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What issue are you experiencing?
Cracks, water intrusion, crawl space moisture, settlement, etc.
Cracks, water intrusion, crawl space moisture, settlement, etc.
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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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 have successfully completed a reinforcement project for a homeowner's garage in the 40517 area. The work involved securing the block walls with structural supports to prevent further movement and leakage issues. This initiative ensures long-term stability and safety for the property. The approximate cost for this essential repair was around $5,200.
Near Lexington, KY
Recently completed a basement waterproofing job for Brian in the 40505 area. The project featured the installation of a French drain system to effectively manage and prevent water accumulation in the basement pit. Efforts also included sealing off potential water entry points and evaluating the need for structural supports. This essential improvement came at an approximate cost of $13,000.
Near Lexington, KY
We've just completed a significant waterproofing project for Brian in the 40505 area. This job involved installing a French drain system and waterproofing the basement foundation to ensure it remains dry. This was crucial to prevent water accumulation as the pit basement was prone to holding moisture. Supports may be added later, depending on further observation. The project was rounded to approximately $13,000.
Near Lexington, KY
Addressed structural concerns by installing support beams in the crawl space of Clay's property in the 40503 area. Issues with the door frame and wall shifting were noted, along with floor support concerns. The team reinforced the area with proper support to ensure the floor's integrity. The project was undertaken with a budget of about $6,000.
Near Lexington, KY
Completed a check-in involving the stabilization of a sinking structure impacting the garage and entry areas of a brick home for Charles in the 40502 area. This project focused on addressing foundational support under the garage and the front steps to prevent further settling and potential damage. Estimated at about $5,800, this essential repair ensures long-lasting stability and safety.
Near Lexington, KY
Completed a foundation stabilization and repair project for Jeff in the 40511 area. The job involved reinforcing the interior walls and adding external stabilization to address structural concerns. Using sturdy braces, the walls were secured to prevent further shifting or cracking. This essential work, carried out with precision, was priced at approximately $40,000.
Near Lexington, KY
Addressed significant shifts in the front of Nieshia's house in the 40514 area. Cracks in the brickwork and a misaligned front door highlighted the issue. The team installed foundation piers to stabilize and correct the structural settlement. Additional repairs addressed interior drywall cracks and other cosmetic damages. The comprehensive repair cost approximately $26,500.
Near Lexington, KY
Gerald's home is experiencing settlement issues, with noticeable cracks appearing on both the interior and exterior foundations. Our team is addressing these problems using slabjacking techniques to stabilize and correct the settling structure. The entire project is approximately valued at $15,400, focusing on restoring the home's integrity in the 40517 area.
Near Lexington, KY
We completed essential structural repairs involving beam and joist reinforcement to address identified issues in the foundation. The project involved careful stabilization efforts to ensure long-term integrity. The approximate cost of this comprehensive repair service was around $9700, reflecting the complexity and materials involved. Work was carried out efficiently to meet the client's needs in zip code 40515.
Near Lexington, KY
