Depending upon the conditions it is possible to strengthen or repair existing framing members such as floor joists or roof rafters by adding reinforcing material sandwiching the member on either side with plywood is sometimes worthwhile but the plywood must be installed correctly for greatest strength.
If a floor is uneven or sloped in one spot.
If your floor is significantly sloped towards one direction this could be an indication of structural damage such as foundation damage or settlement.
Floor buckling happens most often after a floor has been flooded for an extended period of time.
Fortunately this is not a common occurrence.
The average person can sense if a floor slopes 1 inch in 10 feet and sloping floors or sagging floors are often one of the warning signs that structural engineers look for when analyzing a house.
Direction and nature of slope sloping in one direction.
Read on to find out more about uneven flooring and what it could mean for the state of your renovation.
Floor buckling is the most extreme reaction to moisture in a hardwood floor.
It s not uncommon to find sagging or sloping floors in older homes.
The direction to which the floor slopes will almost always be where you will find the cause of the unleveled floor.
Foundation issues deteriorating wood supports especially sills which rest on the foundation footer improperly installed joists or sub floors and other issues can all cause a floor to slope or sag.
If a load bearing wall is removed on the first floor then the second story floor joist or trusses may drop down in the area where the load bearing wall was removed.
There are several problems that can cause a sagging or sloping floor which is one of the reasons why fixing a sloping floor is difficult.
Common reasons for sloping or sagging second story floors.
Sloping floors are most often caused by normal and acceptable deflection bend in the wood joists which comprise the floor structure.
Load bearing wall removed or altered on first floor.
Although most floors slope it is important to know how much and why.
Sloping or uneven floors are rarely caused by a problem with the floor system itself.
The real question is how big of a problem is that uneven floor hiding.
Sloping uneven floors are a problem that occurs when your foundation has settled or sunk unevenly.
Buckling occurs when the wood flooring actually pulls up from the subfloor lifting several inches in one or more places.
If you can take a ball put it on the floor and it rolls down the sloping surface then there is likely an issue with your foundation.
These signs usually signal a problem with your home s foundation.
The foundation experts at connecticut basement systems have a solution to fix your foundation and your uneven floors.
One thing to check for is an uneven floor in an old house.