Posted by: Shelton on November 20, 2001 at 14:28:12

In Reply to: Sagging Floor Joist Posted by: Jack D. on November 16, 2001 at 00:58:08

Our living room floor has begun to noticeably slope where the staircase is. A neighbor of ours works in construction said we needed a house jack under the floor joist. Exactly what is a house jack, and where could I find one?

Answer:
You should be able to get house jacks at any Home Center. Just ask one of the salespeople. You'll need to know the distance from the ground to the floor joist or from the floor to the joist. Good luck!

Another Answer:
One should not attempt to straighten everything out in a short time. Typically, the wood has distorted. The jack should be tightened gradually, over a period of months. Caution is required if the jack is supported on ground that is subject to frost heaving. When the floor is more level, it would be good if it were possible to add another floor joist.