We recently repaired a home downriver, in Trenton. The owner called us and said she had uneven, sagging floors, so we knew there was an underlying issue since home appeared to lack the structural integrity required to support the building properly. Our team immediately stepped in to assess the damage, determine the root cause, and create a plan to fix the issues.
Our first step was to assess the instability issues with the floor. Inside the living space, the floors sloped noticeably, creating a hazard and indicating a potentially bigger problem. Down in the crawlspace, we were able to see that the existing support system was failing to hold the weight of the home. In Michigan’s climate, crawlspaces are highly susceptible to moisture issues coming from the soil. Over time, high humidity and damp earth can weaken support beams, cause the wood to rot, eventually leading to the exact type of floor sagging this homeowner was now dealing with.
In a situation like this, simply leveling the floors isn’t a permanent solution. We had to fix the underlying structure of the home and get control of the moisture in the crawlspace to prevent it from happening again.
In order to stabilize the structure, we installed heavy-duty Correct Force support jacks to reinforce the weak floor joists. These enabled us to lift the sagging floors back to their original position, restoring the structural balance of the flooring in the home.
To prevent future moisture damage, we installed heavy duty encapsulation throughout the crawlspace. We lined the crawlspace floor and walls with a durable, puncture-resistant vapor barrier. This helps to seal out moisture, to prevent wood rot, mold and mildew. As an added benefit, since a large percentage of the air you breathe in your home originates from the crawlspace, the encapsulation drastically improved the home’s indoor air quality.
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This situation is incredibly common, particularly in this part of Michigan where seasonal rains combine with a high water table to affect home foundations, basements and crawlspaces. If you would like us to take a look and see how we can help you, call Foundation Restoration today at 877-MAKE-DRY for a free estimate or fill out our contact form and we’ll come take a look at no charge to you.
