Sometimes, moisture can cause lifting floor tiles. Often, the moisture can come up through the concrete. It pushes the tiles upward and makes them appear to be lifted. The moisture could also be from leaking or a plumbing problem.
If your planks are absorbing excess moisture, they can swell and take up more room, thus lifting from the floor. First, find the source of the water. This could be a leak in the ceiling or wall, or it may simply be excess moisture in the home.
Signs of a Significant Problem
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.
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.
The pressure built up by a shifting substrate can result in tiles pushing against each other, building pressure to a point that the glue adhering the tile to the substrate gives way, and the tiles 'pop' up, often in a tenting formation, like the image above.
The main reason for this is the loss of the adhesive bond between the tile and floor typically resulting from the use of conventional cement paste which has for many years been the preferred method for placing and fixing tiles.
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.
Some of the common concerns include foundation crumbling or sinking, floor cracking, gaps in the foundation, sloping floors, wall cracks, a leaning chimney and doors that stick.
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.
While sagging floors are unsightly, they can be dangerous as well. A sagging floor means that it has lost support, and it may eventually collapse into lower levels of the home. The overall structure of your home could be at risk, therefore making repairs a priority is imperative.
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.
A buckling wood floor “happens” when the floor gets separated from the subfloor. It is often accompanied by cupping or swelling. The edges of each wood plank could curl up, resembling a cup, or the middle section might begin to swell.
Sagging or bouncy floors problems are often caused by a weak floor joist that has sagged under the load of people walking on the floor above. If the issue is caused by just one or two joists, you can probably handle it yourself by attaching a “sister joist” to the original ones.
Most of us probably mean something similar; we equate “settling” with minor shifts of our home. These shifts occur as the soil under the house adjusts to accommodate the building's weight and the ever-changing weather conditions. But in truth, a settling foundation IS a foundation problem- when it moves too much.
You may first notice that the surface feels unstable (some homeowners describe the feeling as “spongy”) when you walk on it. Cracks in walls or floor: The most noticeable signs of foundation problems are cracks on the interior walls and floors. Usually, foundation issues cause diagonal cracks in the drywall or cement.
Uneven or sloping floors are very common in older homes, and while it's often a sign of structural damage, it doesn't have to be a dealbreaker.
Uneven floors pose a serious risk of slips, trips, stumbles and falls. Our feet instinctively know to expect even and consistent flooring. Have you ever walked onto uneven flooring? It's a jarring experience, even if you don't fall down.
One of the primary causes of uneven floors is foundation issues. If the foundation of your home is unstable or has settled over time, it can cause the floors to become uneven. This is particularly common in older homes that were built on pier and beam foundations.
Squeaking, popping, and crunching sounds can have a variety of causes: Old age of the floor and/or structure. Wood flooring installed while not in equilibrium with the end-use environment. Incorrectly milled flooring that has loose tongue and groove engagement.
If you already have hardwood flooring and your floors squeak and pop, you might try the old remedy… baby powder or powdered graphite. Placing these powders down between the planks helps to eliminate the squeak in some cases but is typically not a long term fix.
This is typically either a nail rubbing or a loose subfloor panel. If you have access from below, locate the squeaky area as someone steps on the floor from above. Check to see if any nails missed the joist in the location of the noise.