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Originally Posted On: https://luxcando.com/uneven-sagging-floors/

 

If the floors in your home are sagging, it’s hard to miss the effects. Uneven and sagging floors tend to slope and bow, sometimes so much that they become uncomfortable and awkward to walk or sit on. This can be unsightly, but it can also pose a danger to individuals with physical disabilities — particularly the elderly and frail or the very young.

What Causes of Uneven or Sagging Floors?

Sagging floor issues develop with all types of foundations, meaning it is crucial to learn their causes to avoid costly damages. This guide will look at seven major causes of uneven floors, how to fix them, and why it’s important to do so as soon as possible.

1. Poor structural design

A damaged foundation is often the leading cause of uneven floors. Foundation damage can come from age or poor design or craftsmanship that results in a foundation too weak to hold up your house’s weight. A weak foundation results in warping, cracking, uneven floors, and hordes of other problems.

It is worth noting that a home’s foundation tends to weaken with time. Floors and walls will eventually warp, leading to unevenness and cracks on the foundation and floors.

2. Soil movement

Soil typically expands when it is wet and shrinks when it becomes dry. These changes may lead to soil movement over time. Soil movement can cause your foundations to shift, which will eventually affect your floors.

If the builders lay the foundation of a house without compacting the soil beneath, soil movement risks will be compounded and may result in shifting and sagging floors.

3. Exposure to excess moisture

Water damage is arguably one of the most common causes of sagging and uneven floors. This water can seep directly into the foundation, especially where drainage is poor, or result from drainage problems caused by several things such as:

• Water that runs off rooftops that pools near your foundations
• Clogged gutters and downspouts that cannot adequately direct water away
• Low areas in your yard close to the foundation, which collects water after heavy rains
• Erosion of the supporting soil layers.

The water eventually reaches wooden beams and subflooring causing them to warp. Also, in climates that experience extreme weather changes, water can freeze and expand during colder months to force the floors to move and crack. All these changes eventually result in uneven and sagging floors. Such leaks can also trigger stubborn problems such as mold, rot, and crack.

4. Expansive clay soil

Highly expansive clay soils can also trigger foundation problems that lead to uneven and sagging floors. Clay acts like a sponge and can expand or contract beneath your home with changes in moisture. As the ground expands, a lot of pressure is exerted on the foundation, and as it contracts, there is inadequate support. The constant heaving and shrinking eventually breaks the foundation and leads to uneven floors.

5. Improperly compacted fill soil

If the fill dirt below your home wasn’t properly compacted, expect a number of foundation and floor problems, including sagging floors. Improperly compacted fill soil leaves slab on grade foundations exposed to settlement issues. When building a new home, ensure the compaction meets the required industry standards.

6. Tree roots

Tree roots that grow beneath the foundation can also cause uneven and sagging floors in your home. Apart from causing it to expand and crack, these roots suck moisture off your floors to leave the foundation dry and shriveled. The roots can also cause the soil to parch and settle unevenly. When planting trees around your home, ensure they are planted as far away from your foundation as possible.

7. Natural sinkhole formation

Sinkholes are caused by water that drains underground. If you don’t have adequate external drainage around your home, you are at a higher risk of encountering this problem. When water drains underground, it may cause subterranean soil erosion that can lead to underground caverns. Sinkholes typically trigger severe foundation issues, so it helps if you recognize the signs early to mitigate their effects.

Sinkhole formation signs may include:

• Higher than regular water bills that indicate underground water leaks
• Difficulty closing doors and windows
• Areas of floors that are soft or spongy
• Tree roots that cause cracking of sidewalks or driveways

Understanding that you may have a sinkhole — and working with a foundation services professional to alleviate the problem as quickly as possible — will go a long way toward protecting your property from a devastating catastrophe.

Once you have determined the causes of uneven floors in your home, you should then embark on fixing these issues. You should also take preventive measures that ensure they don’t recur.

How to Fix Uneven or Sagging Floors

Noticing a problem with sagging floors is the first step, but getting the issue under control before there are even bigger problems is another. Use the following methods to fix the floor issues in your home:

Floor Jacking and Foundation Peering

Foundation damage can be repaired using floor jacks and foundation peering techniques. This involves pumping grout into strategically placed holes to raise the foundation to the desired level. The foundation will then be stabilized with unique footing and piers.

Provide Adequate Drainage

Soil movement from slow soil erosion activities can be fixed by adding drainage and well-placed spots around your home’s foundation. This ensures that water is directed as far away from your home as possible. Apart from water proofing, you can also add a slanting wall to improve your foundation grading. An ideal foundation should have a sloping of 3 to 5 percent all around the house.

Fix Leaks in Your Piping System

Fixing water leaks requires that you identify the problem as soon as it happens. Examine your piping system to determine signs of leaky pipes so that you fix the problem before it becomes a significant issue. A plumber can fix or replace any that may be contributing to water damage in your home. If the damage is severe, you may have to replace the flooring eventually.

Shore Up Beams or Joints

If there is a sagging part between two points on your floor, there could be issues with joints or beams located below the floor. You can solve this issue by sistering the joists and adding push piers to prop up the sagging joists. This will ultimately raise the uneven areas to level out the floor.

It’s important to keep costs in mind as you undertake this process. Fixing a sagging floor may cost about $1,000 to $10,000, with the average hourly rate about $75 to $125 for the labor. The total cost will depend on what’s causing the floor to sag, the flooring type, and the total square feet of floor affected, however.

Is a Sagging Floor Dangerous?

Sagging floors pose several hazards for you and your family. Uneven floors could be a cause of trips, falls, and injuries. It could also provide a conducive environment for mold and bacteria to grow, eventually affecting your health.

In a nutshell, uneven floors can be the beginning of myriad other troubles with your home, including substantially reducing your property’s value. It’s best to hire a professional to fix your sagging floors at the earliest opportunity. Early detection and repairs help avoid escalations that may cost you more in the future.

Talk to the Experts About Sagging Floors

If you question how to fix a sagging floor, what might be causing yours, and whether there’s reason for alarm, contact the experts at LUX Foundation Solutions.

Our team is your local source of foundation repair for your home or business needs, and we’ve been serving Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, the Central Virginia areas, and the surrounding locales for years. We combine innovative, cost-effective solutions to deliver tailormade services to our clients. Contact us today to learn more.