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.
Fixing uneven floors in old house.
You ll need to hire a structural engineer or foundation specialist to jack up and level the house and then shore up your home with pilings beams or even put new footers on the foundation.
Even a slope as great as an eight inch per foot in an 80 year old home may be no problem while any readily discernible slope in a 5 year old house would be reason for concern.
On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor.
Uneven floors are typical in old houses.
A jes foundation repair consultant can perform an inspection and let you know what s causing your sinking floor.
Thre ways to fix a sagging or sloping floor.
Foundation repairs are the most expensive reason for sagging floors in old houses.
If the uneven floor is due to floor joists that have warped or twisted over time or were incorrectly installed the only way to level the floor is to remove the subflooring and shim the joists.
They all suggest to use floor leveler in the low spots some have even said to add plywood over the top of that and once the floor is close to level put down the hardwood.
Leveling the floor with shims is when you attach thin wedge shaped pieces of wood on top of the low areas of the joists to make the top joists even.
A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too.
Even if you re dealing with uneven floors in an old house steadying the foundation should be a top priority.
You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings.
Sandwiching the member on either side with plywood is sometimes worthwhile but the plywood must be installed correctly for greatest strength.
Expect to find more slopes in an older home.
If you are considering a purchase of any home with noticeably sloped floors consider these four factors.
How old is the home.