walls have a gap from the floor

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mart

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my house was built with only a dirt crawl space. the stats of my house indicate a concrete slab foundation, but unless it's buried under the dirt, i don't see it. it is on a slope (approx 25-30 deg) below my neighbor.

Seven years ago, when i had bamboo floors put in, the installers had to replace some of the runners (joists?) under the subfloor along the front of the house due to wet rot. After this, i had a french drain put in on the side of the house that collects the water from my neighbor's runoff.

over the past year or so, i've noticed cracks in the walls on that side of the house. corners of window frames are separating, my front door is now hanging ascant to the frame, and i have a gap between the floor and wall on that side of the house (approx 1/2 inch). at the crack there is a black buildup (mold?). the rest of the rooms along that wall are either carpeted or contain cabinets, so any signs of the same are covered up.

i'm now petrified! i'm constantly hearing "settling" noises in the house (night and day) and am afraid the whole structure is going to fall on my head! am i right to be distressed? whom should i call? i've seen diy shows in which the house is lifted and refitted with a foundation, but have no idea how to start! Help!!
 
I may be biased...but it's time to get a Home Inspection. An UNBIASED report on what needs to be fixed, and a person to explain why. Not to sell you something.
Try www.ashi.org for a responsible Inspection.
 
Not to step on inpectors toes but with what has been said, I think a good home inpector will requimend an engineer look at it so save some money and go straight for structural engineer and have him draw up the plan for repairs. So whether you do the work or you have a contractor do it, every one is on the same page.
 
For a 50 YO house, one door frame is out of square by 9/16" in 30", the other at right angles to the first is 3/16" out of square so there might be these same gaps or worse under the quarter round on the floors.

For settling problems, helical piers or mudjacking comes to mind.
 
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For a 50 YO house, one door frame is out of square by 9/16" in 30", the other at right angles to the first is 3/16" out of square so there might be these same gaps or worse under the quarter round on the floors.

For settling problems, helical piers or mudjacking comes to mind.

This could be as little as settleing and it could be serious foundation sinking do to water damage or dry rot or insects, if we all give opnions the DIYers is likely going to take on the fix he thinks will fix it with his limited ability, same with contractors, they will bring their own experince and make suggestions, not nessessary to be corect and every contractor will have a different story, so that is why I suggested the one guy that you can hold responsible for his mistakes. Once He has an engineers plan of repairs we might help organize how to get it done or help him do it.
 
For a 50 YO house, one door frame is out of square by 9/16" in 30", the other at right angles to the first is 3/16" out of square so there might be these same gaps or worse under the quarter round on the floors.

For settling problems, helical piers or mudjacking comes to mind.

This could be as little as settleing and it could be serious foundation sinking do to water damage or dry rot or insects, if we all give opnions the DIYers is likely going to take on the fix he thinks will fix it with his limited ability, same with contractors, they will bring their own experince and make suggestions, not nessessary to be corect and every contractor will have a different story, so that is why I suggested the one guy that you can hold responsible for his mistakes. Once He has an engineers plan of repairs we might help organize how to get it done or help him do it.
 
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