Buying A House With Uneven Floors

If your immediate reaction is to disregard the property, do not abandon it too hastily. Uneven or sloping floors are prevalent in older homes, and while they often indicate structural issues, they don't have to be a deal-breaker.

Why Do Uneven Floors Occur?

"uneven flooring" refers to any floor surface that sags, rebounds, buckles, or slopes. It is normal to find sloped floors in homes older than 15 years due to the shifting foundation.

However, the uneven floor could signify a broader, undiscovered issue with the house. If the flooring of your prospective new house is buckling, you should call a home inspector quickly to determine the cause. Let's examine the top three reasons for uneven floor surfaces.

Too Much Humidity

The most prevalent cause of uneven floors is water damage or excess moisture. Various water sources, such as leaking pipes or invading groundwater, might damage your flooring. Wooden beams and subflooring, which support the construction of most homes, are particularly susceptible to damage from excess moisture.

Structural And Foundational Problems

Damage to the structure or foundation is a leading cause of uneven flooring, and it is typically the most expensive to repair. Structural damage refers to problems with load-bearing walls, floor framing, roof framing, and beams, all of which can cause a home's flooring to buckle beneath the weight of the issue. Meanwhile, a weakening foundation poses a major threat to the home's structural integrity, as seen by the floor's fractures or fissures.

Several warning signs suggest a structural problem within a home, including bouncy floors, windows, and doors that are difficult to open and close, and, of course, flooring that sags or slopes in one way. After identifying any structural or foundational problems, you should collaborate with a building expert or contractor to assess the degree of the damage.

Ground Movement

It is a natural occurrence for the ground to shift over time. The bad news is that it can also shift your home's foundation, causing the floor to buckle. Therefore, builders need to compact the soil beneath the house's foundation to prevent excessive movement over time.

Suppose you are interested in purchasing a property with sloped floors but no indications of structural or foundation problems. It may be beneficial to talk with a floor specialist or contractor to recommend preventative measures to prevent further sagging. Depending on the structure, professionals may recommend constructing additional drainage or downspouts to move water away from the foundation.

Always Employ a Professional Inspector

A home inspection is crucial in the home-buying process, as the professional inspector precisely searches for defects and indicates necessary repairs. A professional home inspector will not only identify uneven floors but also determine whether water damage, structural issues, or a deteriorating foundation lies beneath them.

The home inspector may also evaluate rare sections of the home, such as a leaking chimney or crawl room, producing uneven floor. If they find damage in any part of the house, they will estimate the cost of repairs. This estimate enables the prospective buyer to make a revised offer on the home, particularly if the original offer was predicated on the home passing inspection.

Avoid Being Responsible For the Repair Bill

Note that if you don't find the uneven floors until after you've purchased the home, you will be responsible for any repair costs. This is why the home inspection process is so important; the inspector will discover the problem and its estimated cost while the sellers still possess the property. Thus, the buyer might negotiate a lesser price or request that necessary repairs be completed before closing the property.

Consider the Type of the Foundation

If you or a home inspector discovers a problem with the home's foundation, the logical next step is to determine how much it will cost to fix it. In addition to the extent of damage, the kind of foundation also affects the cost of foundation repair.

The two most prevalent foundation types are slab and pier-and-beam. Older homes often feature pier-and-beam foundations, which are less costly to repair because the beams are more accessible. The average homeowner will pay $1,989 and $7,006 for extensive foundation repairs.

Additional Structural Repairs Can Be Costly

When contemplating the purchase of a home with uneven floors, it is essential to consider the hidden costs associated with restoring the damaged components. For instance, repairing a beam with water damage may appear simple until you consider the cost of removing the damaged section, replacing it with a new beam, and removing any nearby areas with similar degradation.

In other instances, the cost of restoring the uneven flooring and fixing the underlying cause of the slope may not justify staying. Before pursuing a property sale, prospective homeowners should be encouraged to consider all necessary repairs.

Consult A Local Real Estate Agent

Never underestimate the expertise and effectiveness of an experienced real estate agent. If you are interested in purchasing an older or historical home but are concerned about the long-term repercussions of uneven floors, consult a local real estate agent.

Real estate agents that have assisted in the sale of comparable properties, particularly in the same neighborhood, might be able to provide insight into how previous homeowners have dealt with uneven floors. They may even be able to recommend a reputable home inspector or contractor who is aware of the common issues associated with older homes in your area.