Can I Add More Weight To A Sagging Floor

Plywood subfloor sheathing over the lumber decking.

Can i add more weight to a sagging floor.

When nailed through the old subfloor and into the joists the new subfloor can help to reduce floor bounce. Knowing where to install the new joist is very critical to making the other joist strong enough to withstand the sagging. This solution also works for problematic second floors where accessing the joists through the first floor ceiling isn t a possibility. You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings.

The average person can sense if a floor slopes 1 inch in 10 feet and sloping floors or sagging floors are often one of the warning signs that structural engineers look for when analyzing a house. How can we evaluate whether the floors need reinforcement and if so what is the best way to do this. Depending upon the conditions it is possible to strengthen or repair existing framing members such as floor joists or roof rafters by adding reinforcing material. On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor.

Now that you know how to install a floor joist you can protect your home from those sagging floors and walls. Too much weight coupled with a flimsy construction can lead to sagging in the middle of the shelf. The more objects placed on a shelf the more weight that shelf must bear. Sagging is unappealing but it is also a potential hazard.

Some are serious structural issues that require the attention of a contractor while others are more routine cosmetic problems that you can solve yourself if you re a fairly advanced do it yourselfer. The first and second floors in our house seem overly bouncy and sag toward the middle. In this style framing the entire structure will sag in that area usually causing cracks in walls ceilings or doors rubbing their frame you will need a proper footing under the post jack because your lifting much more weight if your correcting a sagging interior floor in ether style framing locate the main support beam in that area the large beam that the floor joist are sitting on raise that area keep in mind if its drastic have the foundation evaluated. A steel plate can be used the same way.

Although most floors slope it is important to know how much and why. A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too. Sagging floors a common problem in old homes have many potential causes. The long term solution for your sagging floor is to remove the flooring replace or fix the problems with the foundation that may contribute to the sag and replace the flooring.

Here s a quick review of the most common problems and a few of the typical remedies. Adding a layer of 3 4 in.