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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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 significant structural issue at Pradeep's new home, where one of the cinderblock basement walls was bowing. In conjunction with this, the driveway also needed to be leveled. Our team carefully implemented repairs to restore structural integrity, ensuring stability and preventing further damage. This comprehensive job, located in zip code 47906, was completed for approximately $10,500.
Near West Lafayette, IN
We tackled a significant structural repair for Scott's property in the 47906 area, focusing on home settling issues. The project involved addressing noticeable gaps between the ceiling and walls, as well as interior wall cracks. A partial basement and crawl space required our expert attention to ensure structural integrity. The scope of work, valued at around $13,500, helped in restoring the foundation's stability and preventing further damage.
Near West Lafayette, IN
Josh's property in the 47906 area is undergoing a crucial structural repair job due to significant cracks and bowing. Our team is addressing these concerns to ensure the foundation's stability. The cost of this vital repair work is around $7,200, reflecting the scope and necessity of the project.
Near West Lafayette, IN
Work involved reinforcing a basement wall with carbon fiber straps at Shane's property in the 47906 area. The structural engineer specified these straps to address a 3/4 inch crack and mitigate bowing concerns during the remodeling project. This ensures the wall’s stability and prevents future issues, approximately costing $8,363.
Near West Lafayette, IN
We recently completed a project to address settling issues with the slab foundation at Michael's place in 47906. Our team tackled a crack in the floor, along with a gap between the floor and baseboard, ensuring a solid and even surface. This repair work was crucial to maintaining the structural health of the home, and the project was executed for an approximate cost of $12,800.
Near West Lafayette, IN
We recently completed a structural repair job for Haiyan in zip code 47906. The crawlspace showed signs of settling, with visible cracks in the walls. Our team effectively addressed these issues by reinforcing the foundational support and stabilizing the structure. This essential repair, priced around $4,000, ensures the crawlspace remains secure and stable.
Near West Lafayette, IN
We tackled a challenging waterproofing project in a basement where moisture and dampness were persistent issues. The job necessitated careful remediation to prevent future water intrusion. We also assessed the nearby crawlspace, albeit a tight one, to ensure it fell within safe height requirements. This comprehensive waterproofing and inspection project was completed for approximately $20,000, ensuring the space remains dry and stable.
Near West Lafayette, IN
Recently wrapped up a crucial foundation support installation at a commercial site in zip code 47907. The job involved the integration of helical piers to stabilize the building's foundation and prevent future settling issues. This systematic approach ensures long-term structural safety and resilience. The project, aimed at maintaining the integrity of the commercial establishment, was completed at an approximate cost of $12,850.
Near West Lafayette, IN
We've taken significant steps to address the moisture issues in Hilary’s basement and crawlspace. Our team implemented a comprehensive waterproofing solution, ensuring the area remains dry and stable. We took additional measures to reinforce the structure, accommodating the tight spaces present. This project in zip code 47906 was completed for an approximate cost of $20,299.
Near West Lafayette, IN
