Sagging Floors? Understanding the Causes and Solutions

TL:DR

A gap between the baseboard and the floor, a noticeable slope, or a "spongy" bounce when walking across a room are not merely cosmetic annoyances. These are clear indicators of structural instability within the crawl space.

Unfortunately, sagging or sloping floors are a progressive issue. They often signal a failure in the home's foundation that will worsen over time without intervention. Serious foundation settlement can occur immediately following construction or develop years later as the soil supporting your home shifts and changes.

The Physics Behind the Sag

To understand the solution, one must understand the cause. In a typical crawl space, the weight of the structure is supported by columns (piers) made of block, brick, or wood. Structural failure generally stems from three primary issues:

• Support Settlement: The soil beneath the columns may lack the bearing capacity to hold the home’s weight. As the soil compresses or washes away, the columns sink, causing the floor above to dip.
• Improper Spacing: If support columns are spaced too far apart, the spanning beam (girder) cannot handle the load, resulting in a ripple effect of sagging joists.
• Wood Rot and Deterioration: Crawl spaces are naturally damp environments. Exposure to moisture and humidity causes wooden pillars and beams to rot, compress, and lose their ability to bear weight.

The Engineering Standard for Repair

Historical methods of repair, such as adding concrete shims or replacing wood with wood, are temporary fixes that fail to address the root cause.

At Frontier Foundation & Crawl Space Repair, we utilize the SmartJack® Crawl Space Stabilizer, an industry-leading solution designed to permanently stabilize and level failing floor joists. Unlike traditional concrete or wood supports, the SmartJack® system is engineered from high-strength, galvanized steel. This ensures the supports are immune to rot, rust, and corrosion.

The system is fully adjustable, allowing our specialists to not only halt the settling but, in many cases, lift the floors back to their original position. Each support is installed on a solid base of engineered fill, efficiently transferring the weight of the home to competent soil layers and supporting vertical loads exceeding 60,000 pounds.

Restoring Safety and Value

Structural integrity is not a DIY project. It requires the expertise of a dedicated foundation contractor. Frontier Foundation & Crawl Space Repair offers a comprehensive approach, often pairing stabilization with encapsulation to eliminate the moisture that caused the initial damage. Our confidence in this engineered solution is backed by industry-leading warranties, ensuring your home remains stable for the life of the structure.

The process begins with a comprehensive, no-obligation inspection to identify the specific structural deficits in your home. To restore safety and peace of mind, schedule your inspection today!