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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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're tackling a water intrusion problem in Thomas's walkout basement, where water entered and affected the finished area. Built in 1959, the home showed signs of water damage, with wet and ruined drywall detected. A comprehensive waterproofing service is underway to protect the basement, with the project estimated at around $7,600. This effort will ensure a dry and comfortable space for Thomas.
Near Shelbyville, IN
We undertook a detailed waterproofing project at Raoul's property in 46176, focusing on encapsulation and setting up a new entrance to prevent water intrusion. Additionally, we addressed mold issues near the entryway and fixed a cracked foundation. The project included installing a possible outdoor drainage system, vital for protecting the home's structure. This comprehensive job is valued at around $24,670.
Near Shelbyville, IN
We assessed a brick wall foundation showing signs of wear possibly due to soil erosion. Notable issues include cracking and alignment concerns requiring careful attention. The team's next steps involve addressing these foundational issues to prevent further damage. Estimated cost is around $4,100.
Near Shelbyville, IN
We're addressing a persistent water intrusion problem in Thomas's walkout basement, built in 1959. The homeowner discovered wet and ruined drywall due to water seepage. We're implementing a comprehensive waterproofing solution to protect the finished basement and ensure it stays dry in the future. This essential project is approximately valued at $7,600.
Near Shelbyville, IN
Our team completed a crucial foundation stabilization project in Shelbyville, zip code 46176, addressing underlying support issues. We reinforced the foundation using piers to ensure long-term durability. The project also involved installing a waterproofing system to prevent future water ingress. The work was carried out efficiently for an approximate cost of $19,300, providing peace of mind and enhanced structural integrity.
Near Shelbyville, IN
Paul reached out to us to inspect the crawl space of his property during the selling process. The inspection report highlighted leaning columns and potential structural concerns. We conducted a detailed evaluation to assess the condition of these columns, along with checking for any termite damage and mold growth. Ensuring the stability of the crawl space was crucial for the property sale and peace of mind. The assessment and any necessary stabilization are valued at roughly $4,300.
Near Shelbyville, IN
Today, we addressed the settling issues of two aprons connecting the driveway to the garage. Both areas had noticeable settling and cracking, so our team performed slabjacking to lift and level the concrete. This service was essential to restore the structural integrity of the surfaces and prevent further damage, with the project costing around $2,000 in zip code 46176. Thanks to our expertise, John's driveway and garage entrance are now stable and secure.
Near Shelbyville, IN
