My Battle With Termite Damage Continues Chapter 5- “Removing the Damaged Floor Joist”
The Big Question:
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Library-1-of-1-2.jpeg)
How do you remove a 12′ long damaged floor joist, in the basement, that has: wires, gas pipes, heating pipes, hot and cold water pipes, in the way? The answer, ” VERY VERY CAREFULLY”
The Plan Of Removal
I decided to remove one 4′ section at a time. First, I drilled a 1″ hole at the top of the damaged floor joist and then, using my saber saw, crosscut the floor joist from the bottom up to the hole that I drilled. As soon as I completed the first cut, half of the damaged joist fell to the floor. No support what so ever!
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/long-view.jpeg)
And look what what came tumbling down!
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Rubble-1.jpeg)
Here is a side view of the remaining damaged floor joist.
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Side-view.jpeg)
The next big challenge, Nails, Nails, Nails!!!
I used my Fein cutoff tool with a carbide blade to remove 150 nails!
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nails-1.jpeg)
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fein.jpeg)
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/12-job-done.jpeg)
The next two 4′ sections, same procedure
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Next-4.jpeg)
Those Hungry Termites
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Dmg-1.jpeg)
![](https://homeimprovementwithtlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Dmg2-1.jpeg)