What Causes Bouncy Floors

As homeowners we quickly get used to a floor that has a little bouncy or spring to it as we walk across it and seldom give any thought to whether there is a problem.

What causes bouncy floors.

The tiptoe drop should cause the biggest bounce here. Bouncy floors are one of the most vexing problems faced in houses both new and old. If the result is more like what you felt in the middle of the floor the beam below is either undersized or not supported sufficiently by posts. Would screwing another sheet of plywood stiffen it up.

I have a kitchen floor that bounces whenever we walk on it. Spongy and bouncy floors generally are of little concern unless the cause relates to a serious structural issue. Even structurally sound code compliant new floors can deflect or flex more than feels comfortable. To lift a sagging floor you must hire a.

It s all very complex with wood because the amount of flex varies depending upon the species of wood and the grade of the actual pieces of lumber. There are a variety of ways to stiffen a floor. Floors that bounce up and down when you walk across them are annoying. Whomever designed the floor framing system when the addition or home was built may have stretched the spans and spacing of the support to it s limits to save money.

In some cases it s purely an economical issue. In almost all cases the floor can be fixed so that it is solid and does not bounce. The floor may be structurally sound and built within code limits. The basement is finished and i don t want to tear out the dry walled ceiling.

Bouncy floors can be a sign of structural problems but most bouncy floors can be stiffened to the point that the bounce is no longer a problem. Any bounce you can cause here should be small similar to what you felt along the exterior wall. Contributing editor mike guertin teams up with structural engineer david grandpré to detail six common and not so common ways to stiffen up the joists and keep the china cabinet from wobbling. How to fix springy and spongy floors.

Even solid steel i beams can have flex. Stiffening bouncy floor with plywood. It s a span of 10 feet. The cause of bounce is traced to the normal flex that is part of wood floor joists.

The method or methods tom chooses depend as much on practicality as on effectiveness. Finally stand near the beam. The area in particular is in the center of the room between the fridge and the dishwasher. Tom s house was built in 1765 but bouncy floors aren t just an old house problem.