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I have written before about this. My bedroom has a sunken floor. As if there was a waterbed or something on it. I have tried to ignore it but it really bothers me.
I had a structural engineer out and he said he didn't think it was a problem. I should just look out for cracks on the walls. In 4 years have not seen any cracks so I feel like it isn't an issue with the structure. Not to mention that other people with the same type of condo don't have the issue.
So I would like to find someone to help me even the floor.
Right now I have Pergo. I would like someone to pull up the pergo... find a way to even out the floor and then put the Pergo back.
Sunken, as in uniformly recessed, or sagging as in dipped down in the middle? Either way, a carpenter could do what you want. If it's indeed structurally sound, then it would just need to be shimmed and leveled. In theory, a floating laminate floor can be removed and replaced. In reality it might be cheaper to replace it with new flooring, since there will most likely be some damage in the process. At the very least, make sure you can still buy this particular style of laminate and have a few extra boxes on hand.
In the best case scenario, the high point of the floor will end up being raised at least the thickness of new subflooring, which would create issues with transitions to adjacent spaces and with undercutting doors.
This project won't be an easy or cheap fix, but it can be done.
By sunken, do you mean a slight depression or unevenness? The type of thing where a marble will roll to a low spot?
Or do you mean 1970s era, constructed that way, with steps down?
If you mean a slightly cupped depression, you can address it with leveling compound. It is a type of cement that will, as the name implies, level itself. Once hardened, your floor will be flat.
Any competent handyman should be able to do both the pergo and leveling compound tasks.
Are the floor joists stabilized? If the floor is sinking, it sounds like a structural problem with the floor joists. Possibly they are bowed. If this were my issue, I would start by looking underneath at the joists. If it appears the joists are bowed, it might be possible to lap the existing bowed joists with straight, new joists and then attach the subfloor to the new,corrected, level joists. Really hard to say. Do you have any photos of it?
As far as doing this without messing up the flooring, that might be possible if the subfloor is detached from underneath and the floor is raised and the new joists lapped in against the existing joist. I am not a builder by trade, but have done quite a bit of construction. Good luck with it.
Are the floor joists stabilized? If the floor is sinking, it sounds like a structural problem with the floor joists. Possibly they are bowed. If this were my issue, I would start by looking underneath at the joists. If it appears the joists are bowed, it might be possible to lap the existing bowed joists with straight, new joists and then attach the subfloor to the new,corrected, level joists. Really hard to say. Do you have any photos of it?
The structural engineer said the he would look at the joists but it would require taking off the first floor ceiling and that would be expensive. He said I would see cracks if the floor was moving. I haven't. It is incredibly hard to see with photos. You really can't notice it until your standing on it. Frankly one reason I bought it this way was that is was hidden by berber carpet.
Quote:
By sunken, do you mean a slight depression or unevenness? The type of thing where a marble will roll to a low spot?
Yes.. so in the middle of the floor, where perhaps a bed was at one time... there is a depression.. like a sink hole. Dipped down in the middle. It is on the second floor.
I believe it is a slight depression -- but is leveling compound heavy?
Yes.. so in the middle of the floor, where perhaps a bed was at one time... there is a depression.. like a sink hole. Dipped down in the middle. It is on the second floor.
I believe it is a slight depression -- but is leveling compound heavy?
Yes, it does have some mass to it, and the overall weight depends on how thick you pour it. If you need to pour a thick, heavy layer across the entire room you should probably address the issue by dealing with the floor joists.
I am assuming a relatively small, relatively shallow depression. More of a deflection than a sinkhole.
No, I check my 2nd floor frequently and there are no cracks... so I am pretty sure that whatever happened is stable. One reason I was hoping to be able to even out the floor without fixing the deflection in the joints if there is anything.
I went into an identical unit yesterday at an open house and there was no issue so I don't think it is a structural thing.
No, I check my 2nd floor frequently and there are no cracks... so I am pretty sure that whatever happened is stable. One reason I was hoping to be able to even out the floor without fixing the deflection in the joints if there is anything.
I went into an identical unit yesterday at an open house and there was no issue so I don't think it is a structural thing.
I think you have a misunderstanding about what structural problems are.
Let’s assume two identical structures, built exactly the same way. In one structure I pile 3 tones of lead, the other I fill with standard furnishings.
The heavy load of lead will exceed the live load design, and cause the supporting structural members to deflect. The joists will start to crack, the nails to pull out, the walls to tilt inward. That puts stress on the rest of the structure, which will react similarly.
The structure with furnishings experiences none of this.
Remove the lead and the furniture so that both structures are empty.
Would you consider them to be structurally identical now? Can you honestly say that one does not have structural problems?
This is why looking at other units in your complex tells you very little about your particular unit.
I think you have a misunderstanding about what structural problems are.
I guess I do but that came from the structural engineer who said something about the condo not being built for the load from the attic and roof and missing a "line of bearing".
So the 1st floor has a large foyer and he seemed to suggest there wasn't enough support for the second floor because it was missing this support up front where the foyer was. He said not to put any heavy items in the attic. Because the condo wasn't built for it.
Does that make sense?
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