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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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 addressed a pressing structural concern in a crawlspace for Denise in zip code 46151. The main beam was unstable, so we took steps to reinforce it and ensure the foundation's stability. This essential repair was completed for an approximate cost of $12,100.
Near Martinsville, IN
Completed a comprehensive waterproofing project for John in the 46151 area. Our team installed a durable crawl space vapor barrier, essential in preventing moisture build-up and protecting the foundation. This installation, priced at approximately $10,600, ensures a drier, more secure environment beneath the home.
Near Martinsville, IN
Completed a structure repair job focused on replacing two footer and gutter black hose drains along the south side of a house in zip code 46151. The team addressed these drainage issues to ensure proper water management and protect the foundation. Tim noted the necessity of this repair, contributing to the overall durability of the structure. The project was completed for approximately $11,700.
Near Martinsville, IN
Pat from zip code 46151 had a 12 by 12 area that began to sag, affecting the patio and car lift slab. Our team successfully addressed these issues using slabjacking methods. This repair is crucial in ensuring the stability and safety of the surrounding structures, completed for approximately $9,400.
Near Martinsville, IN
In zip code 46151, we're addressing sagging floors in a rental property by installing new piers. This project focuses on stabilizing the structure and ensuring long-term durability. The estimated cost of this structural repair is around $6,500.
Near Martinsville, IN
We addressed significant slab foundation issues at Dave's property in zip code 46151. The project involved stabilizing the area to fix interior wall cracks, sticking doors, and uneven floors. With careful attention to reinforcement, the structural integrity was restored for around $23,000.
Near Martinsville, IN
After dealing with years of unlevel floors and drywall cracks, Bill reached out for a comprehensive foundation repair. Our team installed new adjustable supports in the kitchen's crawlspace to address the stability issues. This solution, designed to prevent further structural problems, was completed with attention to the homeowner's long-term comfort and safety. The project is estimated at approximately $9,780.
Near Martinsville, IN
We recently completed a structural reinforcement project in Wayne's basement located in the 46151 area. This job involved enhancing the stability of the foundation to improve long-term durability and safety. The project was executed with a budget of around $3,000, ensuring the structural integrity of the space.
Near Martinsville, IN
Recently completed a crucial foundation repair for Matthew in the 46151 area as part of preparations for selling his home. The project's focus was on stabilizing the end of the house where the foundation was pulling away, causing bricks to crack and the wall to lean. The stabilization efforts involved significant structural reinforcement to secure the property’s integrity, approximately costing $18,756.
Near Martinsville, IN
