I recently bought a 100 year house. The other day after assembling a grill I noticed some movement in the floor. Whenever I walked around in the living room the utensils moved enough to clank together somewhat. There isn’t enough movement to actually feel however, every room in the house has some movement. I already had to brace a 60’s or 70’s addition to the back of the house. Should I be worried or is this normal and can be handled with more bracing.
FIY The house is built on peirs with a crawlspace and is single story.
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Far too little information to offer any sort of informed comment - some older houses will do that with no significant problems - others may have immediate significant problems.
Get a good contrator who works with older stuff out to take a look, or an experienced home inspector.
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"I may have said the same thing before... But my explanation, I am sure, will always be different." Oscar Wilde
Thanks. I had a home inspector from Pillar to Post inspect the house before I bought it. I arrived at the house for the last hour or so of the inspection and wasn't very impressed with him. I actually had to point out a couple of things that he went back and amended his report to include. I also went over the house with a general contractor who thought the house structure was sound. Another general contractor who he trained almost bought the house, but became involved in a neighborhood construction project.
Thanks again, I just wanted a little more piece of mind.
Many houses from the far long ago have floor systems that are somewhat under-engineered by today's standards. As long as there is no rot or insect damage. it won't fail, it just isn't quite as solid feeling as concrete..
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks, feeling better about it already.
If I don't squeek at 100 I'd be impressed!
This being single story pier and post, yes you probably can firm it up a bit if you want just by putting in more piers and posts. But first, make sure that the existing ones are all carrying the load they should. Crawl around in the crawl space and feel the posts, give them a little shake to see if any are loose. If so, you can shim them up. Use a little leverage to lift the girder a hair so you can get the shims in fairly tight. If it still feels bouncy, go back down there while you have a (preferably heavy) assistant walk around above you. Look to see if anything in particular moves. You might also want to poke at the wood with a small straight blade screwdriver to see if there's termite or dry rot damage. BTW, you didn't mention it being off level. A house that old being real close to level is a very good sign.
-- J.S.
Thanks for the advice.
All the original brick posts carry quiet a bit of wait. Some later posts that were added don't do anything around the areas I added additional support. As for level the rear 60's addition was horribly off level of course that's where I put the kitchen. I ended up just making pretty it flat after raising it a couple of inches and triming some of the joists down. The original part of the house built in 1902 is still level along with two gabled additions proably added in the 1910's. And I had a bug guy go through the house. He found one joist that hand about a two foot long termite damaged area. I will be able to sister a 2x10 to the damaged area.
BTW just got another computer (I've been without a personal computer since Sept. when I bought the house) and will be posting pictures soon, hopefully.
Edited 3/22/2003 10:09:27 AM ET by Scott