You need to spend money on in person advice. This is not internettable. 6x6 sounds undersized from the beginning though.

Architect/builder wants $1k to come "look" at the problem....not fix it. I'd like to not throw my money away yet.

Yes, you do have to pay for knowledge and expertise. It isn’t free. You are asking for a consult. Their knowledge and experience, to figure out what can be done to fix the issue. .This can not happen on the internet.

It must be in person, to visually inspect the entire systrm from attic to basement. There is a huge amount of liability to design a fix for a really old home that may not be constructed properly from the beginning and may need wholesale reconstruction.

You won’t get what you won’t pay for. The fact that you seem to want this service for free explains the fee they want up front. It usually starts at around $500 and only goes up once the site shows it will need something more complex. Yours doubled on the front end because of the pita tax.

If the Architect/Builder isn't prepared to do some selective demolition when he arrives, show him the door before he starts. You're paying for real world inspection and specifications, not x-ray vision and conjecture.

You'll get advice here, but how much of it is "experienced" is dubious. Any professional who knows anything about this will know better than to offer an opinion online without seeing it in person.

I understand. Just looking for some past experiences of folks in the same boat with very old 100+ houses.

Be prepared to spend 2K-200M. It could be anything from it’s not important, to that whole section is rotten and needs rebuilding. Which dominoes to a wholesale teardown and rebuild. No one on the internet knows if this is a 300 sf log cabin or a 10,000 sf poor cousin of the Biltmore. That is why in person is required.

Last photo is a little dark but it is the end of the "beam" that is supposed to tenon into the mortise of a large 8x8 post. The center of this is totally gone and someone has sistered a single 2x6 onto the side and nailed in with old large nails.

Toast. Completely structural redesign. On multiple fronts.

I agree with the other posters that someone needs to inspect in person, and you will probably have to pay them for an opinion. But you can shop around for that just like you can with anyone else. Get more than one estimate of the cost of getting an inspection and estimate. The pics may help, show them up front what they'll be dealing with. I wouldn't select the cheapest just because they're the cheapest, though. Get one who seems to know what they're doing and is willing to explain it to you.

You could always call Ask This Old House, maybe they'd come out and replace it and put it all on TV. :-D

How long is the span, how long has this been in place, and is anything sagging/failing?

Span is 8 feet. There is currently no sagging although someone has put 2x4 blocks between the 2nd floor and the beam to provide support under the bathroom. The beam has been in place for at least 100 years.

If that beam has been in place a hundred years and there is no sagging or other evidence of structural failure, I'd forget about it.

Thank you for your help. We have a timber Framing expert coming Thurs. We’ll see if he agrees with you

Fair enough, but let's remember that I'm not going to make any money on this job replacing that beam. He may.

Please know I appreciate your kindness in your helpful comments.

If nothing from above is bearing on that timber it's acting as a joist. At minimum I'd get a hanger on each end. Chisel/pad the end for a good fit. Structural screws will work better than nails in those old timbers.

Simpson Strong Tie HU68Z 6x8 Heavy Duty Joist Hanger Z-Max Finish

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