The Causes of Uneven & Sagging Floors
Are the floors of your home noticeably uneven or sloping? Some homeowners disregard uneven floors and chalk it up to being one of the charms of owning an older home. Chances are that if your floors are sinking or sloping, you may have also noticed other issues in your house, such as drywall cracks and jammed doors. This is because oftentimes the floor itself is not the issue. There is something else at play in the home that is causing these problems.
It’s a good idea to have a specialist assess your home’s sloped and sagging floors and see what, if anything, needs to be repaired. The problem is likely to be the result of one or more of the following causes:
Poor Structural Design & Damage to the Foundation
As a homeowner, it may not be obvious that the foundation holds a lot of power when it comes to your home’s floors. However, one of the major causes of uneven floors is a damaged foundation, whether it be from poor structural design or wear and tear over time.
If your base was built improperly, it may not be strong enough to support your home. This results in your floors warping, cracking, or unevenness. An old house’s foundation inevitably deteriorates over time. Joists, floors, and walls can warp as it deteriorates, resulting in more serious issues such as cracks and breaks in the floor or foundation.
Soil Movement
It can’t be helped that soil moves over time. Soil expands when it’s wet and shrinks when it’s day. When this occurs, it can cause your foundation to move and therefore your floors as well. Builders must compact the soil underneath a house or building before laying the foundation. This keeps the foundation in place and keeps the structure from settling and shifting over time. If the soil is not as dense as it should be, it can result in moving and uneven floors.
Extra Moisture
The most common cause of an uneven floor is excess moisture or water damage. Excess moisture or water in a house will cause the wooden beams and sub-flooring to warp, causing damage to your flooring.
On top of directly damaging the floors, excess moisture in the crawl space creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew thrive on organic materials like wood and can grow on the wood materials that are supporting your home, leading to wood rot. This in turn damages the structural integrity of your home and can cause the structure to shift or slope.
Not only this, but moisture can damage the foundation of your home which in turn affects your flooring. This is especially true in New Jersey where water can freeze and expand in the winter months. A foundation with cracks in it invites water into the home and the foundation itself, leaving it vulnerable to moving, shifting, and cracking even more. Being that the floors of your home are supported by the foundation, it can also cause your floors to shift, move, or slope.
Working with Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement
Whether you’re a homeowner already or looking to buy a home, you should never ignore uneven or sloping floors. Floors that are sagging, sloping, or buckling are signs of a much larger problem that could lead to more severe (and costly) problems in the future. Fixing the issue earlier rather than later would save you money and keep your house from further deterioration.
Regardless of the conditions within the crawl space, we can help! Our systems are designed with the challenges of living here on the Jersey Shore in mind. Prior to any action being taken, we offer a comprehensive crawl space evaluation to monitor the moisture conditions within your crawl space, all the while ensuring that your home is not at risk for common issues such as poor drainage.
We perform this evaluation 3 times throughout the year to stay in front of seasonal issues, monitor the moisture conditions, and service your vents to ensure proper ventilation. With over 20 years of dedicated service for our fellow neighbors here on the shore, trust your crawl space with the Jersey Shore’s Crawlspace pros!
Complete the form below and one of our representatives will be in contact with you shortly to schedule your evaluation.