Ok so I think there could be a sag in my floor but im not sure. the baseboard and floor have a gap of about 3/8″. Could this possibly be the baseboard warping? Underneath the floor is the garage. mabey 7′ (about) is a support beam with a support colum. please tell me this isn’t sagging. If it is than is 3/8″ something to worry about?
ps the house is about 27 yo. the room has a lot of poped screw heads for the drywall. and I’ve only noticed it on this wall.
Edited 12/14/2007 11:28 pm ET by andyfew322
Replies
no it's not sagging,but i would go get some tie downs cause your roof is raising.
if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
ur kidding right.
not him...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Streach a string line along the ceiling wall to wall. Center too close?do same along floor - centr have gap?if both so then probably support of floor under wall has dropped.How long is wall? 3/8" in 5 feet is a lot. 3/8" in 20 feet, I wouldn't worry too much.
I'd have to say 15'
3/8" in 15 doesn't seem to be excessive IMHO. I'v seen worse in newer construction and less in older.(Why are we up this late? - I just got done back from work)
u just got back from work!!!!!!!
--u just got back from work!!!!!!!--That's funny, I'm reading that now just having gotten home from work again!Snowed here tonight so we had crews out plowing. Normal time for me this time of year is 1330 to 2200. Overtime I'm responsible to 0200.
oh I didn't know u plowed.
he only needs it in the tavern...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Why are we up this late?
kinda peaceful and soothing to the soul sitting here watching the snow fall...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I agree. too bad the snow ain't fallin' now. I kinda looking next door at the huge hill and the snow jump I built.
there's been almost no let up for over a week...
no idea how much there is...
and I live on a mountain side...
no need to build a snow jump...
mother nature handles that very well...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
--Why are we up this late?kinda peaceful and soothing to the soul sitting here watching the snow fall...--There have been times that I've gotten home this late and wandered around the back yard listening to branches break after a heavy snowfall.
do more of it...
the soul deserves it..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Yeah, I'd be glad to see only 3/8" in some parts or our house.Combined with the nail pops, though, there may be something going on. The OP should analyze the overall pattern to try to figure out what's moving and why.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I'd have to say 15'
That's a chitty answer. And some of your original comments are the same. Do you own a tape measure? Someone suggested stretching a string line to get some actual measurements. That sure would be a lot better than your guesses."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Lighten up Eddie, he's 14-years-old:
andyfew322
"It will cost you less to pay O'Neill to do nothing, than do something." ~ Roger Green
RIP, H.D. O'Neill (0-Knee)
I considered that. But he has been posting here for a while and seems to have a fair knowledge of construction. He needs to learn the right way. or at least learn to give answers that make it sound like you know what you're doing. "Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
it's probably nothing to worry about unless there's no footing under the support post, or not enough posts to suppor the beam properly. A stringline sighted along the bottom of the beam will tell you if the beam has deflected.
Engineers measure deflection by taking the length of a joist, in inches, and dividing it by the amount of sag. Generally for floors any sag under L/360 is acceptable. For longer spans or stiffer floors they go L/480.
Your 15' length span (180") divided by the amount of deflection (.375) gives you a deflection of exactly L/480. That's with no live load, which is when a room is loaded with people.
Have one or two people stand near the low spot with you and then measure deflection. See if it changes from the 3/8" you have now.
does this gap go the whole length of the wall? usually base is installed 3/8" to 1/2" above the subfloor to accomodate carpeting and higher for other floors finishes.
Since the baseboard is attached to the wall and the wall sits on the floor I'd bet the wall with base attached will sag equally as the floor sags so you can't really judge by what you see on the baseboard.
As someone said, set up a measuring string on the floor and then have 3-4 adults come stand in the center of the floor. Determine the change in deflection. If it's no worse than about 3/8" then the floor is structurally strong enough, and any long-term motion is likely due to either wood shrinkage or foundation movement. (Or maybe it just wasn't right to begin with.)
If it's foundation movement you should be able to see some cracks where one surface has moved vertically relative to the surface on the other side of the crack. If you're unsure about vertical movement (simple shrinkage cracks in concrete are fairly common), draw a line horizontally across the crack and date it. Check again in 3/6/12 months and see if the line is still straight across.
PS: If you think the problem is due to a post moving, and there's no cracked surface in the concrete to measure, you can set a board on the floor so it leans against the post and rests on the floor on either side. Fix it in place with hot glue or Tapcons or whatever and watch for motion between the board and the post.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader