High spot/uneven floor

Chattanooga, Tennessee
General Real Estate Investing
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High spot/uneven floor

Tyler Ingram
Member since 2023 · 13 posts · 5 votes

Hi Bigger Pockets! 

I just went under contract on a new build in Chattanooga. Love the property, but we noticed a high spot on one of the floors in the hallway. We had an inspection done today and they confirmed it was not level on that section of the floor. He was not sure what’s causing it.

We’re concerned it may be related to foundation or structural issue but 1, it’s on a concrete slab  2, the high spot is only on the second story of the townhome. And 3, there is no basement or crawl space
We have a foundation expert going out to take a look in a few days, but I’m curious if anyone has come across something like this before? Or how they will even be able to tell with it being on second floor & no crawl space? We are okay if just a cosmetic issue but just wanting to make sure it’s not something more serious.

Thanks in advance! 

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Brian LevredgePro Member
Investor · Chattanooga, TN · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 903 votes
3y

It's not a foundation issue.  I'm a builder here in Chattanooga as well.  Most of your framing lumber is #2 grade (cheaper) and isn't always the straightest.  So you might have a joist or two with a big crown causing the bump. If you don't feel any flex or give in the bump when walking over it then that's probably your culprit.  If you do feel flex you just have loose subfloor because the framers didn't use enough subfloor glue and/or nail/screw off the plywood enough.  

As an aside most older homes here in Chatt have some type of settling because of lack of soil compaction when building and the fact we get 50+" of rain a year.  No one likes buying something new with problems.  Don't get me wrong, but from a rental standpoint, your issue won't impact your ability to lease it.  

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  • Trevor Schmitt
    Rental Property Investor · Fargo, ND · Member since 2017 · 129 posts · 107 votes
    3y

    Talk to the builder right away. It is assuredly something that would be under warranty and they would have to correct either way, cosmetic or structural. 

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  • Tim Ryan
    Investor / Mentor / Contractor · Arcadia, CA Buying Out of State · Member since 2015 · 655 posts · 622 votes
    3y

    It being on the second floor and a bump, this will likely have nothing to do with the concrete slab. Usually when I've seen this is when there will be a structural beam going across the second floor. If the framers didn't take a lot of care, it's actually easy to have a hump.  In this case, it's likely not a structural issue or anything scary. It's a cosmetic issue and something that may always bother you.  I would ask for the blueprints for the house, which since it's new they will have. If you send to me and locate the area of the hump, I could probably figure out at least if my hypothesis is correct.  To fix this, they might have to remove the flooring in that area, sand down the wood beam, and lay flooring down again. For a new build purchase, I would require it. If it's a steel beam there's nothing within reason financially that could be done.

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  • Brian LevredgePro Member
    Investor · Chattanooga, TN · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 903 votes
    3y

    It's not a foundation issue.  I'm a builder here in Chattanooga as well.  Most of your framing lumber is #2 grade (cheaper) and isn't always the straightest.  So you might have a joist or two with a big crown causing the bump. If you don't feel any flex or give in the bump when walking over it then that's probably your culprit.  If you do feel flex you just have loose subfloor because the framers didn't use enough subfloor glue and/or nail/screw off the plywood enough.  

    As an aside most older homes here in Chatt have some type of settling because of lack of soil compaction when building and the fact we get 50+" of rain a year.  No one likes buying something new with problems.  Don't get me wrong, but from a rental standpoint, your issue won't impact your ability to lease it.  

    1Reply
  • Scott Mac
    Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    3y

    Maybe an error in construction, or maybe sawing tolerances way out of wack somewhere, or maybe saturated with water from bad flexible water pipe, or a leaking shark bite, etc..

    If it's water that caused it maybe it would be flexible when stepped on, maybe not.

    To me this does not seem like a cosmetic issue, and it might be a construction defect, or some kind of water damage.

    If it were mine, I would open the floor up and have a look. Which would involve sub floor cutting, and also restretching the carpet. Then I would have it fixed to preserve the asset value.

    It could be anything....

    Good Luck!

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