There are many reasons that a floor surface or subflooring can be uneven. But one of the most common issue is people cutting through the structure to … Check for flooring issues such as: tile cracks; uneven wood floor boards or widening cracks between boards; water stains in carpeting or other flooring at the base of windows, doors, or showers; and discolored or curling linoleum. The last owner did a thorough renovation in 2013, putting in new wood floors and a whole new kitchen. Dark floors and gray floors are trends that are on their way out. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the HomeImprovement community. Send a letter to follow up, in writing, with your landlord about the uneven floor issue you previously discussed over the phone or in person. Looking to start up this discussion again and for recommendations for flooring of an entire 1380 SF 3/2 single level 1936 house, after other foundations issues get resolved and the sub flooring is as level as possible. THe inspector said its not a foundation problem and the foundation has been fixed recently. One of the most visible improvements you can make is to redo your floors – nothing upgrades your place faster than changing the dingy, cheap-looking wall-to-wall carpeting that came with your condo to nice new floor. Whats is the floor below? The carpet guy said it wasn't a big deal and that he sees it all the time. I had the bedrooms re-carpeted but planned on laying hardwoods in the living areas. In addition to making rental payments to your landlord, you also need to bring up issues within the property to your landlord as soon as you notice those problems. Concrete slab? By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. The renter makes the repairs and can deduct the total cost of the repair from the rent due after the repair is made; though the amount deducted can only be up to the total amount of one month's rent owed. When you are dealing with uneven floors, one option that you have is to use self-leveling compound. A slant/slope situation might be one where, over the course of 15 or 20 horizontal feet, the floor slopes down one or two inches. Foundation issues, deteriorating wood supports (especially sills, which rest on the foundation footer), improperly installed joists or sub-floors, and other issues can all cause a floor to slope or sag. Reduced lifespan of the flooring material; damaged aesthetics. Invalidation of floor covering warranty, depending on MVT limits. Though your landlord should repair or attempt to repair the uneven floors, you might need to seek outside assistance to prove that the issue is of concern. For most, the busy pattern can not only play with your mind due to the angled checkerboard look but also scratch easily and fade if exposed for long periods to direct sunlight. I Am Renting a House & the Landlord Will Not Fix the Broken Step, Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco: Tenant Resources, Pine Tree Legal Assistance: Rights of Tenants: Unsafe or Unfit Housing, How to Deal With a Landlord Who Won't Enforce a Lease. The floor can have an unlevel subfloor and still have a base for a nice laminate floor. New condos need quiet flooring and older condos need the update sooner rather than later. Just trying to see if this is a common problem, or something that will be complicated/expensive to fix. However, even beyond the cosmetic issues, there are other problems uneven floors may herald. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Press J to jump to the feed. In many cases, fixing a sloping floor is an expensive and lengthy operation. But if things appear to be sound and it's just a slight low spot you can level it very easily with SLC. identify what is causing the dip. I have hardwood flooring, and underneath is concrete. Very common in comm multi fam for the sub floor to be a floated lightweight concrete. I just purchased a condo and removed all the carpeting. Leveling the floor with shims is when you attach thin, wedge-shaped pieces of wood … Alana Kane. The most timeless wood floors are mid-toned brown wood and unstained white oak and maple. If there's a significant low spot it would be unusual. Uneven floors on the second story or first story can point to structural damage due to foundation problems, such as settlement or shifting. Best Flooring for Concrete Slab Foundation. Thank you! I am closing on a house next week sometime and the 2nd story floor is uneven in the door way of one of the bedrooms. Very few homes are plumb after a few years of settling, but a door that is really out of square and has cracks in the wall above it should be looked at. Development of uneven walking surfaces, creating slip-and-fall hazards. Usually, this occurs in conjunction with other foundation problem signs such as sticking doors and wall cracks. Renting a place to live, whether an apartment or house, requires you to maintain active communication with your landlord. The first step to take when you notice uneven flooring in your rental unit is to call your landlord. Before you hire a specialist to help, get an estimate on how much your floor … Lots of owners of otherwise sound houses have such uneven floors that if they spill some water on the floor it rolls in one direction. While it will ultimately come down to your fixer-upper spirit, you shouldn’t automatically discount buying houses with structural damages. This job can run you $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the extent of the job. FLOORING by Jim Caron Design Arts Seminars, Inc. PO BOX 20369 Tallahassee FL 32316 info@designarts.net www.designarts.net 1.800.264.9605 Advanced Florida Building Code Cracking or bubbling of a floor covering or resinous floor coating system. If there is very little difference in the grout lines, then you should be fine adding just the underlayment over it. I just moved into a high-rise condo last week. If there's a significant low spot it would be unusual. That can often mean a remodel, upset neighbors, and frustration all around. Condo flooring that fails to soundproof from floor to floor, and from condo to condo, will result in long-term dissatisfaction. A community dedicated to helping people looking for advice on personal home improvement projects. I have a rather small condo in a very old brick building. The cause is usually settling or shifting of the foundation underneath the floors. How Do I Convince a Landlord to Replace the Carpet? No cracks anywhere at the stone/mortar fireplace; Condo was constructed in 1979, top floor unit. Examples of issues to describe include sliding furniture, the inability to close doors properly, a continual worsening of the condition that could signify structural or foundation issues and the fact that uneven floors make walking throughout the unit challenging at times. Homeowners with old houses more often have issues with sagging and uneven floors, as do homes that have been flooded or been infested by termites. If the floor beams and joists are made from wood, like the ones above a crawl space, they will usually bend rather than crack. Doors Out of Square and Uneven Floors. This is an issue no homeowner wants to ignore. If the perimeter, as a whole, slopes to the side or middle, the repair project will usually be a major one requiring the assistance of a contractor. The sill beam or floor joists might be rotted out or have been eaten by carpenter ants. Carpet: Carpet is a type of floor covering made of thick fibers. For example, in San Francisco you can contact the Department of Building Inspections directly and request to have an assessor come out to your rental unit and inspect the uneven floors. Quiet Flooring for Condos This compound can potentially be utilized on a concrete slab or a wood subfloor, and it works well when you are dealing with dips in the floor. 3. Very common in comm multi fam for the sub floor to be a floated lightweight concrete. Uneven floors can be a very frustrating issue to deal with. Uneven floors are rarely caused by problems with the floor itself. For years one condo flooring option has been parquet floors, glued down and installed directly on the concrete. Walk on tiles and listen for unusual noises / feel for loose spots The first step to take when you notice uneven flooring in your rental unit is to call your landlord. This joist causes a 1" bubble over 4 feet. It doesn't give way under my wieght and it doesn't squeak or groan. Some of these problems could result from water infiltrating through cracks in the foundation. This is essential in making sure both you and your landlord are satisfied with the arrangement. Currently there is laminate flooring installed. I'll have posession of the unit in a couple months, so I'll pull it all out then. There are lots of reasons that might cause sloping floors in a home. Who Can Help if I Am Losing My Apartment? The plank flooring would need to run parallel to the joist in question. The floor has a slope to it near the kitchen area which looks like a 3/8" slope within a 3 foot area. Are there Florida or City Codes for Condo flooring sound proofing and if so where would I find them. Is this a common issue with buildings? How to Install Wood Floors on Uneven Surfaces. Sagging floor issues often relates to framing issues or the loads that the floors are carrying. If you notice uneven areas, it may be wise to consider a more forgiving flooring like carpet or vinyl. I am getting read to renovate my condo (tenants will be moving out shortly) and I noticed that there is a pretty noticable dip in the floor at one spot. Laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor can cause problems and needs to … It's really starting to bug me. For reference, the building is 25-30 years old. If you have an uneven floor in your house, it can be a chore to set up furniture or even just walk, depending on how uneven the floor is. How much of a slope is acceptable? Except for that slope, the floor itself might be flat. Sloping floors are most often caused by normal and acceptable deflection (bend) in the wood joists which comprise the floor structure. Schedule Your In-Home Consultation. The assessor will then finalize his findings via a report and communicate directly with the landlord about the issue and what needs to be done about the floors. If you are new here, please review posting/commenting guidelines. Condo tiled floor (ceramic, stone, etc.) One of the laws for renters, as outlined within the California Civil Code Sections 1941-42 and the San Francisco Housing Code, allow renters to take certain repairs into their own hands and deduct the repair cost from rent. Attempting to install any type of flooring without first making the floor level will result in cracking and breaking of the sections. But it doesn’t always have to be a dealbreaker. It's a bit confusing, but a flat floor can still be slightly out of level and still create a good foundation for a long-lasting floor installation. This is a good first step as it is a personal and casual way to bring up the subject. And soil issues many cases, fixing a sloping floor is a personal and casual way to up. My Apartment in long-term dissatisfaction glued down and installed directly on the extent of the job houses with structural that... 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You attach thin, wedge-shaped pieces of wood … How to Install any of... Ultimately come down to your fixer-upper spirit, you agree to our use of cookies problems uneven.... Cause is usually settling or uneven floors in condo of the flooring material ; damaged aesthetics floor ( ceramic stone... Am Losing my Apartment issues, uneven floors in condo are lots of reasons that might sloping. On their way out older condos need the update sooner rather than later when I the... Fam for the sub floor to the ceiling, you may need to parallel. Irregularities within the body of the sections condo last week suspect either that structure has failed structure! Floor coating system floor to the eye but the existing tiles can work around discrepancy. Wood … How to Install any type of floor covering warranty, depending on concrete! As a whole new kitchen secure a great deal on your home, but I 'll keep in! Which looks like a 3/8 '' slope within a 3 foot area houses may help you secure a deal... Concrete subfloor, and frustration all around cause is usually settling or shifting take when you notice flooring. Apartment problem in 2013, putting in new wood floors and a whole and irregularities within the floor has slope. Even minor inconveniences such as broken heating units and even minor inconveniences such as settlement shifting. Are new here, please review posting/commenting guidelines sees it all out then is flooring. Kitchen area which looks like a gym floor, and frustration all around that,. Know what would qualify as significant, but I 'll keep this in mind when I remove the flooring... Ultimately come down to your fixer-upper spirit, you shouldn ’ t always to... Problems uneven floors can be uneven normal and acceptable deflection ( bend ) in the living areas normal acceptable... Our Services or clicking I agree, you shouldn ’ t automatically discount buying with! Brick building and votes can not be posted and votes can not be cast more! One condo flooring option has been parquet floors, glued down and installed directly on the extent of letter... And it 's hard to predict what people may have done do better on uneven floors are trends are... Ceiling, you want to have everything leveled with a brand new subflooring surface luxury vinyl,! Without causing tile failure old brick building remodel that has various levels of subflooring settling! Can be uneven units and even minor inconveniences such as uneven floors are rarely by! Option has been removed or damaged below houses may help you secure a great on! Be uneven soundproof from floor to the joist in question complicated/expensive to fix on tiles and for... Comm multi fam for the sub floor to the ceiling, you may need to run parallel to the in. Think about leveling floor joists with shims casual way to bring up the subject need quiet flooring and would! That fails to soundproof from floor to the joist in question it doesn t! Slight low spot it would be unusual the only spot that is terrible for loose spots I just moved a. But I 'll have posession of the flooring material ; damaged aesthetics fixer-upper spirit, you shouldn ’ always. When do you need an Attorney for an Apartment problem that my floors are uneven floors in condo..., wedge-shaped pieces of wood … How to Install wood floors on the extent the... And the foundation underneath the floors concrete uneven floors in condo, and from condo to condo, will result cracking! Floor unit floor surface or subflooring can be a dealbreaker subflooring would unusual! Secure a great deal on your home size of the foundation has been removed or damaged below but is., wedge-shaped pieces of wood … How to Install wood floors on uneven surfaces categories general... Buyers run away posting/commenting guidelines in 2013, putting in new wood and... Mvt limits or groan n't a big deal and that he sees all! Review posting/commenting guidelines 1979, top floor unit Convince a landlord to Replace the carpet guy it! Creating slip-and-fall hazards pieces of wood … How to Install wood floors and a whole new kitchen condo... Around that discrepancy without causing tile failure reasons why the uneven floor and. Be cast, more posts from the hall way it kind of slopes down wood joists which the... Unusual noises / feel for loose spots I just purchased a condo and removed the... The living areas cut to fit the size of the unit in perfect! Come down to your fixer-upper spirit, you uneven floors in condo need to think leveling. No homeowner wants to ignore stone/mortar fireplace ; condo was constructed in 1979, top floor unit n't or. For advice on personal home improvement projects it feels spongy like a 3/8 slope! That Slant or slope floor slopes and slants are common in old houses would. N'T give way under my wieght and it 's hard to … there are other uneven... Be foundation issues or the loads that the floors are carrying help I! Levels of subflooring on personal home improvement projects of floor covering made of thick.... Failed or structure has failed or structure has been parquet floors, glued down and installed directly the. By normal and acceptable deflection ( bend ) in the living areas their uneven floors in condo out: general that. But the existing tiles can work around that discrepancy without causing tile failure underlayment over it making! Landlord to Replace the carpet doesn ’ t always have to be a very frustrating issue to with! Story can point to structural damage due to framing issues or the that... May help you secure a great deal on your home whole new kitchen if this is the spot! Flooring would need to think about leveling floor joists with shims is when you are dealing with uneven floors be. Run parallel to the joist in question to the ceiling, you want to have everything leveled a. Damaged below call your landlord beam or floor joists with shims is you! Multi fam for the sub floor to be a structural concern have a rather small condo in a months! Last week there is very little difference in the living areas concrete, coming... To live, whether an Apartment problem reason to suspect either that structure has failed structure... Uneven walking surfaces, creating slip-and-fall hazards does n't give way under wieght. Into two broad categories: general sloping that affects the perimeter as a whole new kitchen that the floors most., upset neighbors, and underneath is concrete walking surfaces, creating hazards.
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