Sagging floor support
A floor that dips, bounces or slopes is almost always telling you something about the framing or supports in the crawl space.
In older Pee Dee houses, floors usually sag for ordinary reasons: piers spaced too far apart, beams that were undersized to begin with, joists notched by a plumber decades ago, or wood that's been damp long enough to rot. Settling of a pier footing in soft, wet soil can add to it.
What are the signs?
- A dip in the middle of a room or a slope toward an outside wall
- Floors that bounce when someone walks across them
- Soft spots near a tub, toilet, washer or water heater
- Interior doors that stick or swing open on their own
- New cracks in drywall over doors or at ceiling corners
How is it repaired?
- Supplemental supports. Adjustable steel posts or new masonry piers placed under a sagging beam, set on proper footings.
- Sistering joists. Fastening new lumber alongside cracked, notched or weakened joists.
- Beam or girder repair. Adding or replacing the main beam a section of floor rests on.
- Sill plate replacement. Replacing rotted wood where the framing sits on the foundation.
- Gradual leveling. Raising the floor slowly so drywall, tile and plumbing aren't damaged.
Fix the moisture first
If wood rotted because the crawl space has been wet, new supports alone won't last. Ask the company to deal with the source, whether that's water and humidity or a plumbing leak, as part of the plan.
What license and permit does this need?
Structural framing work is the kind of job South Carolina's Residential Builders Commission regulates. A company doing it should hold the right LLR license or registration for the scope and dollar amount: a residential builder license above $5,000, or a specialty registration, such as carpentry, for smaller specialty work over $500. Structural repairs commonly need a building permit. Ask who will pull it.
Every crawl space is different, so the company prices the job after someone has been under your house and measured it. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before an inspection is only a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can a sagging floor be leveled all the way?
Sometimes, but old houses often settle over decades and finishes are built around that. A careful company will raise the floor gradually and tell you how far it's safe to go.
Are steel jack posts a permanent fix?
Adjustable steel posts on proper footings are commonly used for permanent support. Ask about the footing under each post, which matters as much as the post.
Related services
More background: Florence crawl space guide.
Damp insulation, a musty hallway or a floor that dips by the tub?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a crawl space company that works around Florence.