FLOOR LEVELING

Floor leveling is an option to consider if settlement has caused the floors to become out of level to the extent that it has affected the quality of the living space. After many years, building foundations will have some degree of settlement. There are a variety of factors which contribute to the underlying causes of settlement issues that need to be evaluated to find the best remedy for each individual case. Some of the causes could include: construction on un-compacted soil, undersized footing, or the presence of a plumbing leak over a long period of time. However, most often foundation settlement is due to poor drainage surrounding the building.

The basic steps in the floor leveling process are as follows:

Shore the Building. Oversized beams with precast piers and custom cut posts are strategically placed beneath the floor joists to temporarily support the structure.
Separate the Building from its Foundation. The first step in the leveling process is to separate the building from its foundation. The foundation anchors are disconnected from the sill plates, and if needed, the stucco is broken at the sill plate level.
Level the Building. Using hydraulic jacks, the crew moves systematically, following the direction of the Field Superintendent, to create a uniform and gentle lift. The building is raised slowly and just enough as to minimize any damage to the interior of the home. The Field Superintendent monitors the reaction from both inside and outside of the structure and takes interior elevation measurements throughout the leveling process.
Adjust the Foundation. Once the building has been leveled, the existing foundation is adjusted to provide a solid bearing surface upon which the level floor is reset and anchored. The entire leveling process generally requires approximately 2-10 days.

As a foundation contractor, we safely perform floor leveling on a regular basis. House Leveling is a specialty that requires years of experience in order to minimize damage to the structure and should be only undertaken by qualified technicians trained in safety procedures.

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