How To Level Old Floor Joists

Leveling the floor with shims is when you attach thin wedge shaped pieces of wood on top of the low areas of the joists to make the top joists even.

How to level old floor joists.

If the uneven floor is due to floor joists that have warped or twisted over time or were incorrectly installed the only way to level the floor is to remove the subflooring and shim the joists. Set a hydraulic jack and post under the beam and jack up the joists about 1 8 in. The solution to sagging floors or the damaged sills and joist ends that contribute to them often involves jacking. You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings.

A day until they re level. Use screws to secure the leveling strips to the floor every 16 inches. Using a chalk line. A taut string stretched across the floor will show the amount of deflection and improvement.

A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too. If the floor slants irregularly cut strips that bridge the cap at each floor joist. Floors in older properties are very often out of level. Generally this is caused by a bowing of the floor joists which very often are not strong enough to fully support the weight placed on them.

To do this simply cut several leveling strips the same size as the original strip. Nailing two 2x4s together will work to span about three joists unless the sag is under a weight bearing wall. Tack a beam under the sagging joists. Screw the strips into the floor joists or subfloor.

Jacking them up too fast may cause cracks in the walls and floors overhead. On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor.