ameijers wrote:

"kirk" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a 1920s house that developed a water leak that destroyed a beam,
a joist, and subflooring that is used to support a 2" thick concrete
slab that is the original tiled bathroom floor. I contracted out for
about $1000 to have this repaired, but foundation companies in Texas
seem to be generally crooked and the check was cashed but no work has
or will be done. I went through over 20 businesses to find a small
handful that would even show up at all, and of those most didn't think
the job would make them enough money to even tackle.

Regardless, I can't easily get my money back nor have the repairs made
so I am forced to attempt it myself before the toilet falls through the
floor.

The subfloor consists of 1x6s between the joists and they are rotted
and the concrete cracked and coming down an inch, the supporting joist
is rotted, and the beam as well. How do I safely replace the beam,
sister the joist (it also has numerous cutouts for the plumbing) since
the wood floor is nailed to the original, and fill in and fix the
subfloor to support the cracked concrete?

Step by step, if you please, and I am on an extreme budget, especially
after being ripped off. No, I can't find an honest nor competent
contractor (have tried for over a month), and collecting damages in
Texas requires an act of God to succeed because of debtor law.

I have two jacks of unknown tonnage, and can buy wood as needed if I
know how to do this job. I am hoping to have one helper. I have never
done foundation work. I studied engineering in college. The crawl
space is about 18" at best.

18" crawl? No wonder that the honest companies didn't wanna touch it. To do
it right, you are looking at gutting the bathroom, and working mainly from
above. The mudbed (not a real slab) the tile is setting in is already
cracked, and there is no way to replace the subfloor without it cracking
further. It isn't really concrete, in all odds, with aggragate and
reinforcing. It is chicken wire tacked to subfloor, and a thick layer of
mortar smeared over that. That was the traditional base for tile floors for
many years.

There are no good cheap answers to your problem. How much is the house
worth? What is your equity? If you don't have the several thousand, probably
over 10, for a gut job, you are looking at having to get a loan. I'd go talk
to your bank and explain the situation- without the repair, their security
on the original mortgage is in danger of becoming worthless, since a
collapsed bathroom means the place is uninhabitable. With the repair, the
value of the security is preserved, and maybe even slightly increased.

aem sends...

If he has a mortgage he in all probability has insurance as it tends to
be a mortgage requirement. This seems like a good candidate for a claim
and the insurance company should have a list of contractors who if not
reputable at least get the job done.

Pete C.