Repairing structural dry rot is not a handyman’s task; it is a complex and precise operation that requires a deep understanding of building engineering, load paths, and safety protocols. This page explains our specialized approach to restoring your home’s foundational strength and giving you back your peace of mind.

Structural components are the parts of your house that carry its weight and withstand external forces like wind and gravity. When these are damaged, the integrity of the entire building is at risk. Key structural elements include:

• Joists: The horizontal beams that support your floors and ceilings.
• Beams and Girders: Larger, primary horizontal members that support the joists.
• Sill Plates: The foundational piece of lumber that sits directly on top of your home’s concrete foundation, connecting the frame to the foundation.
• Wall Studs: The vertical framing members inside your walls that support the roof and upper floors.
• Roof Trusses and Rafters: The wooden framework that supports your roof deck and shingles.
• Support Posts: Key vertical posts in a basement, crawlspace, or within walls that carry significant weight from above.

Damage to any of these elements requires a specialized structural repair plan.

While a professional inspection is the only way to be certain, you may notice these alarming signs that suggest a structural problem:

• Spongy, Bouncing, or Sagging Floors: This is a classic sign that the floor joists or the main support beams beneath are failing.
• Doors or Windows That Stick or Won’t Latch: When the frame of the house shifts due to weakened supports, it can warp the openings for doors and windows.
• Visible Sagging or Bowing: You may see a visible dip in your roofline or a bow in an interior or exterior wall.
• Significant Cracks in Drywall: While small cracks are common, large, diagonal cracks emanating from the corners of door and window frames often indicate structural movement.

If you observe any of these signs, it is imperative to seek a professional structural assessment immediately.

Our approach to structural repair goes far beyond simple wood replacement. It is a carefully managed process to ensure your home remains stable and safe at all times.

Step 1: Structural Assessment and Shoring Plan

Before a single piece of damaged wood is touched, we assess the loads being carried by the compromised members. We then engineer a detailed “shoring plan.” This involves building temporary walls and support structures to safely carry the weight of your home while the damaged section is removed. This is the most critical step for a safe repair.

Step 2: Safe Removal of Compromised Structures

With the temporary supports bearing the load, our team will carefully deconstruct and surgically remove the rotted beams, joists, or posts. All work is done with meticulous care to avoid any further damage to your home.

Step 3: Replacement and Reinforcement to Code

We replace the removed elements with new, high-grade, pressure-treated lumber that is sized to meet or exceed current building codes. We use the correct modern structural hangers, ties, and fasteners to ensure the new members are properly connected to the rest of the home’s frame, creating a bond that is often stronger than the original construction.

Step 4: Controlled Load Transfer

Once the new structural members are securely in place, we begin a controlled process of transferring the building’s load off the temporary shoring and back onto the new, permanent structure. This is done gradually and carefully to allow the structure to resettle properly.

Step 5: Full Restoration

After the temporary supports are removed, we restore the area to its original state. This includes replacing subflooring, insulation, drywall, and any finishing touches, leaving you with a space that is not only safe and structurally sound but also beautifully finished.

An improper structural repair is more dangerous than no repair at all. A general contractor who doesn’t specialize in rot remediation may not understand the need for shoring, the importance of removing buffer zones of wood, or the specific codes for structural connections. The risks of an improper repair include:

• Further structural damage or catastrophic failure.
• Ongoing safety hazards for your family.
• Violations of building codes that can create major problems when you sell your home.

Our team has the specialized experience to handle these high-stakes repairs correctly the first time. We focus on the complete dry rot remediation to ensure the fungus is gone, and the structural integrity is fully restored.

Schedule a Structural Assessment Today