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Replies: 18
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Hall of Famer [22291]
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serious question for you home builder types...
Jan 29, 2020, 9:11 PM
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it seems like I have some "soft spots" in my floors. My GF thinks I'm imagining things, but I've been in this house for 23 years, and I don't think so. I find myself kinda bouncing on certain places in the kitchen, going - see, there's a weak spot here. Or in the family room, seems like to me there's "weak spots" under the hardwood floors, for lack of a better word. They creak and squeak in ways that I don't remember previously. Seems like this has happened in the last year or so.
It's bothered me enough that I called out a company a couple weeks ago that does free inspections, for termites, water damage, etc. He said everything looks OK, nothing obvious. But he looked to be about 18 years old and was in there (under the crawl space) all of about 15 minutes. He admitted that he couldn't really check the sub-flooring, because that would require pulling out the insulation from the floor joists. He was just looking for obvious termite/water damage...
I'm telling you, there are places in the kitchen floor where I feel "high spots" and "low spots". I don't know how else to describe it. The house is approx 30 years old. What should I do next? Any advice would be appreciated.
I know the rules, pig of my GF:
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Lot o points [180915]
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If your gf looks like that, no need ask us.***
Jan 29, 2020, 9:14 PM
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Oculus Spirit [83625]
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I had trouble concentrating on your question...
Jan 29, 2020, 9:16 PM
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did you have a question?
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Hall of Famer [22291]
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Yeah, I know... obviously if my GF looked like that I wouldn't
Jan 29, 2020, 9:23 PM
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give a damm if the floors completely fell in and took me with it. Seriously, I'm just not sure what to do next. A full inspection, like they do when you buy a house? I'm tellin you, something's not right. There are "soft spots" that weren't there a year or so ago.
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All-In [49153]
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you should edit a lot of space between your story and pic.
Jan 29, 2020, 9:51 PM
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I've gone back 3 times and only read your first sentence once.
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Lot o points [180915]
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Legend [19919]
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It could be a number of things causing what you are experiencing.
Jan 29, 2020, 10:08 PM
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Is the subfloor possibly rotting (water and/or insects)?
In that case, you’re going to have to replace at least your soft areas.
Is it laminate flooring?
They can be floating and can feel saggy. They are actually experiencing expansion, and if there isn’t space for them to expand at the wall, areas will create patches you are experiencing.
Has the floor separated from the joists?
Joists can settle, and the flooring might not be properly attached to your joists.
Some reading:
https://www.oldhouseonline.com/.amp/repairs-and-how-to/how-to-fix-sagging-floors
Your gf is an attractive woman who may experience some back problems in the near future. You might need to help her with her joists.
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Hall of Famer [22291]
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That was my initial thought... I feared the worst. That was why
Jan 29, 2020, 10:23 PM
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I called out the guy to do an inspection for termites, etc. He said everything looked good... pretty dry crawl space, nothing obvious, etc. But again, I felt like it was a very quick & superficial inspection. Yes, the kitchen floor is laminate/vinyl and 20+ years old. Maybe it is starting to separate? All I know is there are (to me) high spots & low spots. I can feel it with my feet. Some places are a bit "spongey" if that makes any sense.
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Lot o points [155707]
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Again, you’re feeling a low spot created by you stepping on
Jan 29, 2020, 10:27 PM
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A section where the joist is no longer tight tote the subfloor and you’re getting some give from your weight.
Cm’s laminate comment was about laminate wood, and it’s not a bad pull, but would be least likely to happen in the coldest months with the lowest humidity. If that were it the problem would likely be seasonal and worst in summer.
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Lot o points [155707]
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probably just high and low spots from settling.
Jan 29, 2020, 10:11 PM
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Only thing that would cause softness would be bad water damage or termites.
A) you’d know it if you had water leaks that widespread, enough to rot the subfloor.
B) you don’t get a termite infestation all at once, all around the house, and they’re going to go after boards with wood to ground or wood to concrete/cinderblock contact first, usually around the perimeter....not flooring.
My guess is you just need someone to come in and add a few strategically placed piers around your crawlspace to account for the settling.
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Lot o points [155707]
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also, if any free inspection company comes out and says
Jan 29, 2020, 10:18 PM
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They can’t find anything, that means they truly couldn’t find sh##. I’m more worried about them finding something that’s not there. That’s like going to Jiffy Lube and being told you don’t need new wiper blades or air filter.....it rarely happens.
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Hall of Famer [22291]
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LOL. Yeah, that makes sense. Maybe it's just settling.
Jan 29, 2020, 10:33 PM
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I guess to put my mind at ease, I'll need to crawl under there myself and check it out. I was trying to avoid that, my neck/back issues are such a beech these days. All I know is something has changed, it doesn't "feel right". Maybe I'm just paranoid. I don't know. Thanks for the input guys.
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Hall of Famer [22935]
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I see your peaks and valleys***
Jan 29, 2020, 10:28 PM
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Oculus Spirit [80999]
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Subfloor OSB or plywood is separating
Jan 29, 2020, 10:44 PM
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You've got a moisture problem
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All-In [40875]
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I do this sort of thing for a living
Jan 29, 2020, 10:46 PM
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I don't ever know for sure until I look at it, but what you are describing does not concern me. If your subfloor was damaged, you would probably know it. You would know of any water damage and I assume you are keeping your termite inspections up just for the insurance if anything else.
Hardwood floors "float" above the subfloor. This time of year the slats should have the largest openings between them of the year. In Summer, when it heats up and humidity rises, the slats should close up.
Sometimes this movement causes little air pockets to develop under the floor and when you step on it, it just goes down a bit to the subfloor.
Over time, wood naturally deflects. That's why old floors almost always sag. You always have some settling as well. These two things acting together plus natural seasonal changes means that your house is always moving.
If you don't notice any settling or floor sloping, don't worry about it. If it bothers you call as structural engineer. If you call a home inspector they are going to tell you to call an engineer if its anything structural anyway. The cost is probably between $500-$1000 depending on your location and availability of engineers.
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Hall of Famer [22291]
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OK bud, thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate it.
Jan 29, 2020, 11:19 PM
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I guess I will just wait and see. I have had the termite inspection and supposedly he checked for water damage as well. I will take yours and others advice... it is probably just normal settling. It's quite possible I just got a little OCD about it. I tend to be a "worrier" about chit sometimes.
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Oculus Spirit [97677]
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That girl would never even date a man with sagging floors
Jan 30, 2020, 6:26 AM
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Not an insult. Actually a compliment since you won't have to worry about high maintenance women. 
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Oculus Spirit [93618]
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I have some questions.
Jan 30, 2020, 12:29 PM
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How much more do you weigh than your GF?
Is there a bounce to the floor when you walk across it?
If the floor bounces does it seem to bounce more in the middle.
What part seems low?
Are you doing your GF on the kitchen floor?
If so, the GF or the house must go?
So how much for the house and do the mirrors on the ceiling go with the house or are they extra?
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Hall of Famer [22291]
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Interesting, I didn't think about that.
Jan 30, 2020, 12:35 PM
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>>> Are you doing your GF on the kitchen floor?
That could be the source of the "moisture problem".
You can have the mirrors, if you're OK with the Objects Are Larger Than They Appear inscription.
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Replies: 18
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