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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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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.
Becky needed immediate waterproofing solutions for her father-in-law’s crawlspace in New Albany, zip code 47150. The space, at least 18 inches tall, was experiencing water intrusion through the walls. Our team installed a comprehensive system to tackle the moisture effectively. This project was carried out for approximately $8.7K, ensuring a dry and stable environment.
Near New Albany, IN
We completed a foundation repair project for Rhonda in zip code 47150. Her garage foundation slab was experiencing settling and cracking issues, jeopardizing its structural integrity. Our team efficiently addressed these problems to ensure the safety and durability of the garage, with the project valued at around $2,000.
Near New Albany, IN
We tackled a significant repair on Jim's property in zip code 47150, focusing on the cracked concrete patio. The damage was evident around the entryway, posing potential stability and safety issues. Our team implemented a specialized foundation repair strategy to address the cracks and prevent future damage, securing the area and restoring its integrity. This essential work was carried out for an estimated $2K.
Near New Albany, IN
We installed a vapor barrier in Brianna's low ceiling dirt basement to address humidity and water issues that arise during heavy rains. With partial concrete walls and floors, this solution is crucial for preventing moisture intrusion and maintaining a dry environment. This project was completed for approximately $24K.
Near New Albany, IN
Addressed two significant cracks in Tom's basement in zip code 47150. These structural vulnerabilities posed a risk for water intrusion, so we implemented a robust waterproofing solution. The comprehensive repair aimed at protecting the basement from future leakage was carried out for around $8K.
Near New Albany, IN
Took on a waterproofing job in a 107-year-old home in zip code 47150. The focus was on addressing moisture issues in the basement's cinder block foundation. Our team implemented effective waterproofing solutions to prevent future water intrusion. The project ensures the basement remains dry, contributing to the overall stability of the structure. This service was approximately $13.5K.
Near New Albany, IN
