Why Floors Slope and Sag

Have you discovered that your home has bounce, uneven, sloping or even squishy floors? If so, you may be aware that sagging floors are not only inconvenient, but could potentially be signs of a bigger problem in your home. This may 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.

Some of the signs and symptoms of unlevel and unstable floors may be:

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

Causes of Sagging Floors

More than likely, your flooring was strong and level when it was installed. Which may be leaving you to ask, "What caused this problem?" There are three major causes of sagging floors. It is important to understand what is causing the issue so that the proper solution can be applied.

1. Floor joists and girders have weakened.
   1. When there is excessive humidity and moisture in a space because they are not properly sealed from outside elements, the elements can affect the beams in your space. What occurs when wood is exposed to moisture and humidity? It begins to grow mold, decay, and weaken. Due to the weakened girders and floor joists can no longer sustain the weight above, the floor above the basement or crawl space becomes spongey and/or bouncy, and could begin to droop.
2. The columns are too far apart.
   1. When a basement or crawlspace is built, columns are placed throughout the space to support the weight of the structure above. If those columns are spaced too far apart, the main support beam may become overloaded and droop between them. The girder sags with it, as does the floor above.
3. Columns have settled. 
   1. Underlying soil can be weak and cause existing basement and crawl space columns to sink and settle. This can result in a gap between the column and the bottom of the girder it was supporting. The sagging girder and the floors above, sag when the column settles.     

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS!

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms that lead you to believe you may have sagging or sinking floors, call the pros! Liberty Basement Systems offers free inspections & estimates and we are happy to help homeowners understand the full extent of any foundation issues they are experiencing. After scheduling an inspection with our appointment center, one of our System Design Specialists will come to your home to do a thorough investigation of the home's foundation. After the the inspection, our specialist will present their findings, inform you exactly what's causing your issue and provide 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.