Sagging Floor On Second Story

Although most floors slope it is important to know how much and why.

Sagging floor on second story.

A taut string stretched across the floor will show the amount of deflection and improvement. I have discovered sections of my second level floor are uneven i know this can be caused by. The beam is right in the middle of the garage and divides the floor above it into two halfs each supported by its own joists on 16 centers. The solution to sagging floors or the damaged sills and joist ends that contribute to them often involves jacking.

I have discovered signs of settlement in the garage there s a big gap between the base concrete and the wall and i have discovered discoloration on the first floor ceiling right beneath the sagging floor on the second level. Termites can rot or damage the joists typically made of wood rendering the pieces unable to hold up the floor. Structurally the building is sound exterior walls are straight as a ruler and main beam is fine. Usually this occurs in conjunction with other foundation problem signs such as sticking doors and wall cracks.

Common reasons for sloping or sagging second story floors. The average person can sense if a floor slopes 1 inch in 10 feet and sloping floors or sagging floors are often one of the warning signs that structural engineers look for when analyzing a house. To prevent the collapse of your second story or injury from falling through a rotten floor you must repair the joists as soon as possible. Proper repairs often require a contractor or structural engineer.

Our 1886 townhouse has some serious 2nd floor sagging. The first and second floors in our house seem overly bouncy and sag toward the middle. If the floor is sagging visibly in the middle or is very bouncy you may want to reinforce the floor to eliminate the sag and reduce the bounciness. A common scenario is to install temporary jack posts and support beams then permanent posts and beams over new footings.

Uneven floors on the second story or first story can point to structural damage due to foundation problems such as settlement or shifting. But in the 2nd floor hallway which is smack dab in the center there s quite a serious dip and the rooms alongside it have slanty floors as a result. Load bearing wall removed or altered on first floor.