I think you are saying to nail the 2x8 beneath the band joist and the
joist hanger... to spread the load. I like the concept and will do
something similar. The only problem is I can't put the 4x4 underneath it
because I have to remove the granite footing and pour a new footing
first.. either sauna tubes or a form. I prefer the form. You may have
seen the footings..on the link http://mysite.verizon.net/stamkis/id1.html

I need to make a support that gives me total access to the area beneath
the sill without the support resting on the space beneath it. I figured
some sort of A-frame setup would give me more room to work with.

I had also thought of supporting the band joist by using a 6x6 to run
perpendicular it. The 6x6 would run from under the porch to outside. It
would be supported by a platform with jacks on both sides. A contractor I
spoke with said jacks would be too risky. I added a picture of the jack
setup I was thinking about to the website. Please see
http://mysite.verizon.net/stamkis/id2.html
From the picture, it looks simple. And, doesn't seem that risky to me.
But, I don't work with these things all the time.


Got it. One thing that might help is for you to do a rough estimate of the
weight of the porch. It's hard to tell the size of the porch from the
pictures but I'd bet the whole thing doesn't weigh more than 2 or 3 thousand
pounds. A 6 x 6 is overkill. Since you are rebuilding the footers I'd use
either A frames made of 4 x 4s with 2 x 6s (two at the top (one on each
side), one down as far as you can go and still leave room to work on the
footers) attached to the sides with 3" deck screws OR just put a 2 x 6 under
the full length of the floor joists about 2 foot back from the band joist
and then support with vertical 4 x 4s on maybe every third joist. Option 2
is a little tricky as you need to see how the load from the wall is
transferred down the wall. If they built the floor joist structure and then
put down some substantial wood for the floor so that the wall can be carried
by the floor joists this would work. If the floor structure isn't very
substantial, like if they used 1 x 4s, then the load might break off the
edge of the floor and option 2 won't work.

Aren't older houses fun?!

Steve.