What Causes Bouncy Floors

The cause of bounce is traced to the normal flex that is part of wood floor joists.

What causes bouncy floors.

Would screwing another sheet of plywood stiffen it up. It s all very complex with wood because the amount of flex varies depending upon the species of wood and the grade of the actual pieces of lumber. Bouncy floors can be a sign of structural problems but most bouncy floors can be stiffened to the point that the bounce is no longer a problem. In some cases it s purely an economical issue.

Floors that bounce up and down when you walk across them are annoying. There are a variety of ways to stiffen a floor. If the result is more like what you felt in the middle of the floor the beam below is either undersized or not supported sufficiently by posts. A springy or spongy feeling could indicate a minor issue a major problem or.

In almost all cases the floor can be fixed so that it is solid and does not bounce. The floor may be structurally sound and built within code limits. As homeowners we quickly get used to a floor that has a little bouncy or spring to it as we walk across it and seldom give any thought to whether there is a problem. Bouncy floors are one of the most vexing problems faced in houses both new and old.

Whomever designed the floor framing system when the addition or home was built may have stretched the spans and spacing of the support to it s limits to save money. Spongy and bouncy floors generally are of little concern unless the cause relates to a serious structural issue. I have a kitchen floor that bounces whenever we walk on it. Stiffening bouncy floor with plywood.

Even structurally sound code compliant new floors can deflect or flex more than feels comfortable. Any bounce you can cause here should be small similar to what you felt along the exterior wall. The area in particular is in the center of the room between the fridge and the dishwasher. Contributing editor mike guertin teams up with structural engineer david grandpré to detail six common and not so common ways to stiffen up the joists and keep the china cabinet from wobbling.

No one likes the feel of a supposedly solid floor bouncing or sagging underfoot. The tiptoe drop should cause the biggest bounce here. It s a span of 10 feet. Even solid steel i beams can have flex.

Finally stand near the beam. Tom s house was built in 1765 but bouncy floors aren t just an old house problem. Before we can start repairing bouncy floors in a home it s important to understand what causes them. How to fix springy and spongy floors.