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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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 worked on Christina's property in the 47909 area, focusing on reinforcing the crawl space structure. This essential repair job ensures the stability of the foundation and offers long-term protection. The project was efficiently completed for an approximate cost of $7,676.
Near Lafayette, IN
Our latest project tackled basement waterproofing and crack repairs at Laurie's home in Lafayette, IN. We addressed water intrusion issues in the southern and northwest corners of the basement, sealing horizontal cracks in the cinderblock walls to prevent further damage. The installation included a comprehensive drainage system to ensure long-term protection against moisture entry. This crucial job was completed for approximately $8,000.
Near Lafayette, IN
Recently, we addressed structural concerns in James’s property by reinforcing the main building. Our team focused on stabilizing the compromised areas to ensure integrity and safety. This comprehensive repair, carried out around the Lafayette area, was completed with a project budget of approximately $39,000.
Near Lafayette, IN
In Lafayette, we've addressed multiple structural issues in Adam's home. The garage slab foundation was cracked and unlevel, and the basement revealed water intrusion through wall cracks and at the floor seams. Visible movement in one of the walls posed an additional concern. Our team worked to stabilize the foundation, ensuring the integrity of both the garage and basement. This comprehensive repair was completed at an approximate cost of $2,000.
Near Lafayette, IN
We addressed a cracking and settling front porch for Phyllis in the 47904 area. Our team utilized slabjacking techniques to stabilize and lift the concrete, ensuring a level and secure surface. This repair, valued at approximately $2,800, offers a long-lasting solution for the homeowner's porch concerns.
Near Lafayette, IN
Took on a waterproofing project for Kim's basement in the 47905 region where minor water intrusion was occurring through the walls and floor. The team implemented measures to keep moisture out and fortify the overall structure. The project was carried out for approximately $32,700 and promises a dry, secure basement space.
Near Lafayette, IN
Today we focused on structural repairs for Erick in the 47909 zip code. The project involved reinforcing a bowing wall and addressing unlevel floors by repairing or replacing supports. With a realtor appointment scheduled at 10, our team efficiently tackled these issues to ensure stability and safety of the home. The overall job was roughly priced at $4,930.
Near Lafayette, IN
In the vicinity of 47905, we completed a crawlspace project to address sagging floors and significant moisture issues. This involved repairing hardwood flooring and reinforcing structural integrity. A vapor barrier was also installed to combat water accumulation, ensuring a dry and stable environment. The project was completed for approximately $35,000.
Near Lafayette, IN
Addressed issues of sloping patio and uneven driveway at Nancy's new home. The team conducted slabjacking to level the surfaces and ensure proper drainage away from the house. This necessary repair, valued at approximately $3,600, supports structural stability and homeowner satisfaction.
Near Lafayette, IN
