Solutions for Sagging Floors in Nashville & Cookeville, TN
SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR HOME!
Are sagging floors becoming a concern in your Nashville or Cookeville-area home? Don’t fret; Barrier Waterproofing Systems has the expertise and solutions you need to address this issue effectively. A sagging floor can not only affect the aesthetics of your home but also signal potential structural problems. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the common causes of sagging floors, signs that your foundation might be compromised, and the top-notch solutions offered by the foundation repair and basement waterproofing experts at Barrier Waterproofing Systems. Let’s get started!
WHY DO I HAVE A SAGGING FLOOR?
Your home’s structural integrity relies on a solid foundation, and sagging floors can be a sign that something isn’t quite right. Here are some common causes of sagging floors:
Sagging Floor Joists/ Floor Joist Damage
Floor joists are essential for supporting the weight of your floors. However, over time, floor joist damage can occur due to wood-eating insects (such as termites and carpenter ants) old age, and more, leaving you with sagging or sloping floors. In some circumstances, you may also encounter issues if the floor joists were cut improperly at the beginning of construction. Whatever the reason may be for your damaged or sagging joists, these structural beams are an essential part of your home, and it’s vital to have professionals repair and reinforce them ASAP.
Other Sagging Beams in Crawl Space or Basement Areas
While damage to your main floor joists can result in serious structural issues, damaged wood in other areas can also spell trouble. Sister joists, wooden shims, and other essential parts of the structure that holds up your crawl space or basement can also be vulnerable to insect damage, wear and tear, and wood rot, especially given the large number of older homes in Middle Tennessee. If we catch these problems early before lasting harm is done, we may be able to fix a sagging floor with minimal foundation work.
Issues With Sill Plate
The sill plate is a critical component that connects your home’s foundation to the wooden framework. If the sill plate is compromised, the first sign may be an uneven floor in your basement or first-floor areas. Your best course of action is to contact our crew so we can make structural repairs to your sill plate and the surrounding support posts.
Uneven Foundation
Everything from tree roots to soil conditions to standing water can create an uneven foundation over time. A foundation wall that is not level can shift the structure of your home. Consequently, you can end up with sagging floor joists that provide inadequate support for your basement or crawl space. While this can happen to a variety of building types, older homes built on a shallow slab foundation are particularly vulnerable to this problem.
Plumbing Leaks
Water leaks can wreak havoc on floor joists, since excessive exposure to water can create wood rot. While the problem may not be apparent at first, structural damage to your floor joists can eventually result in a sagging floor. (This is one of the reasons plumbing professionals recommend homeowners never install pipes themselves!) If you have ever had a problem with burst pipes, excess moisture in your HVAC ducts, or a similar leakage issue in the past, call our foundation repair experts for a complementary assessment.
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SIGNS YOUR FOUNDATION MIGHT BE COMPROMISED
Identifying the signs of a compromised foundation early on is crucial in preventing more significant issues. Here are some indicators that you should be on the lookout for:
- Windows and doors that stick or are hard to open
- Uneven or sloping floors
- Basement or crawl space walls cracking or splitting
- Nail pops in walls and ceilings
- Spaces between window or door frames and the surrounding wall
- Sinking floor joists or sagging basement support beams
- Insect or other pest damage to floor joists
- Excessively “bouncy” or squeaky floors
- Concrete slab sinking or cracked up
- Caulk lines separating around cabinets and counters
BARRIER WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS OFFERS SOLUTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING
Uneven floors and damaged floor joists not only decrease property values, but create safety hazards. What you need is a permanent solution to re-leveling your floor. By installing a series of stabilizers that are adjustable, the structure can be lifted and supported evenly, reducing damage to the structure.
When you notice sagging floors or any of the signs mentioned above, it’s essential not to ignore them. It’s crucial to repair these issues promptly is crucial to prevent further damage to your home and ensure the safety of your family.
At Barrier Waterproofing Systems, we offer a range of proven solutions to fix sagging floors and restore the structural integrity of your home. Here are some of the methods we employ:
Crawl Spaces
If you have a sagging floor in your crawl space, we may recommend our Grip-Tite Stabilizer system. This reliable and heavy-duty solution is an ideal way to permanently fix sagging floors within crawl spaces. The Grip-Tite Stabilizer levels and stabilizes existing support beams and floor joists with minimal disturbance to surrounding areas.
SINKING SLABS
The slab pier system reinforces sagging floor joists by shoring up your concrete slab foundation with steel hydraulic piers that are driven into stable soil. You can expect your foundation to be re-leveled and stabilized without the mess of replacement. Our system can be installed year-round in just a few days, even in limited-access areas.
CONCRETE REPLACEMENT
Concrete replacement doesn’t fix sagging floor joists by itself, but it’s an essential part of stabilizing compromised foundations, basements, and crawl spaces. We offer many different concrete options for your basement or crawl space, including slick finish and decorative styles. We take care of the entire project, using plastic covering and fans to ventilate and minimize dust. In order to prevent water damage and effectively waterproof the space, we install a state-of-the-art vapor barrier below the new slab, bringing your house in compliance with today’s building codes.
SLABJACKING
This technique uses a mixture of water, sand, and Portland cement, which creates a mud mixture, better known as “slurry.” Small holes are drilled strategically in the existing settled concrete, then slurry is pumped into the voids below it to raise the sunken concrete back to its original position. This is one of the more common methods of foundation repair in some parts of the country; however, it is not always the right solution in middle Tennessee. When used to fix a sagging floor in certain situations, slabjacking can do more harm than good due to the extensive potential movement that can occur within and around your foundation. While specific circumstances may necessitate slabjacking, our repair team will need to assess the underlying problem(s) with your basement or crawl space before we recommend using it to fix sagging floors.
FIX SAGGING FLOORS ASAP!
Whether you’ve noticed minor floor and wall cracks or large-scale sagging, floor issues aren’t something to mess around with. Don’t wait to repair sagging floors in your Nashville or Cookeville, TN, home, or you could wind up with an even worse problem on your hands. Contact Barrier Waterproofing Systems today for expert solutions to fix sagging floors, support the structure of your home, and ensure a safe and stable living environment for you and your family. Our experienced foundation repair experts are ready to assess your situation and provide tailored solutions to address your unique needs, whether you have an old house with multiple foundation problems or you’ve recently completed construction and are encountering issues with your newly finished floor.
Don’t let sagging floor joists or a deteriorating concrete foundation compromise the beauty and safety of your home. Your most important investment deserves repair performed by the best in the business, and you can trust Barrier Waterproofing Systems to get the job done right! Give us a call today for a free consultation and inspection, and we’ll see you soon.
