The Problem: Uneven Floors in an Older Vallejo Home

Sloping or uneven floors are one of the most common concerns homeowners notice in older homes. In many cases, the problem isn’t the floor itself—it’s the support system beneath the house.

During Ward Construction’s evaluation of this Vallejo home, a floor level survey found that the perimeter of the home was approximately two inches out of level, although still within generally acceptable tolerances. More significantly, many of the interior support posts beneath the home were leaning and no longer making proper contact with the support beams. As a result, the interior floors had developed noticeable humps and dips.

Understanding the Existing Foundation System

The home was built on a pier-and-beam foundation, with prefabricated grade beams supported by small perimeter piers. The center of the home relied on precast surface piers and wood support posts beneath the floor framing.

Over time, some of these wood posts had shifted or leaned, reducing their ability to provide consistent support to the floor system. When support posts no longer fully contact the beams above, floors can begin to feel uneven and develop visible low and high spots.

The Solution: New Adjustable Steel Support Posts

To restore support beneath the home, Ward Construction first installed temporary supports where needed before beginning the structural repairs.

The existing wood underpinning posts were then replaced with adjustable steel jacks, securely fastened at both the top and bottom. Adjustable steel supports provide durable structural support while allowing technicians to make precise adjustments during the leveling process.

Resetting Existing Foundation Piers

In addition to replacing the support posts, Ward Construction reset the existing surface piers beneath the home wherever necessary.

Repositioning the existing piers helped create a more stable base for the new steel support system and improved the overall performance of the crawl space foundation.

Re-Leveling the Interior Floors

Once the new support system was in place, Ward Construction carefully adjusted the steel jacks to smooth out the interior floors as much as possible.

With older homes, the goal is often to improve floor performance while respecting the existing structure. Years of settlement and natural movement can make it impractical to return every portion of a home to perfectly level. Instead, adjustments are made gradually to improve support and reduce noticeable humps and dips without placing unnecessary stress on the building.