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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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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.
Visited Susan's property at 6324 Forrest Grove Lane, Lafayette to address uneven flooring due to house settling. Our team jacked up the house in the crawlspace to re-level the floors, ensuring the foundation's stability. The work was completed with a focus on precision and efficiency, priced approximately around $8,600.
Near Lafayette, IN
Our team has completed a slabjacking project for Sergey's commercial property. The corners had experienced sinking by a few inches, which required precise lifting to restore the floor's level. This necessary repair was priced around $5,600, ensuring the property remains stable and functional.
Near Lafayette, IN
Addressed structural issues in a 1948 house basement by repairing cracks and reinforcing bowing walls. Cracks around the steel I beam were sealed, and additional support was installed to mitigate air and light entry. This comprehensive fix was necessary to ensure the stability and comfort of the basement space. The project was completed with an approximate cost of $35,500.
Near Lafayette, IN
We've conducted a detailed assessment for Corey, a residential property buyer in need of a foundation repair estimate. This structural evaluation is part of a pre-purchase process involving coordination with the homeowner's realtor. The job's complexity and required approval highlight the importance of a thorough inspection before scheduling repairs. With an approximate cost of $5,000, this evaluation sets the stage for necessary foundation work.
Near Lafayette, IN
Addressed a structural issue where red bricks were breaking and falling apart. We implemented a cinderblock rebuild to enhance stability and prevent further deterioration. The installation of adjustable steel posts ensured additional support for the foundation. The job was approximately priced at $8,900.
Near Lafayette, IN
The slab foundation in Lucas's living room was showing significant cracks that needed immediate attention. Our team focused on a detailed repair to address these foundational issues and ensure the stability of the room. With the cracks posing a potential risk, this essential repair was completed at an approximate cost of $2,100.
Near Lafayette, IN
We tackled a porch that was sinking on one side, restoring its stability through slabjacking. The uneven surface was a concern, but the adjustments should prevent any further tilt. With careful attention to the underlying foundation, the job was priced at about $3,600.
Near Lafayette, IN
Addressed moisture and mold issues in Jared's crawl space in zip code 47909. The incorrectly installed moisture barrier was replaced to ensure proper moisture control. Our team focused on mold remediation to enhance the overall integrity of the space. The job was estimated at just under $9,000.
Near Lafayette, IN
Addressed the severe cracking and unevenness in Linda's garage floor. The team focused on leveling the concrete and repairing the noticeable cracks to restore stability. Approximate cost for the project was $4,000, ensuring durable results.
Near Lafayette, IN
