Rant: A job in Chicago last winter made me stop trusting old floor joists

I was working on a kitchen remodel in an old brick building, maybe from the 1920s. We pulled up the subfloor and found the joists looked fine, but when I put my weight on one, it just gave way. It was rotten right in the middle where you couldn't see it from the ends. The homeowner was standing right there and saw the whole thing. Now I drill a test hole in the center of every single old joist before I walk on it. Anyone else run into this kind of hidden rot?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabeth2202mo ago

That's why I always check for old plumbing leaks above those spots.

the_ben9d ago

@elizabeth220 nailed it. I had water damage behind my vanity once. Found out a tiny leak from the shower pipe above was dripping down the wall for months. Took forever to figure out. Replaced the drywall and painted, but the mold was already there. Finally just cut out a bigger section and put in a new piece. Fixed it proper that time.

margaretj402mo ago

Found a slow drip behind the medicine cabinet that explained everything.