Uneven floors in a house are usually a sign of a foundation problem, but not always.
Uneven floors are rarely caused by problems with the floor itself. The cause is usually settling or shifting of the foundation underneath the floors. If the floor beams and joists are made from wood, like the ones above a crawl space, they will usually bend rather than crack.
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. But there can be other reasons for uneven floors.
Uneven floors are responsible for countless injury-causing falls each year. Whether it's a case of warped hardwood or bunched up carpeting, an uneven floor surface can spell danger for just about any unsuspecting person nearby.
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) Subfloors must be structurally sound.
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.
Use A Self-Leveling Compound
The best solution for uneven flooring is a latex floor screed. It is a powder mix that you can pour down on the uneven flooring and let it settle down by itself. Then you can use the wooden screen to even out the floor.
Floors that sag 2 inches or more in 20 feet, though, are a cause for concern. Additional indicators of a significant problem include: Foundation cracks. Differential settlement of foundation or slab.
Although no subfloor is perfectly level, you should always try to get it as perfectly level as possible. This is important especially if you are installing very thin, flexible flooring like luxury vinyl tile (LVT).
Many homes older than 15 years tend to experience some sort of foundation issue or settlement. Slab, basement, and crawl space foundations are all at risk of settlement, which can cause your floors to warp, bend, and become uneven.
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.
For homes where this is the case, the subfloors likely need to be replaced. According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, the cost to replace a subfloor ranges from $428 to $2,978, with a national average of $572.
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.
Yes, but it is not that straightforward and it is a very slow. It is unlikely that your will home completely collapse all at once. Foundation issues are a slow moving problem but just remember just because the problem does not seem to warrant immediate action that it's not a serious structural issue.
Average Cost to Level the Floor in a House
On average, you are looking at about $3 – $5 per square foot.
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.
Owners of old homes might learn to experience springy or slanting floors as part of the charm, but they are signs of structural damage. As a home buyer, look at whether the floors pitch at all or take a piece of string to test the floor's deflection.
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.
What Happens if You Don't Fix Sagging Floors? If you ignore sagging floors, it can lead to consequences such as property damage that your insurance company may not cover. It can also lead to injury when someone trips or falls on uneven floors, or even property loss if the damage is great enough.
If the floor sags more than a few inches, it may collapse completely, putting everyone in your house in danger. Sagging floors can also cause misalignment of doors and windows, making them harder to open and close. Sagging floors can even crack the walls of your home in extreme circumstances.
Underlayment can help smooth things out, though, but the type you choose will vary depending on your specific reasoning for wanting an even subfloor. That can make choosing the right one for you rather tricky, so here's a quick guide that should lend a helping hand in getting the best underlayment for uneven subfloors.
A damaged foundation and damaged floor joist are often the leading cause of uneven and sloping floors in an old house. Foundation damage can come from dump crawlspace, aged or poor design, and craftsmanship, resulting in a foundation too weak to hold up your house's weight, especially when you have a wood floor.
A full replacement costs $5,000 to $20,000. If you're only repairing individual joists, expect to pay $100 to $300 per joist.