What Are Crawl Space Support Posts?
In Alabama's climate, the combination of high humidity, occasional flooding, and wood-frame construction makes crawl space post deterioration one of the most common structural problems APS encounters. Wood posts and wood beam supports that contact or sit close to soil in a humid crawl space absorb moisture, develop fungal rot, and lose their load-bearing capacity over time. The result is floors that sag, feel soft or bouncy, creak excessively, or show visible slope from one side of a room to the other. APS Foundation Repair and Waterproofing installs adjustable galvanized or powder-coated steel support posts to replace failed wood posts and to add new support points where beams are sagging between existing supports. Steel posts do not rot, do not support fungal growth, and can be precisely set to the height needed to bring the beam back to level. As part of every support post installation, APS includes a borate wood treatment on surrounding structural wood to address any active fungal growth and protect sound wood from future decay.
How Crawl Space Support Posts Work
Adjustable steel crawl space posts consist of a base plate, a steel tube column, and an adjustable top connector that interfaces with the beam above. APS sets each post on a concrete footing pad sized for the load it will carry. Where existing concrete pads are insufficient or absent, new pads are poured as part of the installation. Posts are raised incrementally to restore beam height and floor level, working systematically across the crawl space to avoid overloading any single support point. The adjustment mechanism allows for fine-tuning even after initial installation, and APS calibrates final height to achieve the most level floor elevation achievable without creating new stress concentrations in the floor framing above.
“Steel posts solve two problems at once: they replace the lost support capacity of the rotted wood, and they give us a way to precisely restore beam height. Wood posts can only ever be shimmed to level, steel posts are designed to be adjusted and hold that adjustment permanently.”
How APS Installs Crawl Space Support Posts
- 1
Crawl Space Inspection and Beam Assessment
An APS specialist enters the crawl space to inspect existing posts, pads, beams, and joists. Floor elevation measurements above are used to map the sag pattern and determine support post locations and required height adjustments.
- 2
Rotted Post and Wood Removal
Failed or deteriorated wood posts are removed. Surrounding wood framing is inspected for rot extent, and any framing members that are structurally compromised are flagged for repair or replacement.
- 3
Footing Pad Preparation
Concrete footing pads are installed or upgraded at each new steel post location to provide adequate bearing area for the imposed load. Pads are allowed to cure before post installation proceeds.
- 4
Steel Post Installation and Initial Adjustment
Adjustable steel posts are set on the footing pads and raised to make initial contact with the beam above. Posts are positioned plumb and base plates are secured.
- 5
Incremental Beam Lifting
Posts are raised incrementally, no more than a controlled amount per adjustment cycle, to bring beams back toward level without cracking finished surfaces above. Progress is monitored with floor elevation readings throughout.
- 6
Borate Treatment and Final Inspection
Borate preservative is applied to surrounding wood framing, joists, and beams to address fungal growth and protect sound wood. APS conducts a final crawl space walkthrough, removes debris, and documents the completed installation.
What Crawl Space Support Posts Cost and What Is Covered
Cost Range
$300 to $800 per post installed
Warranty
APS in-house warranty, transferable
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my crawl space posts rotting?
Wood in a humid, poorly ventilated crawl space is constantly exposed to conditions that promote fungal decay: moisture in the air, occasional standing water, and soil contact or near-contact. Over time, even treated wood posts lose their preservative effectiveness and become susceptible. The long-term fix involves both replacing failed posts and improving crawl space moisture conditions.
Will new steel posts fully level my floors?
In most cases, significant improvement in floor level is achieved. Full recovery to perfectly level may not be possible if floor framing has taken a permanent set after years of sagging, but the sag is stabilized and the soft, bouncy feeling is eliminated. APS provides realistic expectations after measuring the sag during the assessment.
Do I need to do anything about moisture before post installation?
APS recommends addressing crawl space moisture conditions as part of or shortly after post installation. Encapsulation, vapor barriers, or drainage improvements prevent the new steel posts from sitting in a persistently wet environment and protect the surrounding wood framing. We can evaluate and quote moisture control in the same visit.
How long does crawl space post installation take?
A typical residential crawl space support post installation is completed in one day. Larger crawl spaces or those requiring more extensive footing work may take two days.
Is the warranty on steel posts transferable?
Yes. APS's in-house warranty on crawl space support post installations is transferable to subsequent homeowners, which can be a selling point when you are ready to sell the property.