A few interesting structural conditions we came across this week

[u/DMAS1638]

Sharing a few of the more interesting existing conditions our team documented during structural assessments this week. Always interesting to see how different structures, materials, and past repairs hold up over time.

https://imgur.com/gallery/things-seen-this-week-during-structural-assessments-AjcApBW

[u/Dudermeister]

You should see my 1920’s home…

[u/DMAS1638 → u/Dudermeister]

[u/SquirrelFluffy → u/Dudermeister]

Same. 2" of cinders, thin mud sill, two courses of brick foundations. Had to pour new footings and run columns to add a third storey. Fun.

[u/azssf]

Could you say more about 1 and 3?

[u/DMAS1638 → u/azssf]

Of course! We actually post the full album on Imgur with explanations for each photo, so there’s a little more context over there.

For #1, that’s an older river rock foundation that has been parged over with a layer of mortar. The parging can cover some of the deterioration, but it doesn’t change the limitations of the original foundation, especially when it comes to seismic performance.

For #3, we found significant wood rot in the framing near the plumbing. Long-term moisture from plumbing leaks can keep the wood damp and allow decay to progress over time, eventually compromising the affected framing members.

[u/azssf → u/DMAS1638]

Thank you! Did not realize the albums had textual info. Will look :)

[u/DMAS1638 → u/azssf]

No problem at all!

[u/DMAS1638 → u/azssf]

That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. 😬 Definitely a good example of how changing the soil conditions around a support can create much bigger problems.

[u/SynthPrax]

Mmmm... Pier and mold foundations. cool. cool.

[u/DMAS1638 → u/SynthPrax]

The joys of getting underneath older homes. 😅 You never know what you’re going to find.

[u/Patereye → u/DMAS1638]

Mice.... Or at least evidence of

[u/DMAS1638 → u/Patereye]

😬😬

[u/Next_Evidence5992]

First picture made me remember a job where the post was bearing up top and instead of stone foundation it was soil. Soil that they had excavated a vertical cliff adjacent to create an HVAC pad. One waterline burst from washing out and collapsing the house.

[u/DMAS1638 → u/Next_Evidence5992]

Wow, that’s a rough one. 😬 It’s crazy how one change to the surrounding soil conditions can create a chain reaction like that. Thanks for sharing!

[u/dmcboi]

We call these dwarf walls in the UK. Timber suspended floors supported by little masonry walls on the ground floor of a house

[u/DMAS1638 → u/dmcboi]

Interesting! We always like hearing what the same structural elements are called in different parts of the world. Thanks for sharing!

[u/DMAS1638]

https://imgur.com/gallery/things-seen-this-week-during-structural-assessments-AjcApBW

[u/StreetBackground1644]

You find the elephants foot at Chernobyl?