The COVID-19 pandemic has left many of us housebound, and one way to try and alleviate stress is to stay busy. Fortunately, the extra time at home creates the ideal opportunity for home inspections. By taking the time to inspect your property, you can protect one of your greatest investments and insure for the overall health of your structure.
Today we’re going to explore how to inspect your home to ensure that there are no flaws with the floor leveling.
Related: Foundation Leveling Process
Foundation Damage Roots
When homeowners find they have floors that sink or are uneven, these problems are often caused by foundation issues that have likely not been detected.
Foundation damage causes a chain reaction of problems throughout the home, from warped floors to cracked walls to a shifting structure.
But let’s back up for a moment. How does foundation damage occur in the first place?
While a degree of settlement is common as time passes, more serious foundation problems often have a clear culprit. Foundation damage can arise through continual elemental wear and tear or due to an initial construction failure, but one of the biggest factors behind foundation damage is the soil the house sits upon.
Expansive soil is often tied with foundation damage and uneven floors. Excess moisture causes soil to expand, while dry periods cause it to contract. This continual fluctuation can lead to foundation movement and cracks due to continual ground shifting. In turn, this can lead to a host of foundation damage effects both inside and outside of the home.
Similar issues will also occur if the soil was not properly backfilled or if tree roots disrupt the soil. Overall, soil issues are a leading cause of foundation damage and should be taken seriously by homeowners.
Related: Causes of Foundation Damage
Search for the Signs
Chances are you have some extra time around the home these days, which means there is no better opportunity to spot the signs that your home needs floor leveling. Preventative work is the most cost-effective way to protect your home, and detecting problems in their earliest stages will always lead to cheaper repairs.
Fortunately, signs of floor leveling problems are often easy to find. We walk on our floors every day, so we are more sensitive to noticing slopes, cracks, loud floors, warped boards, and other unusual changes. However, since floor leveling problems are often indicative of foundation issues, you should also search your house for other foundation damage warning signs.
Signs to be on the lookout for include cracks in both the exterior or interior walls. Pay particular attention to cracks that are unusually wide, long, or clustered closely together. In addition to slanting floorboards, warped walls and ceilings are also a sign that something is amiss. Check for doors and windows that have difficulty opening and closing, and if your home has a chimney, see if it is slanted.
You can also examine your home for signs of water intrusion, which can be spotted due to secondary issues such as insect or pest infestation or mold, mildew, bacteria, or fungus growth. The latter signs can often be detected by strong, musty odors, as well as breathing difficulties. You can also check crawl spaces for damp walls and floors.
Exploring Leveling Solutions
Nobody wants to find problems with their foundation, but if you do, we’re here to help. At California Foundation Works, we offer custom solutions to meet the individual needs of each of our clients. This means that every repair project is unique, though there are certain steps that many foundation repair projects follow.
Floor and subfloor leveling services are likely needed in cases when foundation damage has affected the levelness of the flooring. Additional services include concrete leveling or basement repair services depending on the degree of the damage. Fortunately, floor leveling projects are more affordable than you might think.
Consider any work a necessary investment in the future of your building and the safety of its residents. Foundation repair services are needed to permanently restore the integrity of the building and resolve any damage to guarantee that the property value of the building remains protected. Though some floor leveling solutions may take up to several weeks, floor leveling is considered a non-invasive procedure.
However, you should never attempt to perform a floor leveling project on your own, as it requires professional expertise.
Related: Foundation Underpinning Retrofit
Floor Leveling Process
Floor leveling returns the home to a level position, providing a restorative facelift and structural security boost.
Floor leveling services are aimed to return the home to its original levelness, as well as strengthen the structure to guard it against damage in the future.
One trusted form of foundation leveling known as pier and beam foundation involves using a jack or lift for leveling.
In a process called shoring, the home is very carefully raised so that beams or jacks can be attached underneath. Internal damage is minimized by lifting the jacks with extreme care and precision to protect the interior of the home.
Another way to attend to leveling issues is to excavate weakened areas of the home and install concrete or steel pilings along with concrete piers. Repairs can be performed on all types of foundation, including basement foundation, slab foundation, and pier and beam foundation.
If foundation damage is causing your floors to warp, then you must contact a professional contractor as soon as possible. Weakened homes that don’t receive necessary repair solutions will continue to warp, crack, and shift, eventually threatening the safety of residents and the longevity of the structure.
Homeowners who have elevated homes, especially located on hillsides, should be particularly wary of shifting structures due to mudslides, earthquakes, and other natural threats.
Related: Do You Need House Leveling?
Have you noticed warped floors? Are there cracks around your home? Concerned about your home’s foundation?
The last thing anyone needs at this moment is more problems to contend with. Take the time to perform a routine home inspection so that you can catch issues before they have the opportunity to worsen.
Here at California Foundation Works, our team of expertly trained contractors is available around the clock to offer full home repairs and renovations. It is our goal to keep greater Los Angeles area residents safe by fortifying one home at a time.
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After a thorough assessment, one of our foundation repair experts will provide you with a free*, no-obligation quote.
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