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Uneven Floors and Foundation Problems


uneven-floors-foundation-problems

 

Uneven floors can be the result of several problems. For instance, they can be caused by slopping, sagging, or heaving (lifting) concrete slab. In some cases, repairing an uneven floor is a lengthy and expensive process.

Also, finding the right foundation repair company to do the job can prove to be difficult.

Sloping and sagging floors occur in homes of any age. Most of the time, the homeowners simply ignore the problem or pass it off as a normal part of having an old home. Apart from making it more costly, ignoring the problem can be detrimental down the road.

It is difficult to find out how out of level the floors are unless your house is severely damaged. House or foundation leveling is important because it’ll prevent foundation movement damage to walls, ceilings, roofs and plumbing.

Call 972-412-2171 today to find out about the costs involved in fixing uneven floors. Repairing foundation problems from the get-go will help you avoid more problems and costly repairs in the long run.

Foundation issues develop with all foundation types, including concrete slabs and pier and beam foundations. Oftentimes, calling slab foundation contractors is the best solution for dealing with foundation issues, including uneven floors.

Therefore, if your home has sagging or sloping floors, it’s best to get an evaluation from a professional.

 

How to Determine If a Floor is Level

Roll a large marble across the floor. Does it go downhill or roll straight across the floor? While this is a very unscientific approach to determine exactly how bad your foundation problem is, it’ll quickly allow you to check your floor’s gradient.

It is best to contact a foundation repair professional to know if the floor and foundation of your concrete slab is uneven.

At Granite, our foundation repair professionals use state-of-the-art equipment to accurately determine how out of level your house floors are and to measure your various floor levels. We use Zip levels, which are highly accurate and extremely sensitive.

Call us now to have the problem fixed quickly. If left unattended, the problems could become costly and could take a longer period to get fixed.

 

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Causes of Uneven Floors in the House

A lot of factors can affect your foundation and floors depending on the type of foundation you have whether you have a pier and beam or concrete slab foundation.

The following are the most common causes of uneven floors in concrete slab foundation.

  • Excessive moisture. This is the most common cause. Most of the time this happens when there are plumbing leaks or inadequate foundation draining. This causes clay soil to expand, commonly called heave.
  • Soil movement. Contracting and expanding soil is dangerous to a building’s foundation. In wet conditions, the soil expands, putting extra pressure on the foundation. In drought conditions, the soil shrinks, leaving the foundation without support.
  • Improperly compacted soils under your house. Before the foundation is poured, the soil under your house should be compacted. Settling could occur if the soil is not compacted properly.
  • Settlement can be more pronounced for old homes. As the foundation of the home sinks, it drags the walls, ceiling, and roof.
  • Poor structural design that leads to uneven floor settling. Always hire professionals to guarantee quality workmanship. While it may get you a bargain the first time, poor workmanship can end up costing you boatloads of cash down the road.
  • Current building standards dictate that the floors in any room should not slope beyond 1/240th of the room’s width. Also, finished floors should not have depressions or ridges greater than ¼-inch.
  • Tree roots, which dry out the soil leading to a foundation sagging in the vicinity of the roots

In most cases, piers and beam joist damage or floor sill is linked to things such as:

–   Rot, excessive moisture, and insect damage on wood

–   Support posts spaced too far apart

–   Damage or missing support posts

–   Holes and alterations made to accommodate service lines

  • Foundation problems. Naturally, foundation damage such as cracking and sagging of the foundation every other structural element of the house. Therefore, it’s necessary that the foundation be inspected to find the root cause of the movement.

Besides making your floors uneven, these issues can also cause a whole bunch of other problems. Have them fixed as soon as you begin noticing some signs.

 

Cost to Fix Uneven Floors

The cost of fixing uneven floors depends on the extent of the damage. The bigger the damage, the more costly it is to fix and vice versa.

In the Dallas Fort Worth Area, for example, fixing a foundation costs anywhere between $5,000 and $12,000. For larger buildings such as schools, townhomes and apartment buildings, the cost could be well over $20,000.

Steel piers are inherently more costly than concrete piers. Depending on your short and long-term objectives one might be a better choice over the other. The only sure way to know exactly how much it’ll cost to fix your structure’s uneven floors is by speaking with a professional.

 

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When to Fix Sloping Floors

Like other foundation problems, fixing uneven floors should be done as soon as you notice problems with them. Once you notice any signs of sloping floors, call us immediately.

Granite Foundation Repair is a reputable foundation repair company with vast experience in fixing uneven floors in the Dallas and Fort Worth area. The first thing we do when you call us is perform a foundation inspection, and site inspection.

The inspection helps us determine the root cause. Occasionally, our repair specialist will recommend hiring plumbing services. This helps establish whether or not there are leakages in fresh or grey water lines.

If your house needs foundation repair, you can count on Granite Foundation Repair for help. In case you need concrete or steel piers installed, we can help you with that as well.

 

Floors that are uneven are a sign that your home in Dallas or Fort Worth has a structural problem. If coupled with house settling and poor support design, uneven floors could indicate serious foundation problems.

To get these problems fixed quickly and professionally, call us today for a free foundation estimate.

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