Failed Beams And Girders Replaced With Engineered LVL Or Steel I-Beam.

Epp Foundation Repair prices engineered-beam replacement at $80 to $200 per linear foot for the beam and installation, depending on span, beam type (LVL or steel I-beam), bearing-point requirements, and access. Full beam replacement scopes typically fall in the $3,000 to $15,000 range. Pricing on this work is scope-dependent. Beam length, support work, and engineer-stamp requirements all affect the number. Written estimate after on-site inspection reflects your scope.

Sister-beam reinforcement is the right call when the existing beam is structurally sound but undersized for the current load, or has minor notching or boring damage. Full replacement is required when the beam is rotted at the bearing point, split through the web, or has lost section to insect damage. Epp Foundation Repair calculates the load, inspects the wood with an awl and a moisture meter, and gives an honest recommendation in the written estimate. Sometimes the answer is sister; sometimes the only honest answer is replacement.

Epp Foundation Repair does not recommend beam replacement if the existing beam is sound but the supports below have failed. That is a post or pier replacement scope, not a beam scope. We also don't recommend replacement if the local building department requires a stamped engineered drawing for the replacement and the homeowner is not willing to coordinate that step. Skipping the engineer on a beam replacement that requires one is unsafe and unpermittable.

Most jurisdictions in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri require a building permit for replacing a structural beam or girder, particularly when the replacement changes the original load path, increases span, or substitutes steel for wood. Epp Foundation Repair coordinates the permit process with the local building department and includes the cost in the written estimate. A licensed professional engineer is involved when the jurisdiction requires a stamped drawing.

The diagnostic is three measurements. First, the actual load on the beam. Joist count, span, deck-load, live-load, and any concentrated point loads from above. Second, the existing beam dimension, condition, and bearing detail at each end (probed with an awl, checked with a moisture meter, photographed). Third, the existing posts or piers, to determine whether they can carry the new beam's reactions. The result of the diagnostic is a sister-reinforcement scope, a full replacement scope, or a beam-plus-support scope. Driven by the load and the wood, not by preference.

LVL (laminated veneer lumber) is engineered wood with consistent strength, available in dimensions matching standard joist heights, and easy to fasten with conventional connectors. LVL is typically the right choice for spans up to 14 feet and for keeping the basement ceiling at original height. Steel I-beam is required for longer spans, higher point loads, or when the replacement must be a smaller cross-section than an equivalent LVL. Epp Foundation Repair specifies the right material for the load. Not the cheaper option.

A residential beam replacement is typically completed in two to five days on site, depending on length, support work, access, and any engineering coordination. Larger commercial girders or replacements requiring extensive support upgrades take longer. Epp Foundation Repair gives a calendar window in the written estimate, not just a price.

Let's take the first step toward a healthy home.

A local specialist will inspect your foundation, walk you through the findings, and send a clear estimate. no cost, no pressure.