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Squeaky, bouncy or uneven floor.

A flooring contractor should handle the surface and subfloor, and a structural engineer should judge the framing.

Customers put it like this

  • floor squeaks
  • floor feels bouncy
  • tile edges stick up
  • cabinets won't close evenly
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Stop first if

  • New cracks are opening, doors bind suddenly or a sag changes week to week.Stop work and keep people clear. Call a structural engineer.
  • Joists look cut, notched or undersized.Do not add finishes or load. Hand the notes to a structural engineer.
01

Ask on the call

6

Homeowner? These are the questions a good technician will ask you. Having the answers ready makes the first visit count.

  1. Is it a squeak, a bounce, a slope or tile edges that catch?
  2. Where in the room is it worst?
  3. What is the floor covering, and what is under it?
  4. Can you see the joists from below?
  5. Has plumbing or remodel work cut into the framing?
  6. Did it start after new flooring went in?
02

Bring

5
  • Long straightedge
  • Tape measure
  • Level
  • Flashlight
  • Sketch paper
03

Check on site

6
  1. Map the problem and locate joists and panel seams.
  2. Straightedge the substrate from its high points.
  3. From below, record joist size, span, spacing and any cuts or notches.
  4. Look for panels laid tight that have lifted off the joists.
  5. Measure height changes at doorways and transitions.
  6. Hand any framing concern to an engineer.
04

Keep on the record

4
  • Sketch of problem areas against framing
  • Straightedge readings
  • Joist size, span and any notches
  • Photos from below

General guidance for a qualified person, not a finding about any home. The person on site decides.