Even in newer homes, plywood subfloors and concrete slabs are rarely flat. High and low spots can affect the look of a finished floor, interfere with the installation, and even lead to material failure, especially in tile floors.
As mentioned above, it's common to find slanted floors in a house more than 15 years old due to the home's foundation shifting over time. However, the uneven floor may be an indicator of a larger, unseen problem with the house.
No subfloor is perfectly level, but any signs of unevenness and high or low spots must be remedied. Please follow these requirements: Subfloor unevenness cannot be greater than 3/16 of an inch over a 10-foot span or 1/8 inch over a 6-foot span. Subfloors must not slope more than ½ inch per 6 feet (25 mm per 1.8 m)
In some cases, a slight slope may be normal and not cause for concern. However, if the slope is severe or getting worse over time, it could be a sign of a serious problem that requires immediate attention. One potential risk of sloping floors is damage to the structural integrity of the home.
For new homes, slabs are supposed to be no more than 1.5 inches out of level. This standard comes from the American Concrete institute. Once a house moves, the goal of leveling is to get the house back to where it was before it began to move.
Uneven floors are most common in old homes because the home's foundation shifts over time. For example, it may take about 15-20 years for a foundation to shift and the floors to become uneven.
Check for signs of slanting, sagging or rising spots in the flooring, particularly on your home's ground level. You may see bulging tiles or exposed concrete. If your home has sloped floors, there are some things to look for that will help determine how serious the issue is.
Uneven floors in a house are usually a sign of a foundation problem, but not always.
The typical costs for repairing sagging floors start at $1000 and can go up to $10,000, with the average rate being around $300 per square foot. But this can vary depending on the extent of the damage and materials needed to get the job done.
Many homeowners and owners of commercial property have dealt with a sagging floor. Floors can sag for many reasons. For instance, they may sag due to the natural settling of your property or building materials over time. However, a sagging floor may also signify damage from water leaks or pests, like termites.
Most flooring manufacturers recommend a variation of no more than 3/16 inch over a 10-foot span. Floor leveling is a relatively easy DIY project, although some subfloors with rot, insect damage, or structural issues may require professional attention.
One of the best ways to fix the issue of uneven floor is to use floor patch product. It can be used in concrete subfloor or wooden subfloor. It is best for leveling floors that has dips, slanting issues, cracks and chipping problems.
Sometimes the materials your home was built from, especially if it's an older home, wear out and lead to uneven flooring. This often happens in the floor joists or subfloor, as they are most susceptible to rot or insect damage. They are also very high-pressure aspects of a home and hold much of the structure together.
Instead, hiring a flooring repair contractor may be the better option, especially when it comes to leveling floors in old houses. Homeowners can expect to pay between $2 and $30 per square foot of professional floor leveling, depending on the required approach.
Sagging floors are a sign of serious damage to the joists beneath your home and the structure of your home overall. Left untended, this can lead to injury, property loss, and disaster. Worse, insurance companies often will not pay for such losses or repairs if you ignored the issue once the early signs became visible.
Does home insurance cover foundation movement or sagging floors? Foundation damage caused by shifting or settling earth or sagging floors caused by rotting floor joists are typically not covered by homeowners insurance. If the damage is caused by flooding or an earthquake, you'll typically require separate coverage.
The best flooring for uneven floors due to its attractiveness and durability is epoxy, which can also be designed to mimic a wide variety of appearances. Not only will epoxy finish out the floor, but it'll also even it out.
It can be heartbreaking, but sometimes your only real choice when dealing with foundation issues is to walk away. If the seller won't make repairs, the damage is too extensive or you can't wait for repairs to be completed, you may have no choice but to give up and find your next dream house.
If your floor begins to become uneven or is dipping in some places then this is very likely a foundation issue. No matter how much your house settles, it will probably never impact the floor like this.
The degree to which your floor slopes or sags indicates whether or not you have reason for concern. Typically, floors that slope 1-1/2 inches or less in 20 feet is not a problem. Floors that sag 2 inches or more in 20 feet, though, are a cause for concern.
The average house leveling project can be completed in under a few days. The good news is you don't have to leave your home while the repairs are being done. It would be best if you still moved any outside furniture or pottery away from your foundation before the work starts.
If the subfloor is uneven, with dips, ripples, or waves, this irregularity will be telescoped through to the surface floor covering and can even cause the flooring installation to fail. For example, ceramic tile installed over a bad subfloor can result in cracking grout or broken tiles.