Uneven floors are one of the most common complaints in older homes — especially those built on raised foundations across Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. But here’s the good news:
You don’t need to tear out the flooring, drywall, or ceiling to get a flatter, stronger floor.
At Orange County Handyman Services, we specialize in non-destructive floor leveling — using time-tested techniques like joist sistering, laser leveling, and crawl space support reinforcement to correct slope and bounce without gutting your house.
🔎 What Causes Sloped Floors?
Most floor slope problems stem from:
- Sagging joists due to age or overspan
- Foundation settling over decades
- Missing or weak crawl space supports
- Poor original framing or retrofitting
In homes from the 1950s–1980s, especially in hilly terrain like La Habra Heights, Altadena, or Yorba Linda, slopes of 1/2″ to 1″ over 10–12 feet are very common.
🚫 What You Don’t Need to Do
- You don’t have to jack up the entire house
- You don’t need to remove finished walls
- You don’t need to cut out every floorboard
- You don’t need to replace the entire subfloor (unless damaged)
🛠️ What We Do Instead
1. Laser Level the Room
We use a tripod-mounted laser to identify the highest point in the room. All framing will match that reference height — no guessing.
2. Sister the Existing Joists
We attach new 2×6 or 2×8 lumber alongside the old joists, shimmed and cut to follow the ideal level plane. This corrects the slope without removing the existing joists.
3. Install New Subfloor Over the Leveled Frame
We glue and screw down 1-1/8″ T&G subfloor sheathing for extra stiffness and flatness — perfect for tile, vinyl plank, or hardwood.
4. Reinforce From Below (If Needed)
If sag is caused by insufficient support underneath, we install new crawl space posts and pads to stabilize from below.
In a recent Whittier project, a second-story office had a 5/8” dip over 10 feet. We leveled the frame with sistered joists and new subfloor — all without touching the ceiling below. Clean, affordable, and fast.
✅ When This Approach Works Best
- Minor to moderate slope (1/2″–1″)
- No cracked walls or major foundation shifts
- Subfloor in decent shape
- Floor will be re-covered (e.g., LVP, carpet, tile)
- Room is accessible from above or below
📚 Related Reading:
- 👉 0201 – How to Level a Sagging Second Story Floor
- 👉 0203 – Understanding Joist Sag: Why Your Floor Bounces
- 👉 0205 – When to Add Crawl Space Supports
- 👉 0207 – Subfloor Upgrades: Why We Use 1-1/8″ Sheathing
🏠 Serving Southern California Homeowners
We’ve corrected floor slope in everything from vintage homes in Fullerton to multi-story family homes in Rancho Cucamonga — without destruction or drama. If you want flat, strong floors without tearing apart your home, we’re your crew.
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