6 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOUR HOME IN CHARLOTTE HAS SAGGING FLOORS

While there are many homeowners in Charlotte, NC who love to make cosmetic changes to their home, many people overlook structural damage which is much more critical for maintaining the...

While there are many homeowners in Charlotte, NC who love to make cosmetic changes to their home, many people overlook structural damage which is much more critical for maintaining the value of your home.  Especially old homes in the Charlotte area can suffer from structural issues such as sagging floors that are critical to keep an eye on and address as soon as signs begin to show that they are happening.

 

SAGGING FLOORS CAN REALLY COST YOU

Realtors are required to tell potential home buyers if a home’s foundation is weak, damaged or if there are signs of sagging floors. These home’s prices may then drop 10 to 20% in order for the home to sell. With that in mind, you will want to be sure that your home’s floor and foundation are sturdy and not sagging.

Just because you may have never noticed any issues with the floor in your home, it doesn’t necessarily mean there are no problems. As a Charlotte homeowner, it is important that you make time to inspect your home’s foundation and correct any minor issues before they become major.  Here are several indicators of a sagging floor:

  • (Outside) Cracked, Compromised or Crumbling Foundation – You should never see these in your foundation. These will often be noticeable through ruptures, gaps, sloping or jagged cracks; sagging or buckling of the foundation walls or floors; gapping, crumbling or flaking in the concrete; or by pooling water, mold or stains.  If you do notice one of these indicators, then now is the time to call in one of our team members and get a closer look.

  • (Inside) Walls and Corners – While some settling is common in homes, it should not result in obvious issues such as cracks, buckling or crumbling in the upper portions of the walls of a home. A sagging foundation will often result in cracks and fissures, especially in the corners, joints, molding, or chimney of a home’s structure.

  • Windows and Doors – Ideally, the windows and doors in a home in Charlotte should fit snugly. However, when the floors begin to sag, these features will often become either too loose or too tight.

  • Insufficient Support – Sometimes the beams in older homes will be spaced further apart than is recommended by today’s building codes, and thus the floors begin to sag. Another cause for this is if the central beam is undersized and unable to sufficiently reach the distance between two posts.

  • That Central Beam – Many Charlotte homes are designed where the basements or crawl space(s) have floor joists that run the length of the house. This beam is supported by a series of evenly placed posts; if one (or more) of these posts begin to rot, then the beam will lose strength. The beam will then begin to shift and dip, which means the flooring above will sag from the amount of weight (people, furniture, the floor itself) it is supporting.

  • Settling – It is not uncommon for a home to settle over time due to natural elements such as erosion around the posts, standing water, or just age. In some cases, this settling can weaken the beams’ integrity and the floors in the home will begin to dip and sag.

 

HAVE SAGGING FLOORS? DON’T DELAY TO TAKE ACTION!

When sagging floors begin to make their presence known, it should not be ignored. In most cases sagging floors can be repaired, and your home can be even and sturdy once again, preserving your home’s value. However, like many things regarding home repairs, the longer you ignore the problem, the worse it will become. Don’t put it off!  One of the Sherrill Structural Repair specialists can inspect your floors and determine the best plan of action.