| If termites have eaten into the main sill plate of your | | | | you don't get impatient and don't mind getting dirty. It |
| home it will be important to replace this sill plate. Did | | | | may be necessary to use a sawzall with a metal |
| you know that until fairly recently builders were not | | | | cutting blade to cut the nails, just be careful not to let |
| required to use treated wood for a sill plate. If you | | | | the sawzall blade poke holes in the exterior siding. |
| happen to own a home that does not have a treated | | | | Once the old termite damaged parts are removed, |
| sill plate and termites have destroyed it, you will need | | | | measure where the existing foundation bolts are |
| to replace this damaged piece. | | | | located. Transfer these measurements onto the new |
| Install a temporary beam in the basement of your | | | | plate and cut slots wide enough to allow the installation |
| home. This beam could be made out of doubled 2x10's | | | | of it. |
| or 8's. Jack the temporary beam with either screw | | | | Install the new sill plate, slipping it into the location of the |
| jacks, hydraulic jacks or just plain doubled-up 2x4's. | | | | old one. After it is in place use oversized fender |
| You don't need to lift up more than possibly 1/16 of an | | | | washers, or washers that the engineer has specified, |
| inch or just enough to relieve the bearing weight that is | | | | and properly sized nuts. Tighten up the nuts to snug |
| on the offending member. This weight may consist of | | | | the new plate into place. |
| the exterior walls, roof and interior floor joists. If you | | | | After the new member is installed it will be time to |
| have any questions on the jacking process it would be | | | | remove the jack system and the temporary beam. |
| wise to consult either a professional contractor or | | | | Once the weight of the home is back onto the new sill |
| engineer. Keep in mind if your home is brick a different | | | | plate, it will be necessary to nail all of the joists into the |
| method must be used. | | | | new sill plate. This procedure can be tough, especially in |
| Once the weight is off it will be time to remove the old | | | | tight spaces. If you don't have a nail gun or if the |
| sill plate. Keep in mind that they are often bolted to the | | | | space is to small to fit a nail gun, specialty fasteners |
| foundation. If this is the case it may be necessary to | | | | may be needed and these can be specified by an |
| chisel out small sections at a time. This part of the | | | | engineer. |
| procedure can be very time consuming, so make sure | | | | |