Sagging Floors
Interested in purchasing a frame house circa 1880’s that has updated mechanicals but floors have quite a bit of sag. I mean the house from one side to the other has settled a lot. Is this usually indicative of something really bad or is it just an old house settling? Also, any idea how much…
Interested in purchasing a frame house circa 1880’s that has updated mechanicals but floors have quite a bit of sag. I mean the house from one side to the other has settled a lot. Is this usually indicative of something really bad or is it just an old house settling? Also, any idea how much replacing a boiler in private 4 story building may cost?
fiveomar
There are a lot of contingencies as well as a lot of possibilities. I use jack systems to lift and level, but if it is just for the visuals it’s likely cost prohibitive.
If it is only sagging on the upper floors, leads me to beleve that something is causeing it inbetween, like a wall removed where it should not have been.
The floors could also have satin poly on them. It can look like bare wood. Ask the owners.
My house I recently purchased also has slanted/sagging floors. The way my home inspector explained it, everything should structurally be fine unless you notice “give” in the floor. In other words, if you step or bounce on the floor, does the floor move/creak.
Assuming things are structurally fine, do any contractors on here know if the sub-floor/joists can be shimmed to visually set it to the correct level?
Re: uneven floors, DIBS has good advice. Trick is whether you will be able to see the rot if there is any. Is the ceiling in the cellar open or sheetrocked? Inspector can’t look behind walls and is only responsible for what s/he can see. Does every floor sag or only one floor? Does it slope all the way to the side wall, or to an interior wall (like staircase wall, which may or may not be load-bearing).
Thanks for info on floors slope girl! Sounds like what we’ll be doing if this deal goes through.
those bare floors might be oiled… or waxed.
that’s what we have. you just rub in more oil from time to time and wax them if you want to.
you can buy floor oil at green depot on the bowery. we used bioshield “hard oil #9” and a bioshield floor wax which is optional (but helps repel water)
benefit of oiled/waxed floors is you never need to sand them to remove the layer of plastic/ployuerathane. if there’s a scratch, you can address just that spot and smooth it out.
unless you wax all the time they will not be shiny like poly’d floors. in my eyes this is another plus, I like the buff look.
Unfortunately, I don’t think you can make a blanket statement about sagging floors. It could just be the effects of time, and the fact that old house weren’t built to accomodate the loads that we put into them, or it could be a sign of a more significant problem. I’m with Dave, you should probably have a qualified individual take a look, probably a home inspector, who isn’t going to do the work, so they don’t have a vested interest.
Thanks so much for all the useful info. The sagging floors seem worse on top floor. (4th floor) not as bad on 3rd floor.
And yes…I think things are sloping towards where there would have been a cast iron tub!
One other question: The current owners have original floors exposed. Gorgeous farmhousey looking floors with no stain. They appear to be raw wood without finish or poly cover. How does one care for wood floors like this? Can you mop or will it warp things?
cheers. Y’all stay hydrated!