Sagging floor support
A floor that dips, bounces or rolls a marble toward one wall usually has a problem underneath. Here's what causes it and how it's fixed.
In a house over a crawl space, the subfloor sits on joists, the joists sit on beams, and the beams sit on piers and the foundation walls. A weak link anywhere in that chain shows up upstairs as a soft spot, a low area or a floor that's no longer level.
What causes floors to sag around Rocky Mount?
- Moisture. Years of humid air and damp soil weaken joists, sill plates and subfloor, especially near plumbing.
- Spans that are too long. Older houses often have piers spaced farther apart, or beams smaller, than a modern design would use.
- Settling piers. Clayey, poorly drained soils that stay wet for months can let pier footings move.
- Cut framing. Joists notched or cut during past plumbing or HVAC work.
- Insects. Termite or beetle damage that isn't obvious until the floor starts to move.
How is it repaired?
- Supplemental piers or adjustable steel supports to shorten beam spans
- Sistering new lumber to damaged or undersized joists
- New or doubled beams under a sagging section
- Replacing rotted sill plates and subfloor
A floor that has sagged for years usually can't be pushed back to flat in one day. Lifting too fast can crack drywall and tile or bind doors. Expect the company to talk about how far and how quickly it's safe to lift.
Permits and engineering
The City of Rocky Mount lists structural floor work as needing a permit and says floor joist repairs must follow the current NC Residential Code, or an engineer must document the method. Nash and Edgecombe counties and the other towns have their own inspection offices. If the work costs $40,000 or more, North Carolina law requires a licensed general contractor.
Warning signs
- A dip you can feel underfoot, often near the middle of the house
- Cracks above interior door frames
- Doors that drift open or closed on their own
- Gaps opening between baseboards and the floor
Pricing comes from the crawl space company after someone has been under the house, measured it and seen what's there. We don't give prices, and a figure offered over the phone before that visit is a guess, not a quote.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can my floor be leveled completely?
Sometimes, but not always. Framing that has sagged for decades is usually lifted gradually, and the company should tell you how much improvement to expect.
Does sagging floor repair need a permit in Rocky Mount?
The city's permit list includes structural floor work. Ask the company to confirm and pull the permit for your address.
Related services
- Crawl space encapsulation
- Vapor barrier replacement
- Dehumidifiers and moisture control
- Crawl space repair and cleanup
More background: Rocky Mount crawl space guide.
Damp smell, sweating ducts or a floor that's started to dip?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a crawl space company that works in your part of Nash or Edgecombe County.