What Happens If You Ignore a Failing Main Beam in Your Crawl Space?

It might not creak every day.

It might not fall overnight.

But a failing main beam in your crawl space is a ticking time bomb under your house.

If you’ve seen cracks forming, floors dipping, or doors misaligning — don’t assume it’s settling.

At PierPoint Foundation Solutions, we’ve seen what happens when main beam issues are ignored — and it’s not pretty.

🧱 What Is the Main Beam?

The main beam (or girder) runs lengthwise through the center of your crawl space. It’s supported by piers and carries the load of your floor joists — and ultimately, your entire house.

If that beam is rotted, undersized, cracked, or sagging, the structural integrity of your home is at risk.

⚠️ What Happens When It Fails?

1. Uneven or Sloped Floors

   
   

   As the beam drops, the floor joists lose level support.

2. Wall Cracks and Door Misalignment

   
   

   Framing above the sagging beam shifts and settles.

3. Squeaks, Bounces, and Soft Spots

   
   

   Joists begin flexing or pulling away from the beam.

4. Plumbing and HVAC Misalignment

   
   

   Utility lines sag, loosen, or break.

5. Progressive Structural Collapse

   
   

   Left unchecked, portions of the home may fully detach from structural support — requiring jacks, replacement beams, or worse.

🔍 Why Main Beams Fail

• Water damage or wood rot

• Improper spacing or missing piers

• Insect or fungal decay

• Overloading from remodeling or additions

• Substandard materials in older homes

🛠️ How PierPoint Solves the Problem

We don’t patch failing beams. We replace or reinforce them with engineered solutions, including:

✔️ Steel I-beam or engineered wood replacements

✔️ New pier placements on reinforced footings

✔️ Adjustable jacks for real-time leveling

✔️ Sistering of joists and connectors

✔️ Mold or rot treatment

✔️ Lifetime support warranty

Your house needs a backbone. We make sure it’s built to hold.

💸 What Ignoring the Problem Will Cost

Delay Result Estimated Cost

3–6 months Minor floor damage $1,500–$3,000

6–12 months Replacement needed $4,000–$7,000

1+ year Full reconstruction $12,000–$20,000+

📞 Notice the Signs? Don’t Wait

A sagging beam won’t fix itself. If something seems off under your home, get it checked today — for free.

📍 Serving all of Arkansas

📅 To schedule an inspection, contact Dakota Treece:

📞 (501) 284-9330

📘 Message us on Facebook @PierPointFoundationSolutions

🔗 Book Your Free Structural Inspection

Strong homes start with solid support. Let’s fix your foundation — from the beam up.