If a floor joist is sagging and your home sits on a slab foundation there could be a major structural problem.
Is floor joist in crawl space above grade level.
Repairing a crawl space costs around 6 000 depending on the size and amount of structural damage.
Several construction defects can cause sagging bouncy floors over a crawl space foundation.
It is important to secure insulation and cover it with a vapor barrier in order to prevent moisture and the mold that often follows close behind.
While some floors are built directly on a concrete slab those built above open areas such as crawl spaces basements and lower floors almost always use a floor joist system to provide weight bearing support for flooring furniture people and everything else in your home.
In a slab on grade foundation the floor joists sit on.
Exceptions to crawl space dirt leveling.
Wednesday march 6 2019 the minimum clearance between the ground and the wood structural floor joists and girders is primarily for prevention of wood rot that is caused by wood being too close to the moisture in the soil.
An inspection of your crawl space will probably reveal any or all of the following conditions.
Measure the humidity level in your crawl space first.
If you have a crawl space foundation which is common in the south a sagging floor often means you have a structural problem with your floor joists or beams.
Floor joists are sometimes undersized for the distance they span and the weight they need to support.
If you have large mounds of dirt in the middle of the crawl space that is heaping over the main dirt floor spreading out that dirt is probably a good idea.
Unhealthy air in the crawl space means unhealthy air in your daily living space.
What is the minimum height above ground for wood floor joists and girders beams.
If there s a dirt floor install a vapor barrier.
In those days common building practice was to insulate the floor above the crawl space and to leave the crawl space s wall vents open so any moisture buildup would vent to the outside a.
If the humidity level is still too high consider installing a crawl space dehumidifier.
A crawl space foundation features exterior concrete walls that elevate the bottom of the house 18 inches or higher above grade ground level providing an accessible area to reach plumbing and.
If the crawl space is ventilated which is ideal because it aids in the elimination of moisture then fiberglass insulation can be easily installed under the subfloor between the floor joists.
Over time the dirt your house sits atop can compact causing the foundation to sink.
