Fixing Bouncing Floors

Tom s solutions for fixing bouncy floors shown here in order of effectiveness are easiest on the first floor where joists are accessible from the basement or crawl space.

Fixing bouncing floors.

Fixing bouncy and sagging floors. For example sistering with new lumber the fix tom s dad used makes sense only if the joist bays are not cluttered with electrical cable plumbing lines and ducts. There are a variety of ways to stiffen a floor. A springy or spongy feeling could indicate a minor issue a major problem or.

Tom s house was built in 1765 but bouncy floors aren t just an old house problem. Even structurally sound code compliant new floors can deflect or flex more than feels comfortable. The method or methods tom chooses depend as much on practicality as on effectiveness. Let s take a look at some of the different options for stiffening up a floor from below for each of the possible floor.

No one likes the feel of a supposedly solid floor bouncing or sagging underfoot. It was a complex expensive job. Fixing bouncy and sagging floors. In most cases repairing bouncy floors is no easy task.

Years ago while working as a carpenter i helped stiffen a bouncy floor by nailing a new 2 10 to each of the 2 10 joists that supported the floor. Bouncy floors are one of the most vexing problems faced in houses both new and old. Contributing editor mike guertin teams up with structural engineer david grandpré to detail six common and not so common ways to stiffen up the joists and keep the china cabinet from wobbling. You can also pull up the subfloor and look at it from above but this is.

Working in the unfinished basement below the bouncy floor we had to remove the plumbing and electrical lines running through the joists and then rerun the lines. January 24 2014 by buildingadvisor 7 comments. How to fix springy and spongy floors. But if you have an unfinished basement or a basement with a drop ceiling you just might have enough access to stiffen up the floor from below.