4 Easy Ways To Fix Sagging Floors

Floors are the center of beauty in any house. Use of stylish floor décor may significantly improve your interior view. However, with time, your floor may begin to sag and become unleveled. The scenario may be too conspicuous to overlook. Sagging of floors is one of the problems of floating flooring and may seriously deprive you of your comfort. Fortunately, the situation is not far out of hand, and you can quickly fix it at home. Well, before we look into how to fix sagging floors, it is imperative to know what causes sagging floors.

 

Causes of Sagging Floors

1. Faulty floor support structure design

Poor structural support is the most common cause of sagging floors. When your floor joists start to bend downwards due to pressure and weight of the overlying material, your floor will start sagging. The best way to fix sagging floor joists is by installing new support structures such as jacks. You should place each jack appropriately while minding the bearing weight and the strategic location of the joist.

2. Moisture problem

Find out if the sagging of your floor is due to the moisture problem. If so, you should learn how to dry out your crawl space. You can fix the moisture issue by sealing the leaks from the outside elements and drying out the crawl space. Solving the moisture problem addresses the sagging problem.

3. Settlement weight

If your floor sags due to the settlement weight, you should install many jacks to support the massive weight. Depending on the extent of the occurrence, you can reinforce the foundation by use of push piers to keep the foundation stable and safe.

How To Fix Sagging Floors In A House

Massive floor sags are no-brainer to identify; it will be vivid. Therefore, the following steps will guide you on how to fix sagging floors in an old house.

1. Troubleshoot

The first step to locate the area of sag for easy rectification is troubleshooting. Saggy floors are noticeable, but you will still take measurements from the floor to the ceiling across the entire floor. The data collected will help you to know precisely the points of sag and decide on the suitable method to fix it. Even though the standard building codes allow for a certain degree of sinking, you should repair noticeable sags.

Alternatively, you can use carpenter’s level placed on a four-feet 2-by-2-inch board to check the extent of the sag. However, you can also use a small rolling ball or bottle on the surface and check on the direction as well as the speed of rolling. For massive sags, the object will move faster.

2. Underfloor examination

You should get under the floor with a bright flash-light to examine the floor from below. Check on breakages which may appear on the joists. It is important to note that joists with their crown side facing down will always tend to sag as time goes by. To fix the problem, you will have to obtain some temporary and adjustable columns to reinforce the joists.

3. Footings and post support

Make a concrete footing to give support to the joists and hold them back. For your concrete foundations to be firm, you should dig down 2 feet deep and insert your footing support pillar.  The depth, width, and height of the footings will depend on the standard building codes and the overlying load. Also, you can add a support beam with columns remaining in place. Ensure you level the ground before installing the bricks and support piers.

4. Install girders and sister joists

Install a new sister joist to support the old beams and provide the strength needed. Alternatively, you can add a girder perpendicular to the sagging beam but underneath the floor and beam. Ensure you mark the crown of the beam to avoid future sag as a result of the beam being upside-down. Always install a joist with its high side facing up.

The above methods are useful on to fix sagging floors in the old house.  If you are are not sure of how to undertake the activity, you’d better hire qualified and skilled personnel to help fix your sagging floor. However, avoid using green wood as it may dry and shrink, thus making your floor uneven.