Where Did My Uneven Floors and Sticking Doors Come From?
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Settlement In A Home At Any Age Is Not Good
All sagging floors and unlevel floors are caused by inadequate load bearing capacity whether it is due to the wood framing of the floor weakening from moisture and wood destroying fungi, from weak footings that support the CMU piers or a settling foundation.
Settlement in a home at any age is not good and while it may be somewhat common for older homes, it is not good for the health and value of the home.
Most floors in crawl spaces are being supported first by the homes foundation, the concrete piers, then by the main carry beams, and then by the floor joists. The load bearing capacities of these 4 building components also go in this order generally.
The concrete masonry piers can hold more weight than the middle-span of the beam and the middle-span of the main carry beam can hold more weight than the middle-span of the floor joists.
If the home is on soft ground, there are an undermined foundation footing, or the ground shrinks and swells then there can be foundation settlement. If the individual footers for the piers are too weak, the pier will sink.
If the weight over the top of the middle span of the main carry beam is too much and the wood has weakened from wood moisture and fungus, you will see your floors settling and sagging.
The common cause of uneven floors
Crawl space moisture is a common cause of uneven floors. When the wood framing that supports your floors becomes moist, it gets weakened. A common sight during our inspections is ‘compression’ of the floors joists and beams. With crawl space moisture, the wood framing can compress under the heavy weight of the home.
Basically, unlevel floors and doors can be caused by any combination of failing foundation, inadequate structure, an improperly designed home, or a moisture-damaged structure. Fixing these problems requires a professional crawl space repair contractor, specific products and methodologies, and is not recommended for a general contractor or jack of all trades.
Here’s the good news though. It is very possible to get a correction. We can install additional crawl space jacks, supplemental beams, or steel foundation push piers that can make your floors more level, fix doors & windows that are sticking, and permanently stabilize your floors.
Causes of Structural Issues
- Inadequate Load Bearing: Problems occur when the foundation, footings, or wood framing cannot support the home’s weight.
- Moisture & Fungi: Crawl space moisture weakens wood, leading to “compression” where joists and beams flatten under the home’s weight.
- Soil Instability: Settlement can be triggered by soft ground, undermined footings, or soil that shrinks and swells.
- Design Flaws: Overly long spans on floor joists and girder beams often lead to sagging and misalignment.
Common Warning Signs
- Uneven or Sagging Floors: A direct result of weakened support components or a shifting foundation.
- Sticking Doors & Windows: These functional issues are secondary indicators that the home’s frame has shifted out of alignment.
- Visible Damage: Professionals often look for compressed wood or sinking concrete masonry (CMU) piers during inspections.
Professional Solutions
- Structural Reinforcement: Adding supplemental beams or repairing damaged components like sill plates, subfloors, and girder beams.
- Adjustable Support: Installing crawl space jacks to provide stabilized, supplemental lift.
- Foundation Piers: Utilizing steel push piers to permanently stabilize and potentially level a settling foundation.
The Process Of Correcting Uneven Floors And Sticking Doors
- Request a free inspection
- Install additional crawl space jacks
- Add supplemental beams
- Repair damaged floor structure
Crawl Space Issues And Solutions
- Sagging floors are caused by moisture and wood destroying fungi.
- Rotten wood causes structural issues, which need to be fixed.
- Long spans on floor joists & beams often cause uneven floors & sticking doors.
- Settlement in homes is not good for health and value.
Common Questions About Crawl Space Issues
Q: What causes uneven floors and sticking doors? A: Inadequate load bearing capacity due to moisture and wood destroying fungi, weak footings, or a settling foundation. Long spans on floor joists & girder beams often cause uneven floors & sticking doors.
Q: How can crawl space issues be corrected? A: By installing additional crawl space jacks, supplemental beams, or steel foundation push piers. Wood repairs to floor joists, girder beams, sill plates, & subfloor are often needed.
About BAY Crawl Space & Foundation Repair
BAY is an award-winning crawl space and foundation repair contractor. We’re proud to service an 80-mile radius around our Norfolk, VA headquarters Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
BAY is best known for its amazing reviews (quality and quantity), superior expertise, special methods, and affordable pricing options. We have the ‘Best of the Best’ on our team. Our All-Star Team delivers great customer experiences and the best quality for a great price.
Our reputation in the Hampton Roads community, with homeowners, engineers, city permitting offices, home services professionals, and online as a crawl space foundation repair contractor, is outstanding.
Serving Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Yorktown, Poquoson, Smithfield, Williamsburg, Carrollton, Seaford, Isle of Wight, Windsor, Gloucester, and Franklin in Virginia as well as Camden County, South Mills, Elizabeth City, Moyock, Currituck, and Knotts Island in North Carolina.
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