✕
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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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.
Completed a structural repair involving jack post replacement to address wall separation and cracks. This task was crucial for stabilizing the home, which is currently up for sale. Approximately priced around $5893, the job ensures the integrity of the structure, enhancing its market appeal.
Near Wellington, OH
Completed a waterproofing project in Lorenzo's basement to tackle water intrusion issues. There was a small hole in the foundation leading to moisture problems, but our comprehensive approach sealed the area, ensuring a dry and secure environment. Estimated cost for this job was just over $16,000.
Near Sandusky, OH
Our team completed an encapsulation project in Dennis's crawlspace, aimed at preventing moisture issues. The area, featuring a stone foundation and limited height, was effectively sealed for enhanced protection. This preventative measure is valued at approximately $7,100.
Near Lakeside Marblehead, OH
We tackled a basement waterproofing project in Greg's property in zip code 44053. Water was seeping through the grout lines on the walls and a corner of the floor, causing mold issues. We implemented a comprehensive waterproofing solution to address these concerns, improving the overall condition of the basement. The service is valued at approximately $11,500.
Near Lorain, OH
Completed a comprehensive basement waterproofing job for Kaz in zip code 44055. Our team addressed the vertical and horizontal cracks in the basement walls and foundation, focusing on preventing water intrusion during heavy rain. The project involved installing necessary fixtures to ensure long-term stability and dry conditions. The approximate cost was $13,025.
Near Lorain, OH
We've completed a structural repair on the back corner of Susan's garage. The block wall had significant cracking, and the mortar on the west side was missing. Our team reinforced the area, ensuring both stability and longevity for the garage structure. The work was done with attention to detail, considering an approximate cost of about $7,000.
Near Amherst, OH
We addressed issues of water seeping through Audrey's basement floor in the 44052 area. Our team applied a comprehensive waterproofing solution to ensure no future leaks. With the installation completed successfully, we're helping maintain a dry and secure basement environment. The project cost is approximately $11,700.
Near Lorain, OH
Chad has scheduled a structural repair for his basement in zip code 44870. The floor has been cracking and heaving upward, which has worsened over the years, causing occasional sticking of doors. The repair is crucial to stabilize the foundation with an approximate cost of $22,000.
Near Sandusky, OH
John's driveway and walkway needed some leveling due to a sinking slab addition on one side of his home. We successfully carried out slabjacking to bring both the driveway and walkway to a stable and even position. This crucial adjustment improves the overall safety and appearance of the property. The approximate cost for this project is $4,500.
Near Vermilion, OH
