Sagging floor support
A dip in the hallway or a bounce by the refrigerator usually traces back to something in the crawl space. Here's how it gets fixed.
Floors over a crawl space are held up by joists, which rest on beams, which rest on piers and the foundation walls. When any part of that chain weakens, the floor above shows it. In damp crawl spaces, wood that stays wet long enough softens and rots, and termite and other pest damage can weaken it further. Piers can also settle, or the original framing may simply be spaced too far apart for today's loads.
Common signs
- A noticeable dip or slope across a room
- Floors that bounce when someone walks by
- Interior doors that stick or swing open on their own
- Cracks in drywall above doors
- Gaps opening between the floor and baseboards
How is a sagging floor supported?
- Supplemental piers or adjustable steel posts set on proper footings under a beam
- A new or doubled beam to shorten the span under a weak area
- Sistered joists, where new lumber is fastened alongside a cracked or rotted joist
- Sill and rim repairs where the wood sitting on the foundation has rotted
Lifting is usually done gradually so plaster, tile and door frames aren't stressed all at once. And if moisture caused the damage, it needs fixing too, or new wood will go the same way. See moisture control.
Permits and licensing
Structural work generally needs a building permit. In Valdosta, Hahira, Lake Park and Dasher, that's the City of Valdosta Inspections Department; outside the cities, Lowndes County's Building Permits and Inspections department. Georgia's residential contractor law covers residential jobs whose value exceeds $2,500, so ask what license the company holds and who will pull the permit.
Pricing comes from the crawl space company, after someone has been under the house and measured it. We don't quote prices, and a number offered before anyone has looked at the space is only a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can a sagging floor be leveled completely?
Sometimes, but older houses often settle into a shape over decades. A good company will tell you how much lift is realistic without cracking finishes.
Are screw jacks on a stack of blocks a fix?
Not a lasting one. Supports need proper footings and should be sized for the load. Ask what footing goes under each new post or pier.
Related services
- Crawl space encapsulation
- Vapor barrier installation
- Moisture control and dehumidifiers
- Crawl space repair
More background: Lowndes County crawl space guide.
Musty smell, droopy insulation or a floor that gives underfoot?
Call and a crawl space company that works in Lowndes County will take a look under the house.