“Level” Floors—Not So Much
Quick disclaimer: I’m a homeowner, not a structural engineer or flooring contractor. Everything below comes from a level, a marble, my phone camera—and way more time than I wanted to spend evaluating a brand new house.
What We Discovered
| Symptom | Where We Notice It | How We Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Visible slope | Every room in the house | 4-ft level shows a visible unlevel surface. |
| Marble always rolls to the center | Every room in the house | Marble test on video: Place a marble on a level, watch it roll off the level. |
| Spongy / bouncy spots | Kids’ playroom, kitchen, pretty much all over | When you step, the floor gives a little—almost like it’s giving in. |
| Rooms/furniture vibrate | Kitchen, most of the upstairs, super noticable in the master closet. | When someone walks by, you can feel the furniture shake and hear doors rattling. |
| Lifted ridges, hard lumps, exposed tack strip nails | Every room in the house | Trip hazards and jabbed feet. |
| Creaking floors | Upstairs hallway, stairs, kids’ playroom, kitchen, and more | Squeaking, clicking, and more. |
It started as a sub-floor suspicion, but with the marble consistently tracking toward the center—both upstairs and downstairs—we’re now worried the entire structure may be having issues, not just a few spots.
Why It Matters
| Risk | What That Could Mean for Us |
|---|---|
| Premature wear | The flooring could wear out or crack much sooner than it should. |
| Trip hazard | Raised edges make it easy to stub toes or trip—especially for kids running around. |
| Noise & Vibration | Squeaks and shakes get annoying and make the house feel flimsy. |
| Resale value | Uneven floors are an instant red flag for future buyers and inspectors. |
| Long Term | If the issue is structural, the house could be taking additional stress depreciating the value of the home. |