Structural Renovation of Buildings

The Foundation

• Examine the foundation. The foundation is important: it is the main structure upon which everything else is built. The foundations of older homes were often stone or brick. The crumbling mortar may need to be chipped out and replaced, and the stones or bricks may need to be reinforced with concrete or even replaced.

The Sills

• Check the sills. The sills are the massive beams that rest upon the foundation. The framing for the walls and the joists stand on these. Too often these timbers have been attacked by termites or carpenter ants or rotted. The sills may have to be replaced.

The Joists

• Check the joists. The joists support the floors of the house and the roof. They, too, can be attacked by termites and other creatures, weakening the lumber and reducing them to dust. If the timbers can be saved, do so. You may find that you also have to replace them entirely.

The Roof

• Inspect the roof. If the roof has holes or is falling in, then it will have to be repaired. If the roof has holes, water may have seeped in. When you have water penetrating the interior of the building, the timbers can rot.