Sagging floors in Crawl Space in Brookland, AR

Challenge

Homeowner Joseph C called in stating that he has sagging floors and wanted to see why and what he can do to fix the issue.

Solution

We have the solution with crawlspace stabilizer jacks. Wood beams that carry the load of your home can sag as a result of supports being spaced too far apart, soil settling, or excessive moisture in the crawlspace. Although the majority of homes built today have full basements, there are many older homes throughout Arkansas built with crawlspaces that are at risk of developing sagging floors. Signs of an overburdened support system include:

• Sagging, sloped, or uneven floors
• Drywall cracking and nail pops
• Windows and doors not opening and closing properly
• “Bouncy” or squeaky floors
• Tilting or sinking supports

There are several ways to go about stabilizing sagging floors. Some common repairs include pouring new concrete columns or shimming the existing columns.  These repairs are likely to require additional work later as they may continue to settle in the poor crawlspace conditions, and because they are not adjustable there is a higher probability the repairs will have to be done again within a few years.

The most reliable method of repair is the use of crawlspace stabilizer jacks. Unstable soil is removed and replaced with a stable filler to create a solid foundation for each jack assembly. The jack supports are custom cut and fitted to the crawlspace they will be installed in and can be adjusted later if necessary. Once installed, the jacks will stabilize the beams and in most cases lift floors and interior walls back to level.