Why Are My Floors Sagging?

Do you have bouncy, squishy, or unlevel floors above your crawl space? If so, you are likely aware that sagging floors are not only inconvenient, but they may also leave you wondering how long the floor will be able to withstand the weight of everything within your house that sits on top of them.

Here are some of the most typical symptoms of unlevel & unstable floors:

• Floors slant, sometimes resulting in gaps between the floor and the interior walls.
• Interior wall cracks and gaps around door frames arise as a result of a wall sinking along the floor.
• Doors that stick, jamb or have been planed or 'shaved down' to close properly
• In the crawl space, gaps occur between existing columns and girders
• In the crawl space, you discover shimming between existing columns and girders (a sign of repair attempts)
• The effects of moisture are visible: wood rot and deterioration of the crawl space floor joists.

Causes of Sagging Floors

The flooring in your home was most likely strong and level when it was built. So, what caused the problem? There are three major causes of sagging floors. It is critical to understand them since only a solution that addresses these core causes can permanently solve the problem.

The existing columns are too far apart.

When building a crawl space, block or brick (and occasionally wood) columns are placed throughout the crawl space to support the weight of the structure above. If the columns are too far apart, the beam may get overloaded and droop between them. The girder sags with it, as does the floor above.

Floor joists and girders have weakened.

Excess moisture and humidity are an issue in crawl spaces because they are frequently not sealed off from the earth. And what occurs when wood is exposed to moisture and humidity? It starts to decay, grow mold, and become weak. Because the weakened girders and floor joists can no longer sustain the weight above, the floor above the crawl space becomes bouncy, spongy, and may begin to droop.

Existing columns have settled.

Weak soil can cause existing crawl space columns to sink or settle, resulting in a gap between the column and the bottom of the girder it was supporting. The girder sags and the floors above sag when the column settles. It's a domino effect.

We Can Help!

If you are experiencing signs that lead you to believe your floor may be sagging, we can help! We offer free inspections to educate & inform homeowners about the full extent of the foundation issues they are experiencing within their crawl space or along their foundation walls. After scheduling an inspection with our appointment center, one of our system design specialists comes out to the home to do a thorough investigation of the home’s foundation. After the inspection, our specialist will present their findings, informing you exactly what’s causing your issue and providing a written proposal stating exactly how much the issue will cost to repair. Our solutions are custom-tailored to permanently resolve YOUR home’s specific issue, putting your home back on solid ground and restoring your peace of mind.

To schedule a free inspection – click here.