With the wooden frame in place, the decayed wooden beam could be removed and the new metal I-beam installed. It spans the entire width of the space (much longer than the original beam), resting in a cutout of the wall on one side and a new metal pillar on the other. The house has settled and bowed over time, whereas the beam is flat, so various thicknesses of shims are required to fill the gaps and keep the original joists supported.
