair first requires an understanding of how the whole structure functions, and how any failed structural element relates to the structure as a whole. Our company, Great Lakes Builders, specializes in structural repairs, and doing those repairs safely is of primary importance both for the health and well-being of ourselves and our customers, and for the homes we work on.

Assessing structural problems

Implementing a structural repair begins with determining the extent of the damage or deterioration, and no two situations are exactly the same. Usually a homeowner or contractor calls us to check out an apparent problem, such as a sagging floor or ceiling. The first thing we must do is determine what materials had been used to support the structure, the dimensions of those failed members, and all the critical connections. Then we must follow the load paths down to the foundation.

For this project, the ceiling over a large open kitchen and dining area had dropped more than 2 in. at its lowest point. To find the cause of the problem, we first cut back the ceiling drywall to inspect the floor system above. We found a triple-LVL flush beam that was undersized for its span. Joist hangers held the 2×10 joists in place on either side. To trace the load paths from a beam down to the foundation, we remove drywall from critical areas in the wall to see what the beam is bearing on—in this case, a dimensional lumber header that had deflected under the load transferred to it by the LVL (see inset photos, p. 40).

Start with a structural assessment 

A structural repair begins with peeling back finishes to expose the failed structural members. On this project, the ceiling drywall was removed to expose an undersized triple-LVL beam that had deflected almost 2 in. Next, wall coverings are removed to follow the support structure back to the foundation or footings. Here, a dimensional lumber header has deflected under the beam.

Start with a structural assessment 

The jack studs supporting the header were adequate to transfer the load down, but the header had to be reinforced and the beam replaced with one sized for the span. While the span tables in the code can be useful for sizing new members in some cases, seeking professional help is typically the better bet.   

An engineered solution

With the structure exposed, the next step is getting an assessment from a licensed structural engineer. The engineer’s job is to verify the problems and then to design a solution. A structural engineer makes all the necessary load calculations to ensure that the building is fixed properly. That person sizes the structural members based on whatever prescribed load is being carried or transferred by each member. 

Once the structural issues are evaluated, the engineer provides a comprehensive and detailed set of plans and specifications, which a structural subcontractor can use to bid the repair if necessary. If you or your contractor are unsure about the proper shoring strategies, the engineer can also recommend an approach for shoring or supporting the structure during the repair. That plan includes proper sizing and placement of shoring towers, as well as the sizing for any temporary support beams. If you plan to do the work yourself, always keep an open line of communication with the engineer to iron out specifics, such as bolt selection or plate sizes and thicknesses. I also consult with my engineer if a specified material is not available and I need to substitute with something that my local supplier has in stock.

Protect yourself

Source collection. The crew uses saws and breakers equipped with dust-collection systems that handle most of the fine dust from cutting concrete.
Source collection. The crew uses saws and breakers equipped with dust-collection systems that handle most of the fine dust from cutting concrete.

Our crews work with heavy-duty tools every day, so protective gear is part of our standard tool kit. When using tools such as drills and jack hammers that can produce eye-damaging projectiles, crew members always wear safety glasses with high-impact lenses that meet ANSI Z87 requirements. Crew members also wear safety glasses when working with wet concrete to protect against errant splashes.

Hearing protection is another must, as every project we tackle involves cutting metal and concrete, which is typically very noisy. Crew members use either ear plugs that insert into the ear canal, or ear muffs that clamp over the head and cover the entire ear, and sometimes both.

You might think we wear hard hats all the time to protect from something giving way and crushing a person, but falling objects are a much greater concern. Our work in Chicago means that we are often working on tall buildings. If work is being done above the crew, a tool such as a wrench or even a nut or bolt accidentally knocked off of staging can be deadly. Hard hats are the single best way to prevent those injuries.

Our projects involve sawing all the typical building products commonly found on job sites. The only thing we try to avoid is cutting lead. We typically use N95 masks for general-purpose tasks, but due to the pandemic and supply-chain disruptions, we have been using disposable surgical masks instead. When it comes to cutting and breaking concrete, N100 masks or half-masks that cover the nose and mouth are better choices. We use P100 filters in our half-masks. All of our concrete saws and breakers run with dust collectors, and we also use a portable air scrubber to remove any ambient dust.safetyhat

Support for repair

With an engineered plan in hand, we’re ready to start the shoring process. The purpose of the shoring is to take the load off of the area being repaired or upgraded, and doing this safely requires transferring that load all the way down to solid ground. Typically this requires creating new, temporary load paths down to the foundation, footings, or basement slab if it’s capable of handling the load.

No phase of the repair should take place until all of the shoring is in place, although it may make logistical sense to bring in new structural members and equipment before shoring is complete if it would be difficult or impossible with shoring in place. For this project, the engineer specified a wide-flange steel beam, which we had delivered and moved into the kitchen before setting up the shoring in that space. At this point we also prepped the beam, which went much more quickly without the shoring in the way.

Contractors often use temporary stick-built walls as shoring for smaller repairs such as replacing a window header. But designing and building your own shoring can have dire consequences if done improperly. By comparison, we can adapt our heavy-duty shoring system to support just about any structure, including a whole house. This system consists of heavy-duty frame sections with adjustable-length base plates and adjustable-length U-shaped heads. If possible, we connect the frames with diagonal braces for added stability (once the shoring in the kitchen was secured and loaded, we removed the braces in preparation for lifting the beam). We also use shoring posts with the same bases and heads. The components of this system set up very quickly, and each has a documented load capacity, which lets us create shoring at or above what the engineer recommends for the repair.

Our company specializes in structural repair, so we keep a large inventory of shoring equipment. If you don’t do structural repairs on a regular basis, heavy-duty shoring equipment might not be worth the investment. In these instances, consider renting. If you feel uneasy about the process, consider hiring a shoring contractor.

Shoring goes up the same way you build a house—from the bottom up. We start in the basement and work up to the area requiring support. Here we started by installing shoring from the basement slab to the kitchen floor joists, then from the kitchen floor to the kitchen ceiling to take on all the loads from the joists on both sides of the undersized LVL beam.

If shoring is to rest on a slab, evaluating its strength is critical. Part of our investigation for this project involved cutting out a section of the slab, which was over 6 in. thick—strong enough to support the shoring towers’ 8-in.-square base plates.

Shoring Setup

Shoring frames with documented load capacity form the basic component of this shoring system. Adjustable bases and U-shaped heads fit around beams that spread out the load. For added stability, shoring frames can be joined with a variety of different components to create a shoring tower. Diagonal bracing is the easiest and most common way of joining the frames.

Proper sequencing. Sometimes the shoring can make it difficult to bring in the replacement structural element. Here the steel beam was put in position and prepped before the shoring was set up.

Shoring frames with documented load capacity form the basic component of this shoring system. Adjustable bases and U-shaped heads fit around beams that spread out the load. For added stability, shoring frames can be joined with a variety of different components to create a shoring tower. Diagonal bracing is the easiest and most common way of joining the frames.

Bottom up. Shoring installation starts in the basement and continues upward to support the structure around the failed member. After standing up the shores and before raising their screwheads to the floor or ceiling above, we place beams on top of them to spread the weight among multiple joists.

Bottom up. Shoring installation starts in the basement and continues upward to support the structure around the failed member. After standing up the shores and before raising their screwheads to the floor or ceiling above, we place beams on top of them to spread the weight among multiple joists.

Tight quarters. When there isn’t enough room to spread the load in a tight space,  crisscrossed layers  extending to larger spaces can be used to support the loads.
Spread the load.

Tight quarters. When there isn’t enough room to spread the load in a tight space,  crisscrossed layers  extending to larger spaces can be used to support the loads.

The shoring frames and towers we use transfer the loads to the points below the base plates. Concentrating those loads in small areas (such as individual joists) can be dangerous, so we typically set them on top of two rows of 4×6 timbers that distribute the load over a larger area. We also use wood beams above the shoring towers to distribute the load from the floor or ceiling above. In confined areas it may be necessary to use perpendicular layers of beams to support the shoring adequately.

After screwing the U-heads to hold the temporary support beam against the joists, we check to make sure the shoring towers are perfectly plumb. Then we snug the U-head screws using either a mallet or a pipe.

In work areas with limited space, we have to think ahead. Here, we wouldn’t have been able to get the new beam and material lifts into the space once the shoring was in place. So we positioned the new beam on roller staging roughly below its final destination and set up the material lifts we were using to raise it before erecting rows of shoring frames on either side of the old beam. Because the kitchen ceiling had dropped considerably, we raised the U-heads by turning the adjustment screws on the shoring frames, which unloaded the LVL beam and allowed us to safely remove it.

Safe Repair

With the structure safely supported down to solid ground, we carefully remove the failed beam, using platforms between the beams as a work surface. Once the beam is out and the nails that held the subfloor to it are cut back, we raise the new structural elements into place and use temporary supports to hold them until everything’s fastened.

Failed-member removal. With the shoring in place and all the loads supported, the crew cuts the LVL beam into small pieces that are safer and easier to remove.

Failed-member removal. With the shoring in place and all the loads supported, the crew cuts the LVL beam into small pieces that are safer and easier to remove.

Raise the replacement. Material lifts raise the new beam slowly toward its final destination in the ceiling.
Raise the replacement. Material lifts raise the new beam slowly toward its final destination in the ceiling.
Final positioning. When the beam is close to the ceiling joists, the crew lets it down on timbers spanning between the shoring frames. They then can position it perfectly to slip in between the joists.
Final positioning. When the beam is close to the ceiling joists, the crew lets it down on timbers spanning between the shoring frames. They then can position it perfectly to slip in between the joists.
Shoring for the beam.
Shoring for the beam.
When the beam is in
place, the crew sets up shoring posts to hold it in place during the repair. (Hydraulic jacks lift the beam the last few inches and hold it until the posts are in.)
Secure the bases.
Secure the bases.
Double-headed nails secure the post bases to the timbers that distribute the loads.
Shoring becomes scaffolding.
Shoring becomes scaffolding. 
After the beam is supported in place, we use scaffolding planks supported on the shoring frames for easy access to install the joist hangers.

End support.
End support. The crew modified the existing header with a steel C-channel to support the end of the new beam.

Making safe repairs

Structural repairs often involve demo—especially when removing existing structural members, which can be quite heavy. With the floor structure supported and the joist hangers removed, the safest way to proceed is to cut what’s being removed into easy-to-handle pieces.

Two crew members crank the lifts to raise the new beam up toward its final position, being careful to keep the beam level. Here the versatility of our shoring system shines through. We place temporary timbers between the shoring frames that are already in place, supporting the framing above, and ease the beam down onto them. After aligning the beam with the joist pocket in the ceiling, we raise it to the underside of the subfloor above the ceiling joists. Material lifts should not be trusted as shoring, so after supporting the beam with hydraulic jacks, we erect shoring posts with U-heads under the beam approximately every 4 ft. We make sure the posts are plumb and secure them with duplex nails before they take the strain of
the beam.

As a final bonus, we span between the shoring frames with scaffolding planks, which allow easy access for the crew to install a joist hanger at each of the ceiling joists. The final step in this part of the repair is securing a gusseted steel C-channel to the partial existing header to support the end of the beam. Once all of the new members are fastened, we can remove our shoring in the reverse order we installed it, clear out our gear, and make way for the finishing contractor.

Safe Beam Replacement Front View
Jake Lewandowski (@jakemlewandowski) is a construction manager with Great Lakes Builders, a contracting company that specializes in structural repairs in Elk Grove Village, Ill. Photos by the author, except where noted.

From Fine Homebuilding #300

To read the entire article, please click the View PDF button below.


RELATED LINKS

  • How to Install a Load-Bearing Beam
  • Introduction to Framing
  • Components of a House Frame

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Stabila Extendable Plate to Plate Level

This level raises the bar for accuracy and quality. The extensions are designed to contact and plumb from bottom to top plates, avoiding studs that may be bowed.
Buy at Amazon

Protective Eyewear

Eye protection is a must, and these are designed for comfort so you can can wear them all day long without pain or fatigue.
Buy at Amazon

Portable Wall Jack

Raise walls safely with the Guardian wall jack — we’ve personally seen small teams raise large walls with these devices, and they work great.
Buy at Amazon
View PDF
Previous: Cutting Long Stock on Sawhorses Next: Faster, Stronger Sawhorses

Guide

Framing

Chapter

Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Framing

Framing

Trusted, in-depth guidance from the pros for framing a durable, code-compliant house

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Framing Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Introduction to Framing
  • House Framing Concepts, Tips, and More
Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Tools
  • Techniques
  • Framing Lumber
  • Steel
Framing Floors
  • Floor Framing
  • Engineered Floors
  • Floor Sheathing
Framing Walls
  • Wall Framing Basics
  • Layout
  • Wall Assembly
  • Raising and Straightening Walls
  • Framing Rough Openings
  • Blocking
Framing Stairs
  • Stair Layout
  • Building Stairs
Framing Roofs
  • Roof-Framing Basics
  • Roof Design
  • Laying Out and Cutting Rafters
  • Framing Valleys
  • Working with Trusses
  • Dormers
  • Special Situations
Efficient Framing Methods
  • Advanced Framing
  • Double-Stud Walls
Timber Framing
  • Timber-Frame Construction
  • Timber-Frame Design

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 81%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data