When a beam needs attention
Beams carry a lot of the house: the roof over a garage door, the edge of a porch, the ridge of a vaulted ceiling. When one starts to fail, the signs usually show up somewhere else first. AZ Atlas Builder Group is a family-owned, licensed general contractor in Tucson (AZ ROC #344537), and beam work is part of the structural repair our own crew handles in house.
Signs of a beam problem
- A visible sag in a garage door header, porch beam or roofline
- Cracks in stucco or drywall running from the corners of a large opening
- A garage door that has started to bind or rub
- Interior doors near the area that no longer close properly
- Water ponding on a flat roof in a spot where it never used to
- Soft, split or crumbling wood at beam ends or where beams meet posts
- Mud tubes or hollow-sounding wood that point to termites
Why beams fail in Tucson homes
Water at the ends
Exposed beam ends on porches and patios take sun and monsoon rain. Once the finish breaks down, water gets into the end grain and rot starts where you can't easily see it.
Sun and heat
Exposed beams dry out, check and split over the years. Small checks are normal. Deep splits, especially near connections, are worth a closer look.
Termites
Subterranean termites are a common Arizona pest, and wood near the ground or connected to it, like posts and the beams they hold up, is at risk. A licensed pest company treats first, then we repair. See termite and wood rot repair.
Added load or undersizing
Some beams were simply undersized from the start. Others were fine until something changed, such as a heavier roof covering, a new opening or a removed post.
How we repair or replace a beam
- Assess. We look at the beam, its posts and connections, what it carries, and what's causing the problem. If water or termites are involved, that gets dealt with first.
- Engineering when needed. Replacing or upsizing a beam, or changing how loads reach the ground, often needs an engineer to size the new members.
- Shore. Temporary supports carry the load before anything is removed.
- Repair or replace. Minor damage can sometimes be reinforced by sistering new lumber or adding hardware. Badly rotted, split or undersized beams get replaced, along with any damaged posts or footings.
- Close up. Sheathing, roofing, stucco and paint matched to the house, so the repair doesn't stand out.
Garage, porch and roof beams
Garage door headers
The beam over a wide garage door spans a long opening and often carries roof load. Sag here shows up as a dipping line over the door and a door that starts to rub. The photo above shows a garage beam our crew rebuilt and sheathed.
Porch and patio beams
Exposed to weather on most sides, these are the most common beams we see with rot. If you're replacing a porch beam, it can be a good time to rethink the cover. See patio covers and pergolas.
Interior and roof beams
Ridge beams, beams over large openings, and beams added when a wall was removed. If you're planning to open a wall, see load-bearing wall removal.
What not to do with a sagging beam
It's tempting to jack a sagging beam back up or add a post wherever it's convenient. Both can make things worse. Jacking too fast can crack stucco, drywall and tile, and a new post without a proper footing just moves the problem down into the slab. Painting over a rotted beam end hides the damage while it keeps spreading. If a beam is sagging, keep weight off the area, avoid storing heavy items above it, and get it looked at.
Permits
The City of Tucson's permit exemptions page says a permit is required for any structural roof work, including replacing sheathing, decking, joists or trusses. Replacing a beam is structural work too, so plan on a permit. Unincorporated Pima County and the towns of Oro Valley, Marana and Sahuarita have their own permit offices. We check with the right one before work starts.