Floor sloping upstairs

Koolpc

Koolpc

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A mate of mine is in the process of buying an old terrace house, circa 1900. It has been 'modernised' over the years.

Now, when you walk along the landing the floor dips towards the bedroom wall on the right and, when you are in the bedroom (see pic) the floor dips towards the wall.

If you look at the pic of the bedroom, you can see that all the floorboards have been cut on the right, next to the wall.
He thinks the floors are out because of when 2 rooms downstairs were knocked into one (see pic).

Is it something to be concerned about?

He has no idea when this work was carried out.

The house has been done up quite well. Bit miffed why they didnt sort out the leaning floors though?

He is having a survey done this week.

I know its something i have seen myself before.

The floorboards would need lifting and floor levelled i know.
 

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I think it depends on how concerned your mate is. To level a floor is a fair bit of work requiring the skirting boards to come off (they may end up needing to be replaced), the sub-floor to come up and the joists to be sistered. It may also result in having to lift the door casings as well. Lesser amounts can sometimes be dealt with SLC
 
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Should he get an SE Involved?

He is having a survey this week.
 
Just how bad is it? What did the building survey say? It's only worth employing an S/E if the survey indicates it's a problem, and not always then
 
Survey at end of this week he said.

He said when walking along the landing you feel like its on a slope. He is drawn to the right.

Same when in the bedroom on the other side of the wall. He is drawn to the wall slightly.

It is bound to be picked up in the survey. I told him to have a chat with the surveyor.
 
2 possibles;
1) Old house, timbers sag, not much to worry about.
2) Botched knockthrough downstairs has left that upstairs wall unsupported or insufficiently supported. Def needs investigating, doesn't have to be a showstopper.

Really need floorplans to say for sure but joists running down to a wall isn't a typical ageing process
 
I think its a botched knock through going by what he says.

He said the house looks well done. Has all the correct paperwork too. BC, elec, gas.

Maybe, they didnt brace the hallway wall above when removing it and the wall above caused the joist to dip? Not sure.

Be interested to know if the wall above the hallway (landing wall) was removed and a stud wall put up.

If not, i guess it would need removing, floor sorted, and a stud wall built?
 
Is the wall between the bedroom and landing brick, or stud?

Speaking as a DIY'er, my terrace has been opened up in a similar way - the wall separating the stairway from the dining room was removed, but no reinforcement was needed as the upstairs wall was lath and plaster/studs sitting on the floorboards between two sets of joists!
The wall below was basically non-loadbearing.

...and again, speaking as a non-expert, it looks as if the dip in the floor extends all the way to the external wall.
This gives me doubts as to whether the knock through is to blame - as I have found on a few occasions, Victorian quality control can leave something to be desired! :)
 
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RandomGrinch said:
Is the wall between the bedroom and landing brick, or stud?

Speaking as a DIY'er, my terrace has been opened up in a similar way - the walll separating the stairway from the dining room was removed, but no reinforcement was needed as the upstairs wall was lath and plaster/studs sitting on the floorboards between two sets of joists!
The wall below was basically non-loadbearing.

...and again, speaking as a non-expert, it looks as if the dip in the floor extends all the way to the external wall.
This gives me doubts as to whether the knock through is to blame - as I have found on a few occasions, Victorian quality control can leave something to be desired! :)
Click to expand...

I dont know if the landing wall is stud etc. I guess the surveyor will know. My mate has got him to ring him after the survey to discuss the issue.

I have seen pics of the whole house and its looks well done.

He has all the relevent documents from his solicitor including building control. He not read them yet as he is away working and asked if i would question the sloping floor on a couple of forums i am on for him.
 
Koolpc said:
I think its a botched knock through going by what he says.

He said the house looks well done. Has all the correct paperwork too. BC, elec, gas.
Click to expand...

try to look at the BR plans and signoff.

if the vendor claims they are lost, look on the local council website, if no luck, call them

last time I sold a house they still had the plans of alterations in the 1960s. perhaps you will be lucky.
 
Koolpc said:
If you look at the pic of the bedroom, you can see that all the floorboards have been cut on the right, next to the wall.
Click to expand...

Looking again at the photo of the floorboards - I think the boards haven't been 'cut' and are original, and I believe it is as I describe here:

RandomGrinch said:
as the upstairs wall was lath and plaster/studs sitting on the floorboards between two sets of joists!
Click to expand...

Given where the boards are separated, it looks to me as if the wall is sitting on the floorboards between two joists - so I would guess that the sloping is due to Victorian design rather than a bodged knock through :)
Although I would definitely wait for the surveyors report!
The house looks good to me though! :)

Edit: and by means of illustration, my house is the same layout, but reversed - the joists are marked in the pic, with the wall floating in between.
20220824_162653.jpg

...although it may be worth checking the end of those joist for rot...
 
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RandomGrinch said:
Looking again at the photo of the floorboards - I think the boards haven't been 'cut' and are original, and I believe it is as I describe here:



Given where the boards are separated, it looks to me as if the wall is sitting on the floorboards between two joists - so I would guess that the sloping is due to Victorian design rather than a bodged knock through :)
Although I would definitely wait for the surveyors report!
The house looks good to me though! :)

Edit: and by means of illustration, my house is the same layout, but reversed - the joists are marked in the pic, with the wall floating in between.
View attachment 277596
Click to expand...

Excellent post. Many thanks.
 
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