Fixing Uneven Floors In Old House

On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor.

Fixing uneven floors in old house.

If you are considering a purchase of any home with noticeably sloped floors consider these four factors. Sandwiching the member on either side with plywood is sometimes worthwhile but the plywood must be installed correctly for greatest strength. Even if you re dealing with uneven floors in an old house steadying the foundation should be a top priority. This job can run you 1 000 and 5 000 depending on the extent of the job.

Uneven floors are typical in old houses. Even a slope as great as an eight inch per foot in an 80 year old home may be no problem while any readily discernible slope in a 5 year old house would be reason for concern. You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings. If you have an uneven floor you may need to think about leveling floor joists with shims.

If the uneven floor is due to floor joists that have warped or twisted over time or were incorrectly installed the only way to level the floor is to remove the subflooring and shim the joists. If you re a home buyer seeking that perfect historic or old house uneven floors are something you ll have to deal with sooner or later and even if a home was recently built as it gets older the floors will become less level while you own it. Depending upon the conditions it is possible to strengthen or repair existing framing members such as floor joists or roof rafters by adding reinforcing material. Thre ways to fix a sagging or sloping floor.

Foundation repairs are the most expensive reason for sagging floors in old houses. A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too. You ll need to hire a structural engineer or foundation specialist to jack up and level the house and then shore up your home with pilings beams or even put new footers on the foundation. They all suggest to use floor leveler in the low spots some have even said to add plywood over the top of that and once the floor is close to level put down the hardwood.

Leveling the floor with shims is when you attach thin wedge shaped pieces of wood on top of the low areas of the joists to make the top joists even.