How to level uneven floors

Question

Jason Hirko · Answer

@Amy Ranae If it's pier and beam, it's easy. Slab is a little harder, but not impossible. For rentals, I love slab foundation issues because no conventional lending buyers can compete with me, and the renter doesn't care.

Account Closed · Answer

@Amy Ranae It depends entirely on the cause but in no way is it "easy" to correct, especially in a 100 yr old house.   Have an experienced contractor or structural engineer look at and assess it.

Tom Sutherland · Answer

They make adjustable lolly columns. Find the highest spot on the floor then jack up the low areas to match it down in the basement/crawl using the adjustable columns. 2x6 floor joist shouldn't span more than 6' or so. Add doubled up 2x8 or 2x10 in areas needed to help support.

Tom

Jon Behlke · Answer

It's a little time consuming, but I'd remove the floor and rehang the 2x6s so that they are level.  Make sure you tie the 2x6s to each other periodically throughout as well.  There may be code for that in your area.

Tom Sutherland · Answer

A nice article from 1986!

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-09-26/entertainment/8603120157_1_floor-steel-string

Tom Sutherland · Answer

Here's a sample .

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/11736976223188872221?lsf=seller:8740,store:9385195826823063401,lsfqd:0&prds=oid:7064357164165335868&q=Tiger+Brand+Super+S+7+ft.+9+in.+Jack+Post&hl=en-us&ei=X_uDV-uqKcKo-QGJqIaYAw&lsft=cm_mmc:Shopping-_-LIAs-_-D22-_-100540359&lsft=gclid:CM67jJya7M0CFRIoaQod--AMsA

Account Closed · Answer

Honestly, every time I visit a property with uneven floors I usually pass it up. Just my opinion but unless it's in an amazing location or has some extra amazing feature, the money, time, and energy it would take to get a construction crew to level the floor is not something I want on my plate especially if the return isn't going to be that significant.

-Claire

How to level uneven floors

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