Question on raising a sloping main beam

[Alexdc03]

I have a 50 year old bungalow with a sloped main beam. The span is 28 feet and the beam (was) supported by 3 4x4 peices of wood. I could see over the years the 3 4x4's compressed by about 1inch to 1 1/2 inches. I have since replaced a three beams with jack posts but have some questions on lifting back to level. On one side of the foundation where the main beam sits on the sill plate it has compressed the sill plate by 1 inch or so. Can I slowly raising this off the sill plate by using a 20 ton bottle jack raising it slowly over say month. Maybe one or two pumps per 3 or 4 days.

I have already ran a string across the basement to have a level line. The one Sill plate this is still fine I have measured down from the bottom of the beam to the screw I put in the concreate wall and I have a distance of 10 inches, I then nailed 4 small metal rulers at each beam where the jack posts are. This way I know each jack post will be at the right height of 10 inches so the whole floor will be level with the good sill plate.

I have moved this post for a more complete answer to your question.

I know this is long winded but do I make any sense in method to raises the floor.

With it being a 1 1/2 sloped will I break all my dry wall seams with the amount I need to lift it. I not worried if I do, I plan on redoing the dry wall in 3 rooms this summer.

Anyone have any suggestions for me.

Thanks
Alex

[pgtek]

hi
well for a start you will have drywall crack when you jack up.
if you had 3 4x4 in the past holding the main beam they must have been space evenly.

28/4= 7 feet apart.

i would start at the middle jack post and work my way to each end slowly till little by little get it close.
you migth get one end off the plate used a wood shim to make up space.
hope this help.

Remember on a long time period

cheers

pg

[Alexdc03]

Should I wait until summer or can I start jacking it up in the winter.

[pgtek]

hi
you could start now and recheck when frost is gone

cheers

pg

[Alexdc03]

Thanks

~A

[Alexdc03]

One more quick question, how much should I turn each jack post and how many days should I wait in between turns.

Right now I am turn 1/4 to 1/2 turn per 3 days. I make sure I have no noise in the house and then carefully listen as I turn the posts.

Thanks

[pgtek]

hi
used about 1/4 turn every 4 days would be ok for there still winter and the frost is not gone to prevent drywall crack.
Be patient

cheers

pg