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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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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.
Emily's home in Madison required some attention due to a significant crack in a load-bearing wall, paired with unlevel floors. This crack, stretching approximately 5ft from vertical to diagonal, indicated underlying structural issues. Our team addressed these concerns by reinforcing the flooring and stabilizing the affected wall ensuring long-term durability. The entire project is estimated to be valued around $9,000.
Near Madison, IN
Addressed a beam and jack issue at Shawn's property in zip code 47250. The beam was short by 1 1/2 feet on each side of the foundation wall, and an existing jack was improperly installed at an angle. The repair aimed to ensure proper support and stability, preparing for the homeowner's return in February. The approximate cost for this structural repair was around $20,000.
Near Madison, IN
Completed a waterproofing project in Heather's basement located in zip code 47250. The basement had issues with water intrusion at the junction where the floor meets the block walls. Our team installed a drainage system to address this effectively, ensuring dry conditions even during heavy rains. The service focused on long-term protection and stability, approximately priced at $7.2K.
Near Madison, IN
Recently completed a structural repair in zip code 47250. Linda's home, newly purchased, was experiencing foundation cracking and unlevel dining room floors. We reinforced the foundation, ensuring the structural integrity of the property. The work included addressing issues with the front steps for better safety and aesthetics. The entire project was executed for around $28.9K.
Near Madison, IN
In a historic home purchased around five years ago, we embarked on a project to tackle significant sagging on the 1st and 2nd floors. The property, located primarily over a basement with a small section of crawl space, also showed gaps between floors and baseboards along with minor interior wall cracks likely due to age. Our team focused on reinforcing the structure to ensure safety and longevity. This essential repair was executed for around $12.5K.
Near Madison, IN
Addressed water intrusion issues in Robert's basement, evident through wall cracks and signs of moisture entry. The waterproofing team installed solutions to manage and prevent further water damage, enhancing the basement's durability. This project was accomplished for approximately $5.7K.
Near Madison, IN
Completed a crucial waterproofing job in Tom's crawlspace in zip code 47250. We addressed moisture entry issues by implementing effective protective measures to ensure the space remains dry. This project was approximately priced at $3.1K, offering long-term security and stability for the home.
Near Madison, IN
In the basement of Maria's home in zip code 47250, our team addressed issues related to home sloping and deteriorating limestone walls. This project aimed to stabilize the basement structure and enhance overall safety. The approximate cost for this essential repair was $12.3K.
Near Madison, IN
