I'm considering buying a house from the 1950s, and I noticed the finished basement floor has some noticeable sagging in a few spots, especially near the backyard door. An inspector mentioned that this is common in older homes, but I'm curious if this is a red flag. Can this be fixed with self-leveling cement, or should I be more concerned?
3 Answers
It's pretty normal for houses to settle as they age. From the picture, it seems like it has settled, but to know if it's done settling or if it'll keep shifting, you might need a pro to take a look. Remember, pretty much everything can be fixed, but it often comes with a price tag. Think about the worst-case scenario before you decide not to hire someone to inspect it.
Our basement is way more uneven than yours, and it’s been that way for over 40 years! We live in the upper Midwest, where the soil type can affect things, too. We finished our basement with tile despite its rough spots. We looked into leveling options, but they were either too pricey or too much of a hassle. Long story short, we just learned to live with it because it's stable. So I'd say for a little unevenness like yours, it should be alright!
I'm not sure I see the big issue in your photo. What kind of flooring do you have down there? Is there a subfloor, or is it just directly on concrete? Sometimes what looks concerning is just a quirk of the flooring.