# What is Floor Slope? (Definition, Signs, Causes, and Repair) > You notice your wife's favorite cherry-stained wood floor is bowing so that it's like a miniature X-games ramp. You do nothing about it. _Brian Dalinghaus ยท 2021-03-17_ Video: [Sloping Floors: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmKrOtvI1oQ) --- You notice your wife's favorite cherry-stained wood floor is bowing so that it's like a miniature X-games ramp. You do nothing about it. When you do nothing about it, your estranged wife starts receiving random flowers delivered to the house and your kid buys a skateboard, learns some gnarly tricks in the living room, and becomes Tik Tok famous. When your kid becomes Tik Tok famous, he gets invited to skate in the X-games. When your kid is invited to skate in the X-games, grandma comes over to watch it LIVE on the big screen. When grandma comes over, she trips on the sloped cherry-stained wood and loses her glasses. When grandma loses her glasses, your kid wins gold, and your estranged wife walks out the door with a suitcase in tow saying she's headed to the Bahamas with Steve. Don't let your wife go to the Bahamas with Steve. Fix the sloping cherry-stained wood floor. And that is what we call in **rhetoric** a _slippery-slope_ introduction, a tangled web of when/ _if-thens_ that claim correlation is causation. Sure, while it is a logical fallacy, it is a perfect introduction to one of the [**most common signs**](/foundation-repair/problem-signs/drywall-cracks/) of [**foundation settlement**](/foundation-repair/problem-signs/sinking-foundation/). In this article, we are going to cover the equation for slope, signs and symptoms, causes, and some basic repair option _do's_ and _don'ts_. In order to better understand floor slope, I think it is important that we begin with the mathematical equation we all remember from 8th-grade **_y = mx+b_**. Now, who knew math would actually translate into real-life application. ## What Is Slope? Slope is the measure of steepness and direction as calculated by the mathematical formula **_y = mx+b_** (rise over run). Slope is determined by identifying the ratio of the _horizontal change_ and _vertical change_ between two definitive points on a gradient. The trajectory of a line is either vertical, horizontal, increasing or decreasing. The grade, incline, or steepness is calculated by the absolute value of the slope. ## What Is Floor Slope? Floor slope is the physical expression of **_y= mx+b_** through beveled, ramped, or bowing floors with a definitive downgrade typically caused by foundation failure. Though, there can be normal and admissible flection (bowing) due to wear and tear of wood joists and other flooring components. Floor slope can be determined by an altimeter but is often apparent through empirical tactile measures. You probably already know if you have sloped floors; however, a quick at-home test is to take a golf ball or a marble, set it on different sections of your floor, and see if it rolls anywhere. The direction the sphere rolls outlines the direction of the slope. You can also hire a foundation repair professional to take [floor elevation measurements](/foundation-repair/problem-signs/floor-cracks/) of your home. _**DIY with Brian**_, Granite countertops are almost always placed level to the floor. So, if you place a level on the counter and that bubble isn't smack-dab in the middle, odds are pretty good you have sloped floors. *Note, If you like _what is_ articles, you should also check out our articles [**What is Foundation Heave (Signs, Causes, How to Fix)**](/blog/what-is-foundation-heave/) and **[[solution:foundation-repair/foundation-underpinning|What is Underpinning (Definition, History, Types)]]** **.** ## Signs and Symptoms of Sloped Floors Sloping floors is a common sign and symptom of foundation settlement. Clues to look out for are: - Uneven, bowed, ramped, flexed wooden floors - Broken, chipped tile on tiled floors - Large gaps and cracks between the floor and baseboard/crown molding - A definite feeling of vertigo, uneven footing - Bouncy/trampoline floors The signs and symptoms of sloping floors are pretty self-explanatory and are generally good indicators that you either have foundation issues or just have your average wear and tear of an older home. ## Causes of Sloping Floors Foundation settlement is the primary reason of sloped floors. As the home/structure begins to sink into a non-load-bearing stratum, the home settles unevenly, putting uneven pressure on the home's foundation. This uneven pressure is transferred to the wooden bones of the home and the flooring, causing the flooring to bend, bow, and break. Old age, wear, and tear can also cause floors to slope. ## Basic Repairs Do's and Don'ts - **_Don't_** utilize self-leveler until after you have a foundation professional evaluate your foundation (if you self-level before your foundation is lifted to [**maximum practical recovery**](/foundation-repair/), you will have some wonky floors) - **_Note,_** we've seen homeowners utilize carjacks temporarily to pop floors back into place until foundation professionals arrive, but _don't_ count on this as a permanent measure. - **_Do_** evaluate your house for other signs and symptoms that might also point to foundation settlement: o **[[sign:foundation-repair/leaning-chimneys|Leaning Chimneys]]** o **Cracks** in drywall, stucco, concrete slabs - **_Do_** contact a foundation professional to come out and evaluate your foundation. ## Slippery Slope So, in this _what is_ article, we covered the definitions for slope and floor slope. We briefly touched on signs and symptoms before launching into cause. We ended things nicely with repair methodologies. We here at Dalinghaus Foundation Repair understand the frustration of sloping floors. We would like to partner with you and collaborate on the best way to fix your floor to foundation issues. If you live in [[city:los-angeles-ca|Los Angeles]], Southern California, or red-rock [Arizona](/service-area/). If you are with us only in spirit (meaning the net), be sure to link to our **blog** and continue to read our great work ## Schedule a Free Evaluation Foundation movement is easier to judge in person than from a photo. [Schedule a free evaluation](/contact-us/) and a Dalinghaus specialist will walk the property with you and explain what the evidence shows.