Sloping floors
A sloping floor in an older home is not an unusual occurrence but could be if found in a home as new as 15 to 30 years old. A few basic things to consider when evaluating sloping floors include:
- The age of the home
- Whether cracks are superficial
- Degree of the slope
Sloping floors are most often caused by normal and acceptable aging of the floor joists. Because wood is a natural material, it tends to bend (or “deflect”) over a prolonged period of time and can result in a slight slope in the floor that is supported by the joists. This is a normal part of the aging process, and often does not signify a major problem. The odds that a given floor will experience some sloping are affected by many factors, but old age is the most common primary cause. If, however, you are experiencing pronounced sloping, it could be an indication of a structural problem that needs attention by a professional.
When factoring in the age of the home, the older the home the less concern a sloping floor should cause. You would reasonably expect to see a sloped floor in an 80 year old home before you would expect to see the same in a new home (less than 10 years old), for instance. Floors that dip in the middle are usually not cause for concern, as they are likely due to a non-structurally significant joist bend, whereas a floor that is sloped or tilted in one direction may indicate a load bearing wall problem or a more serious foundation issue.
Hairline cracks
If your floors are tilting or sloping, you may also notice hairline cracks in some of the walls. This could be indicative of a larger problem, especially if there are diagonal crack patterns that extend from the top corners of doorways. If there is a bathroom next to a room with sloping floors, check the condition of the wall tiles. Ceramic tiles are good indicators of movement. If the bathroom has been recently remodeled and there are large cracks, movement may have worsened since the new bathroom was installed. Misaligned windows and doors are another good indication that any visible cracks may be proof of foundation problems rather than normal settling due to the age of the home.
A professional foundation repair company like Advanced Foundation Repair can spot issues before they become major problems and provide you with an affordable solution. You can trust our precise inspections to identify if sloping floors and hairline cracks are a result of the normal aging process or if you have a problem that needs to be addressed by our foundation specialists. We offer payment and financing options for homeowners, and Advanced Pro-Lift Technology to correct your foundation problems. No one matches our lifetime transferrable warranty or friendly customer service. If your home has sloping floors and/or hairline cracks in the walls or foundation, contact us today for a no obligation consultation and free quote.