How to Shore a Building

The structural integrity of any home is important for the safety of its occupants. If you are in a situation where your home is having trouble bearing the weight of its contents, you can solve this problem. If you have installed a heavy item such as a large appliance or a waterbed, your home may feel the pressure of this weight. Use a screw jack to manage this problem by shoring part of the structure that is failing.

Measuring tape
Screw jacks
Adjustable wrench
Level
Rubber mallet

Instructions

- 1
  Visit the basement of your home and locate the floor joists that should be located directly above you. These joists support the floors in the rooms above them. Locate the joist for the room the you need reinforced and measure it. Divide the length of the joist to determine how many screw jacks that will be required to properly support the floor.
- 2
  Assemble each screw jack and be sure to tighten each independent jack component with an adjustable wrench.
- 3
  Set the flat bottom plate of the screw jack on a level area of the floor below the joist that you intend to support. Adjust the jack upward to rest its top plate on the bottom of the joist. Allow enough play to be able to manipulate the bottom plate of the jack.
- 4
  Place your level on the side of the jack and move the bottom of the jack from side to side until the bubble on the level is exactly between the plumb marks. Place the level at different points on the sides of the jack to ensure proper leveling.
- 5
  Tighten the handle of the jack screw by tapping it with a rubber mallet until the jack can no longer be moved from side to side.
- 6
  Repeat the jack installation process with each jack that is required to complete your task based on your measurements.

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