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.
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.
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.
Uneven floors in a house are usually a sign of a foundation problem, but not always.
Dips and bumps in a floor can be caused by many factors, but whatever the reason for their existence, one thing is certain: you won't be able to install the flooring correctly until the uneven floor has been fixed. The best and simplest way to do this is by applying a self-levelling compound.
Use an underlayment, floor leveler or floor patch product to fix low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor. An underlayment is a thin layer of material sandwiched between two other materials. It's used to help insulate, absorb sound and reduce wear on your floor. It can also serve as a vapor barrier.
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.
Average Cost to Level the Floor in a House
On average, you are looking at about $3 – $5 per square foot.
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.
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)
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).
Forgetting to level the subfloor
The subfloor must be level before installing laminate flooring. If the subfloor is leveled, the laminate planks will not lay properly, causing uneven and unsightly floors. If the subfloor is not level, you can use a self-leveling compound to level it out.
Both vinyl and laminate floors are versatile and durable options that can be installed over slightly uneven surfaces. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to clean and maintain, and come in a wide range of patterns and colors so you don't have to sacrifice style for function.
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.
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.
Floor leveling can be done depending what you are trying to accomplish. You do not need to remove the units and can reduce the load to unscrew the legs.
Self-leveling compound products can be used on concrete floors, wood subfloors that are uneven but still in decent shape, and even over ceramic tile floors—eliminating the task of tearing out the old tiles. Check to ensure that the product you purchase is compatible with your floor.
There are self-leveling coatings designed to fill gaps and cracks. You could also try using vinyl floor tiles to make the transition more gradual. Probably the easiest (and cheapest) thing to do would be to get a big diamond grinding wheel and bevel down the lip.
Sloping Floors Caused by Foundation Settlement Issues
Over time, foundations sink into incompetent, non-load-bearing soil, causing the interior floor to slope or slant. This weak soil is referred to as expansive soil because it e x p a n d s when there is excess moisture and shrinks when the moisture dries out.
A wood floor joist will deflect or sag near the center of the joist under the weight of the flooring and furniture. When a joist sags, the end that is past the center beam will be pushed up in an action similar to a teeter-totter. It's the end of the joist being pushed up that causes the hump.
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.
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.