We purchased a home last year. It was built in 1926. The inspector said that the planed doors and minor cracks in the plaster were from normal settling. However, the upstairs floors are slanting away on all sides from the brick that forms the centrally located fireplace. It is very noticable. Plus, the two doors closest to the fireplace wall won't close because they appear to need another 3/4 in planed away, on top of the 1/2 inch that's gone already. Also, after some work on the sewer line, the contractor stated that there are no footers. They just leveled the ground and started laying brick. The basement is panelled and I don't have complete access to the brick to check for cracks. Where I have checked, there are none. Wondering what others thought.
2007-01-08 18:14:30 · 4 answers · asked by trish b 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Sounds like your house has sunk over the years. All houses settle but should not sink because of a footing or other method pertaining to soil condition. With your fireplace, it has a large enough surface area of solid material to act as a footing whereas the outside walls do not have enough surface area to keep from sinking. Thats what footings are for after all. There are companies that can jack up the house and pour new foundations and footings. This is about the only way to do it the correct way. Lay a 4' level on the floor and measure how far one end is sticking up when its level. Divide the number of feet for the length by 4' and multiply that by how far the level stuck up to see how much of a drop it is. If your room is 20 feet long and the level is 1" from being level then your house drops 5". I'd definately look into some foundation repair and house jacking.
2007-01-08 18:26:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be on the main floor of the house, this is correct. I would think maybe the house is settling, but I don't know what your house is sitting on, sand, soil, and such. Settling can occur long after the house is built, our High School I attended settled even after it was far older than your home, and the walls were brick and cracking. They had to lift the foundation. It could be what they have told you, but I would definately get a second opinion sweetie.
~ Jewel
2007-01-09 02:43:25 · answer #2 · answered by Jewel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is slanting away from the fireplace it is the foundation settling. My question is, has this happened since you bought the house? or was it like that before you bought it? Big difference since it's 80yrs. old. If it is new, and you have had to do work on the sewer line, you could have had a water leak that has caused the foundation to settle more recent. I would talk to your plumber again to see if the soil was wet below the foundation and if this could have been a major leak. If it was like that before you bought it, than it is normal settling. If not you have had a recent problem you need to check in to it.
2007-01-09 02:33:08 · answer #3 · answered by Chris B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with these answers, and would add that you should also inspect the roof area nearby the chiminey, as the roof will tend to follow the walls and floors in settling, whereas of course the fireplace/chiminey are stable unit(s).
2007-01-09 03:06:45 · answer #4 · answered by Lamron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋