I am involved in a home remodel that has substantial settling issues on one end of the house. We are considering correcting part of the problem during the remodel. It has a daylight basement on half of the house, and the problem only exists on the downhill side where the daylight basement is. I am considering leveling only the upper level by cutting the nails above the top plate, lifting the floor joist and installing some type of spacer between the floor joists and the top plate.
Has anyone tried an approach like this?
Any suggestions on spacer material? – something that can be poured in to fill the space perhaps?
Thanks for any advice anyone might provide.
Mike
Replies
Any chance on sistering joists to the needed heights?
We were hoping to keep most of the drywall in tact and only cut it out around the top plate, but that is a good idea. I will have to consider that as an option.
if you have a double top plate, i'd use a 4x4 end grain shim under every joist, cut each shim to fit.... lift each joist 1/8" higher than level and let it back down onto the individual shim
That would work great in one direction, and I could sister a joist on the two end walls. Looks like a good combination solution that lets me keep most of the drywall in place. Thanks for the advice.
A D6 will level most houses in a couple hours.
A pound of C4 is faster.
A B2 would be better still ... if you don't mind the collateral damage.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
You guys are being silly. Those things would leave craters.
Maybe an FAE would be the best choice.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
That makes more sense. I'm glad we have someone on the ball in here.
mo need to dig for the foundation...
it'll be preinstalled....
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!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I guess I should have thought about that subject heading.....
so would a tracked shovel with a thumb be yur choice then???
welcome to BT....
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!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
You could have talked about razing a house instead.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
More to the point -- don't overthink it. In many cases, where only an inch or so is needed, you could just drive wedges, adjusting them in rotation.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
Sorry, I couldn't resist. And, no one was talking anyway. Maybe someone will help you out now.
napalm is faster and way more interesting....
but there's nothing quite like plan "B"....
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!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I like to know why a houise is off level befoe trying to choose aa fix for it.
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There are poor soil conditions in the area (clayey and expansive) and the downhill side was built on improperly compacted fill. Foundation improvements suggested were diagonal pylons which are out of budget for this project. The house is about 40 - 50 years old and I am hoping that settling has at least slowed down. The house is long and relatively narrow and only has a problem in the last 15 or so feet on the downhill side. However in this distance, it slopes up to 2".
I don't consider clay a poor soil. It can be the best soil to build on if you know how to protect the foundation from water and runoff. Fix the cause of the settling first, then the house leveling will be a lasting repair.
If it's only lost 2" in 40 years, and there's been no change such as an increase in runoff, it's probably safe to assume that it's "fixed".However, one should attempt to do the repair in a way that would not preclude further adjustment in another 20 years or so.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
I had the same situation ( settling on the downhill side). It had redwood siding inside and outside. The anchor bolt nuts and washers were removed. The house was jacked up to little past level. Anchor bolts were extended and cement packed in between the mudsill and old concrete.
We figured that 70 years of foundation settleing was all the settling we would see.