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What issue are you experiencing?
Cracks, water intrusion, crawl space moisture, settlement, etc.
Cracks, water intrusion, crawl space moisture, settlement, etc.
We Treat Your Home Like Our Own
Unlike homes with basements or crawl spaces, a slab floor is solid concrete with no structural wood flooring system. For homes with this type of floor, soft soil or bad compaction is almost always the culprit. Once the soil is compromised, the slab will shift, and this creates the sagging or sinking effect. Pressure from that shift will sometimes crack the slab itself, causing high and low places in the flooring. To fix this type of damage, you need concrete slab repairs.
Water is a probable suspect, as it seeps into the ground around your foundation. The sill plate, wood beams, and floor joists are all vulnerable to this; these wooden components on top of your foundation are the wood framing system that supports your floor. Because it has direct contact with the concrete and can be over the exposed soil line, it often falls victim to water intrusion. Once water intrudes and saturates the wood, this leads to deterioration. It’s this deterioration that causes the floor system to fail.
But you don’t have to have standing water under your house to cause structural decay. High humidity can also damage the beams and joists that hold up your subfloor. Wood is highly porous and readily absorbs water from the air. Over time, this water saturation softens and rots the boards. As they decay, they compress under the weight of your home, lowering your floor sometimes by several inches.
Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern. A main support beam, the post that spans the length of your home, should be sized proportionately and supported every few feet. In many homes, the beams may not be the correct size or the support posts are installed too far apart. This over-spanning puts greater stress on the beam and makes it more likely to sag and potentially even fail.
Along the same lines, if your home is more than 50 years old, it’s also possible that inadequate materials are to blame. When a home is built, sometimes the beams or joists are not the correct dimensions. When this happens, a contractor will install a shim; a shim is a thin piece that adds a minimal lift to ‘even out’ the installation. Many times in construction, that shim was usually another piece of wood; at Acculevel we use steel shims to prevent compression or rot. These shims also allow us to increase the overall surface of the bearing load, so that the beam it’s supporting is not crushed by the weight of your home.
Technology is another age-related factor. New solutions and materials are always in development, but they take time to become commonplace. Before the 1970s, pretreated or pressure-treated lumber was not widely available or regularly used by builders. Lumber installed in its original ‘raw’ form is more vulnerable to insects and water damage.
New trends in home design can have a negative effect if a remodel doesn’t take the weight of the raw materials into account. Many older homes aren’t built to carry the load of solid granite countertops or stone-tiled floors and walls. Recreational items like a pool table or hot tub will also add significant weight to your floor system. These are all items that can put additional stress onto an already failing wood structure.
Contact Acculevel! We provide free estimates on sagging floor repairs.
We recently completed a project for Frances in the 60440 area, addressing a persistent water issue in a basement. By implementing a robust drainage system, we ensured that water accumulation during rainy weather is no longer a concern. This thorough waterproofing process will help maintain a dry and secure basement environment. This essential service was approximately priced around $3,000.
Near Bolingbrook, IL
We carried out a slabjacking project to address the separation issue between the porch and the step at James's property. The settlement had caused noticeable gaps, and our intervention involved leveling the steps to restore safety and aesthetics. The job was completed in zip code 60440, with an approximate cost of $2000.
Near Bolingbrook, IL
Completed a waterproofing installation to address seepage issues for Steven in 60440. After identifying a potential foundation leak near the water softener, our team installed a drainage system to manage water effectively. This solution, approximately worth $3,300, ensures a dry and secure basement.
Near Bolingbrook, IL
We addressed a critical foundation issue in zip code 60440. One corner of Christina's house was sinking, leading to cracks in the walls and ceiling, as well as three windows becoming stuck. Floors were also unlevel. Our team undertook a comprehensive stabilization process to restore the house’s integrity. This essential project was carefully completed with an estimated cost of around $39,000.
Near Bolingbrook, IL
In the basement of a property located in the 60490 zip code, we addressed structural issues compromising the foundation. Cracks and visible water damage were apparent, necessitating immediate attention. Our team executed essential repairs to ensure structural integrity, with this important work being completed for approximately $3,100.
Near Bolingbrook, IL
Tackled a challenging foundation issue where the structure was sinking and the floors were sloping. This project involved reinforcing the foundation to stabilize the home, ensuring long-term safety and stability. Completed for approximately $3,500, this work significantly enhances the structure's integrity.
Near Bolingbrook, IL
