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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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.
Recently contacted for a comprehensive foundation and waterproofing assessment, Rebecca's new home was showing signs of concern. With noticeable cracks and water intrusion, action was needed to prevent further issues. Our team is addressing these concerns through proper waterproofing techniques and structural reinforcements, ensuring long-term stability and dryness. Estimated cost is approximately $6,751.
Near Greencastle, IN
We addressed a sinking issue in Andrew's home foundation by installing adjustable supports to stabilize and level the structure. This essential repair helps in preventing further settling problems, ensuring the home's integrity. The work, completed with precision, is approximately priced at $4,500.
Near Greencastle, IN
Recently completed structural repairs on Ron's home in the 46135 area, addressing serious bowing issues in the basement walls. By implementing carbon fiber straps, we reinforced the wall structure significantly. Attention was given to maintaining the structural integrity, ensuring the issues wouldn't escalate. This project, estimated around $3,350, offers enhanced stability and peace of mind for the homeowner.
Near Greencastle, IN
We successfully completed a slabjacking project in Jim's two-car garage, addressing uneven surfaces and foundational concerns. This ensures a stable and secure foundation for the property, carried out efficiently with a cost of approximately $3,800 in the 46135 area.
Near Greencastle, IN
Recently completed a structural repair in zip code 46135 for Mary, addressing unlevel floors and drywall cracking. The home, though not very old, required foundational adjustments to tackle doors sticking and ensure the overall sturdiness of the structure. The project was carried out at an approximate cost of $14,200.
Near Greencastle, IN
Recently completed a detailed repair on Cindy Cooper's basement, located in zip code 46135. The project involved repairing a crack in the basement corner, originally allowing water intrusion. With both parties' realtors present, we worked to ensure the area was properly sealed and waterproofed to prevent further issues. This essential repair, aimed at maintaining structural integrity, is valued at approximately $11,000.
Near Greencastle, IN
