Should I repair or replace wood following termite damage?

• <div><p>Not all wood that’s been softened by termites needs to be replaced. You may be able to salvage wood using a wood hardener instead of replacing beams. However, you’ll need to hire a structural engineer to assess the damage and the overall stability of the wood before making a replacement plan.</p></div>

Is it safe to replace a load-bearing wall with a beam?

• <div><p>It’s sometimes safe to replace a load-bearing wall with a beam, but you need a structural engineer to sign off on the project. You’ll also likely have to upgrade to a steel I-beam or another material that’s stronger than wood to maintain the level of support you need without the wall underneath.</p></div>

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Q: Can termite damage affect home structural value?

• <div><p>Yes, unresolved damage can decrease property integrity and market value.</p></div>

Q: Can I use a nail to find ceiling joists?

• <div><p>You can use a nail to find ceiling joists, but it&rsquo;s not as reliable as a stud finder, and you&rsquo;ll end up with lots of small holes in your ceiling. If the nail hits a joist, you'll feel increased resistance. Mark the spot with a pencil. Repeat this process regularly along the ceiling, 16 or 24 inches apart, until you've mapped out the joist locations. </p></div>

Q: Should I repair or replace wood following termite damage?

• <div><p>Not all wood that&rsquo;s been softened by termites needs to be replaced. You may be able to salvage wood using a wood hardener instead of replacing beams. However, you&rsquo;ll need to hire a structural engineer to assess the damage and the overall stability of the wood before making a replacement plan.</p></div>

Q: Do brick houses have framing?

• <div><p>Modern brick houses are really stick-built homes with a brick facade for aesthetic purposes only, so most have framing. With genuine brick construction, most homeowners install furring strips over the interior of the brick and then install drywall over those strips to cover the brick wall, so they don&rsquo;t have traditional framing. </p></div>

Q: Is it safe to replace a load-bearing wall with a beam?

• <div><p>It&rsquo;s sometimes safe to replace a load-bearing wall with a beam, but you need a structural engineer to sign off on the project. You&rsquo;ll also likely have to upgrade to a steel I-beam or another material that&rsquo;s stronger than wood to maintain the level of support you need without the wall underneath.</p></div>

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*The Angi rating for Contractor Service companies in Lexington, AL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Contractor Service needs.

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Last update on November 01, 2025

Reviewed in February 2024
Brian, James, and Sean worked well together. They called two hours before arriving and gave the time of arrival. The older home needed needed special care and they did a wonderful job on the plumbing, water lines, and carpentry work on all walls. Very professional results! We appreciate West...
West Shore Home Kansas City
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Reviewed in November 2023
Chance Canary is absolutely the best and the first one my family and other family members call as well. No job is too big or too small and he he goes above and beyond what we would even begin to expect of him. He is great to work with, honest, talented, knowledgeable and reliable. Chance...
C3 Customs LLC
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Reviewed in March 2022
The entire staff was professional and did an Excellent Job installing our flooring, both Luxury Wide Plank Vinyl and Unfinished Hardwood.
Flooring Gurus, Inc.
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Reviewed in September 2020
They came as promised and quickly went to work. I am very pleased with the quality of their carpentry skills. Would definitely hire them again if needed.
Baswell Construction
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Reviewed in January 2018
We had a 30-day window to totally renovate our home before we moved in. Estes came in, painted all of our interior (walls and trim) and worked on weekdays and weekends to be sure that the job got done and in plenty of time so that the the other contractors could come in and finish out floors,...
Estes Painting
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Reviewed in July 2017
Good for a one day job, you can forget him coming back to complete the work if more than one day.Did send his helper several times to do work which they did not complete. About 4 weeks later sent helper to work but he left a huge mess of exposed wiring at main station. And I still did not have a...
PRO-Scapes
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Reviewed in November 2014
He took money up front and never finished the work on my mothers house. He said he run out of money. So she gave him more, work still hasn't been finished. It's been almost a year. It was suppose to take only 4 months. He won't return phone calls. We sent a certified letter with a punch list of...
DAVE'S CONSTRUCTION & BUILDERS
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Handyman for Multiple Small Project Service

Faucets, Fixtures and Pipes Repair or Replace

Bathroom Remodeling

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CNA Cleaners

CNA Cleaners

Crossroads Construction

Crossroads Construction

Beta Pro Services

Beta Pro Services

Shaw flooring

Shaw flooring

E&j construction

E&j construction

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Barnes Drywall & Design

M.Lay Construction, LLC

M.Lay Construction, LLC

A & P Services

A & P Services

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A & S contruction

Ogle Contractors

Ogle Contractors

The Lexington, AL homeowners’ guide to contractor services

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