Sinking and Uneven Floors – Causes and Repairs

Most houses are developed with relatively even floors but slope over time because of sinking or sagging floor supports.

In homes with a crawlspace, the outside walls are supported on a continuous footing along the perimeter of the home and the inside walls are supported on footings and piers, which support beams, floor joists, and the subfloor.

If you have sinking and uneven floors, your floor support is inadequate. The only reason things inside the living space of a home drop are because the supports underneath have dropped.

It’s important to accurately diagnose the cause of your sinking uneven floors. There could be multiple causes or any combination for sinking and uneven floors:

1. A support pier has settled
2. The foundation has settled
3. Floor joists or girder beam is sagging and bowing
4. Joists or beams could be rotten
5. Damp joists or beams could be crushed under the weight of the home, aka compression

The best repair varies from home to home. There are many repair techniques we use to properly stabilize the uneven floors and make them feel more even. The main goal should be to prevent further sinking.

The main repairs used to stabilize and correct uneven floors are:

1. New footings and floor supports
2. Supplemental beams
3. Foundation push piers
4. Foundation underpinning
5. Beam replacement
6. Beam reinforcement
7. Sistering floor joists

Our Expert Advisors are trained to identify the causes and best repair options for your home. If you’re concerned about the integrity of your home, we offer free no-obligation inspections and estimates. When we inspect your home, we explain the problems, solutions, and explore multiple options to find the best solution for you.