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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Lack of building codes- or outdated ones- are another concern.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 initiated a structural repair project to address the significant issues in Matthew's basement, where the walls were cracking and bowing. Our team worked on reinforcing and stabilizing the foundation to prevent further slippage and deterioration. This comprehensive repair is aimed at enhancing the structural integrity and is estimated at approximately $23,000 in the 45801 area.
Near Lima, OH
Addressed the issue of a settling corner in Robert's home, where the brick structure was showing signs of cracking. Our team focused on foundational stabilizations to secure the area and prevent further sinking. This project was completed in the 45801 area, with an approximate cost of $11,600.
Near Lima, OH
We've assessed the elevator shaft area and determined the existing sump pump pit is insufficient. A new solution is required to accommodate a sump pump that will effectively prevent water accumulation. This improvement is critical to maintaining the area’s operational safety and structural stability, with an estimated cost of around $3,600 in zip code 45804.
Near Lima, OH
Addressed a long vertical crack in Nicole's basement wall in zip code 45804. This crucial repair involved stabilizing the structure to prevent further damage, with an estimated cost of about $6,026. Ensuring the structural integrity of the basement was the primary focus.
Near Lima, OH
We tackled a critical basement repair for Charlene, addressing a crumbling foundation wall in zip code 45804. This project focused on stabilizing the compromised cinderblock structure and ensuring the kitchen floor's alignment, given its previous sinking issues. The estimated cost for this extensive stabilization effort is around $26,350, reflecting the labor-intensive work required to restore the foundation to a safe and secure state.
Near Lima, OH
Tackled a crucial structural repair by replacing unstable support pillars in a basement. The old, rusted columns were swapped with new, strong pillars to ensure the foundation's stability. This repair was essential for maintaining the integrity and safety of the home, addressing concerns previously raised by the homeowner.
Near Lima, OH
