I've noticed that the floors in my condo are really slanted and uneven. Some of the joists seem to be damaged, but the quotes I've received from contractors are way too high for my budget. Is this kind of project something a total DIY beginner could handle?
5 Answers
I've been handling this by using steel jack posts. I lift the joists slowly, sister in a new one, and then use joist hangers. Just take your time and double-check everything before lifting, especially around fixtures. Don't want to mess up a toilet during this kind of work!
What do you have under those floor joists? Is it a crawl space or a basement? Knowing this can help determine how to tackle this job.
I'm actually on the second floor, so there's just a small crawl space beneath.
Start by figuring out why the floors are slanted in the first place. If there's an issue with the foundation, leveling the floors might not be the best first step. But yes, this can totally be a DIY project if you're up for it!
Before diving in, try to diagnose the root of the problem. Was the floor level when it was built, and if not, what changed since then? That's key to figuring out if this is something you can DIY or if you need professional help.
If you're living in a condo, keep in mind that your HOA might have some rules about what you can and can't do. It's a good idea to check in with them first to avoid any potential headaches later on.
That's good to know! Thankfully, they're pretty hands-off, but it looks like I'll have to fork out all the costs myself.
Are you leveling the joists to match the others, or just raising them to make room for the new joist? Just wondering how that works!