Unlevel Floor
If you observe unlevel floors in your home, it’s important to contact a professional foundation repair company to evaluate the cause of the unevenness and suggest appropriate repairs.
Fixing Unlevel Floors in Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, North Central Virginia, and West Virginia
Have trouble opening and closing doors in your home? It could be a sign of unlevel floors, which may indicate underlying foundation problems.
Unlevel floors occur when the foundation supporting your home settles or shifts, causing floor areas to become uneven or sloping. This affects the aesthetics and can lead to various issues, from cosmetic concerns to more serious structural problems impacting the overall condition of your home.
Schedule a free foundation repair estimate with LUX Foundation Solutions to learn more. We proudly serve Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, North Central Virginia, West Virginia, and nearby.
Do These Unlevel Floors Signs Seem Familiar?
The symptoms
Are you wondering if your home’s floors are experiencing unleveling?
Noticing uneven floors may not be obvious to all homeowners until they drop something and it rolls to the other side. Fortunately, there are telltale signs that can help you identify whether you have uneven floors:
- Sloping or uneven floors
- Cracked floors
- Doors and windows sticking
- Visible gaps or separations
- Mold And wood Rot In The Crawl Space
- Springiness
Sloping or uneven floors
Cracked floor
Doors and windows sticking
Visible gaps
Wood rot
Springiness
What Causes Unlevel Floors?
Unlevel floors in your home in your home can be caused by a variety of issues, not just foundation problems. Structural damage, expansive soil, water damage, foundation settlement, and other factors can all contribute to unlevel and bouncy floors.
Poor structural design
Uneven floors in your home may be caused by poor structural design. This means that when your house was built, it had an inadequate number of support beams or not enough space between the beams.
Weak initial construction can’t withstand daily wear and tear, causing floors to become uneven. As a result, the floors may not be level and even.
Soil movement
The ground beneath your home naturally shifts due to factors like moisture changes or geological forces. This movement can gradually shift your house’s foundation, making your home’s floors uneven.
Exposure to excess moisture
Water leaks or flooding within your home can weaken the foundation as if the house is slowly getting soaked from the inside. As the foundation weakens, it becomes less capable of evenly supporting the floors, leading to unevenness.
Expansive clay soil
When clay soil gets wet, it expands and becomes bigger. When it dries out, it shrinks and becomes smaller. This constant swelling and shrinking can exert pressure and cause your foundation to settle, making the floors in your home unlevel over time.
Improperly compacted fill soil
Fill soil is the soil that is used to fill in areas around the foundation of your home. During construction, if the soil beneath your home is not packed down properly, it can settle unevenly over time. When the soil settles unevenly, it can affect the floors and make them unlevel, too.
Natural sinkhole formation
Sometimes, the ground can develop sinkholes. Sinkholes are holes that form in the ground because of things happening underground. If a sinkhole forms near or under your home, it can cause unlevel floors inside.
Structure settling
Over time, the structure of your house can settle. This means that the house slowly sinks or shifts. When this happens, the floors can become uneven.
Foundation cracks
If the foundation of your house develops cracks, it can lead to unlevel floors. Cracks in the foundation can make the house less stable, affecting the floors and making them uneven.
To address the causes of unlevel floors effectively, LUX Foundation Solutions offers comprehensive solutions tailored to your specific needs. Our team of experts will conduct a thorough inspection, identify the underlying causes, and recommend the most suitable repair methods.
Our Solutions
One solution to fix an unlevel floor caused by damaged, warped or twisted floor joists involves floor joist sistering. This process involves attaching new joists alongside the existing ones to reinforce their structural integrity and level the floor. The new joists should be the same size and dimension as the existing ones and be attached using construction adhesives and screws.
This solution is an effective way to fix an uneven floor caused by faulty or deteriorating joists. It ensures a level and stable foundation for your flooring system.
To fix severely unlevel floors, one effective solution is using slab piers. Slab piers are installed beneath the foundation to lift and stabilize uneven areas. The process involves:
- Drilling small holes in the affected areas.
- Inserting steel piers through the holes.
- Hydraulically lifting the foundation to the desired level.
The piers are then secured, providing long-term stability and preventing further settlement. This method addresses the underlying issue causing the unevenness and ensures a durable, level floor surface.
If the main beam in your basement is rotting and causing an unlevel floor, the most effective solution would be to replace the beam. Main beam replacement involves removing and replacing the old beam with a new one that is properly secured and supported.
Replacing the main beam is necessary to ensure the structural integrity of your home and prevent further damage. It is not a DIY project and should be done by a professional contractor like Lux Foundation Solution. The process typically involves:
- Jacking up the surrounding areas of the floor relieves the weight on the beam.
- Removing the old beam.
- Installing the new beam.
- Properly supporting and securing the new beam in its place.
It is important to address this issue as soon as possible to prevent further damage and potential safety hazards. Not addressing the issue may result in further damage to your home’s foundation, which can be very costly to repair.
Prevent Unlevel Floor Problems — Schedule Your Free Foundation Repair Estimate Today!
If you’ve noticed that your floors feel bouncy and unlevel, you should contact LUX Foundation Solution. Our team of experts will carefully examine your home’s foundation to check for any damage, such as floors that are not level, sinking, or bouncy.
We’re here to provide foundation repair services in Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, North Central Virginia, West Virginia, and surrounding areas.
We also understand how the hot and humid summers, mild and rainy winters, and soil that drains well in this region can affect your home’s foundation. Don’t ignore unlevel floors that can be both unsafe and unattractive. Contact us today or fill out our online estimate request form to schedule a free, on-site estimate to start safeguarding your home for many years to come!
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FAQ's
While floor sloping is often seen as an aesthetic concern, it is essential to recognize that it can indicate a more serious underlying problem. Sloping floors may be a sign of substantial structural damage to the foundation of a house, warped floor joists, or water damage that necessitates foundation repairs.
Therefore, it is crucial to address unlevel floors promptly to prevent further complications and ensure the stability and safety of the building. Consulting with foundation repair professionals is highly recommended to assess the issue and implement appropriate solutions accurately.
Generally, floors with a slope of ¼ inch or less deviation are considered within acceptable limits and usually not a cause for concern. However, if floors sag ½ inch or more, it can indicate a more serious underlying issue like foundation problems or water damage.
Other warning signs to look out for include cracked or warped flooring, gaps between baseboards and floors, and doors that don’t close properly. These can all indicate that your home’s foundation is no longer level, leading to structural problems and even safety hazards.
If you’re unsure if your uneven floors are cause for concern, it’s best to consult with a professional contractor who can assess the situation and provide guidance on how to proceed.
Ignoring the problem or attempting to fix it yourself can ultimately lead to more costly repairs down the road. Ultimately, it’s essential to prioritize your home’s safety and integrity by addressing unlevel floors as soon as possible.
The cost of fixing uneven floors can vary depending on several factors. The extent of the unevenness, the underlying cause, and the chosen repair method all contribute to the overall cost. For minor leveling issues, the cost can range from $5,000-$10,000, whereas a major issue that requires foundation repair can cost upwards of $30,000.
Other factors that can impact the cost of fixing uneven floors include the location, accessibility of the affected area for repairs, and the contractor hired to do the job. It is advisable to consult with professionals who can assess the specific situation and provide an accurate estimate based on the required repairs.
Repairing an uneven floor is important for several reasons:
- It can be a tripping hazard, which can lead to serious injuries.
- An uneven floor can make it difficult to move furniture or appliances around and can even cause damage to them.
- It can detract from the home’s overall aesthetic and make it less appealing.
- An uneven floor can also point to more serious structural issues in the home, such as foundation problems, which can be costly to fix if left untreated.
Therefore, it is essential to repair an uneven floor as soon as possible to ensure the safety and longevity of your home.