Wood Beam (Girder) Replacement

In a pier and beam home, the main wood beams—often called girders—carry a large portion of the floor load. When these beams are undersized, rotted, cracked, or poorly supported, the result is often sagging floors, wall cracks, and long-term structural stress. Brown Foundation Repair replaces compromised beams with properly sized, well-supported girders designed to better handle the demands of your home.

Beam replacement is typically recommended after a detailed crawl space inspection has confirmed that the existing beams can no longer reliably carry the load.

When Wood Beams Need to Be Replaced

Wood beams in the crawl space may need replacement when they show signs of rot, insect damage, splitting, excessive deflection, or when they were never correctly sized for the home. Common symptoms include noticeable dips in the floor, cracks in interior walls, or doors that no longer hang correctly in their frames.

In some cases, beams have been cut or notched to accommodate plumbing or other utilities, creating weak points that lead to sagging. Our team evaluates these conditions carefully and recommends replacement when repairs or reinforcement are not enough.

The Brown Approach to Beam Replacement

Brown Foundation Repair removes compromised beams and installs new ones using proper spans, bearing points, and connections to the rest of the structure. We pay close attention to how loads are transferred into supports such as support pads and cinder blocks or steel mono posts.

Where needed, we combine beam replacement with joist replacement or subfloor and wood replacement to correct all affected components at once. The goal is a stronger, more stable structure that performs better over time.

Benefits of Properly Sized and Supported Beams

Upgraded beams can reduce floor sagging, improve the feel of the floor underfoot, and help minimize recurring cracks in walls and ceilings. By rebuilding the primary supports correctly, y