Using plywood or other construction materials as any
structural reinforcement, we'll eventually lead to the replacement of
the original problem and you're old repairs. The beam in the picture
above is suffering from water damage and the roof needs to be repaired
to prevent further damage to the framing. This has created a structural
safety issue and needs to be repaired as soon as possible.
The amount of time that it took someone to attach a piece of plywood to
each side of this beam to add additional support, you probably could
have replaced it with a new one.
Home Repair Tip: Any damaged wood should be replaced, especially termite
or wood rot damaged lumber. If you scab something next to it for
additional support. You could be giving the termites fresh food and
allowing the moist wood to spread any fungus or mold to the new pieces.
It's never a good idea to leave damaged materials even laying around in
a basement or attic.
Always remember to find and fix the original cause of the damage. In the
picture above, the roofing and the roof needs to be repaired to prevent
further damage to the wood beam. If you replace the wood beam but choose
to ignore the roofing damage, you might find yourself replacing the wood
beam in the near future, again.
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