Floor or Ceiling Gaps

How foundation problems can lead to gaps in your floors or ceiling

When you see a gap between your floor and interior partition walls, it typically means that the floors are moving downward while the walls struggle to maintain their connection with the ceiling framing. Sloping, uneven floor issues are a nuisance, but they also may indicate a more serious problem with your foundation.

Another common cause of floor gaps is settlement or foundation heaving. Foundation settlement can be solved by installing foundation piers.

Causes & solutions for floor or ceiling gaps

Ceiling and floor gaps are rarely caused by problems with the floor system itself. Instead, it’s often a settling or shifting foundation issue that has impacted the floor system. Floor beams and joists are made from wood that will usually bend or flex rather than crack or break. The same can’t be said for masonry foundations. When soil issues cause a foundation to break, the floors above usually bend.

The following are common causes of floor and ceiling gaps and our solutions for each:

Improper column spacing

When a crawl space is built, block or brick (heck, even sometimes wood) columns are located throughout the crawl space to support the weight of the structure above. If those columns are spaced too far apart, the beam or girder can become overloaded and sag between the columns. When the girder sags, so does the floor above it.

Existing column settlement

Weak soil can cause the existing columns in the crawl space to sink or settle, often creating a gap between the top of the column and the bottom of the girder it was supporting. Once the column settles, the girder sags and the floors above sag. The uneven floors result in separation of the floor from the walls. It’s a chain reaction.

Our solution

At Baird Foundation Repair, we can quickly and effectively repair a crawl space structural issue with our heavy-duty crawl space jacks called The SmartJack® system. This system has several great features:

  • Base of engineered fill
  • Precast concrete base
  • Steel posts stabilize and support beam
  • Can be easily adjusted in future if necessary

This system allows the contractor to push a sagging floor back toward its original level position. Our warrantied crawl space jacks can effectively stabilize your crawl space — usually in a day.

We’re your local foundation repair experts in Texas

To get your foundation fixed permanently, you will need to know exactly what is going on with your home — and which solutions will best address the problem. Our team of professional foundation contractors can help. During our foundation repair quote, we’ll personally inspect your foundation issue, explaining what’s happening with your home and making suggestions for repair.

Each of our visits comes at no obligation, and it includes a written foundation repair estimate. To schedule your free quote, call or e-mail us today! We proudly serve San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and South Texas.