Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
30 Engineering ‘Nightmares’ And ‘Miracles’ Discovered During Structural Inspections By This Company
For those who do not see the least bit of entertainment in the procedure called ‘structural inspection,’ we may prove to you it can be as intense as watching a world cup finale. Especially if we’re talking about the findings made by California-based Alpha Structural, Inc.
These guys have seen it all—from rotting decks to crumbling foundations, falling walls, and very ingenious “we have it at home”-type of solutions. But that’s the job of these experts who are used to running into structural disasters where instead of cement holding it all together, you get pure luck.
So buckle up and scroll down for Alpha Structural’s most recent discoveries that will make you sigh, gasp, and even emit one or two swear words. And after you’re done, be sure to check out our earlier articles about Alpha Structural, Inc. here, here, here, and here.
More info: AlphaStructural.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This is one of the craziest things that we've seen during our inspections. This owner had undermined almost the entirety of his home by digging underneath the slab and excavating around the piles. There had been a minor mudslide and they decided it would be a good idea to create more space underneath... The grade of soil used to be up to the concrete slab above. Believe it or not, the property had not yet been red-tagged.
Hannah Edwards 4 years ago
The owner must be an idiot! What did they think would hold the house up. Air?
Ladyandthetramp 4 years ago
Bloody hell. How would they think this could work?!??? Reminds me of a tony stark house!
Otter 4 years ago
In California, it's usually Mother Nature that does that! (But only to really expensive houses.)
Load More Replies...
Onion rings like to make your breath smelly 4 years ago
dang thats scary. and its also on a cliff!
RELATED:
#2
Somebody was preparing for the zombie apocalypse or something!
bonnyatlast 4 years ago
We saw this kind of thing in Winnipeg. On the welcome mat too. In order to keep polar bears from coming in your house.
Yoinks! 4 years ago
"Fun" story: When I was just a few years old, Dad took the old wooden gate off our fence and pulled it apart, laying the boards down with the straightened rusty nails sticking up. I came blazing around the corner in my 1966 Batman booties and fell down when one of the boards "stuck" to my foot. Dad had to use a penknife to dig out the end of one nail, pouring hydrogen peroxide into the wound "because of the tetanus." After I was patched up, I was despondent because the bloody Batman booties got tossed.
RoseTheMad 4 years ago (edited)
Miss Trunchbull, is this you? reminds me of the chokey... *shudder*
Atopher Bot 4 years ago
Gives new meaning to "Don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out"!
#3
Here is one of our Senior Structural Assessors, Kyle, inspecting a failed retaining wall. You can see the tie-backs used to hold the retaining wall upright didn't work out too well.
#4
Pottery can be a very useful tool.
A B C 4 years ago
This looks like it's just a cable duct or waste water pipe, the pot is certainly not taking structural load. It's still not how you build, but this is by far not as bad as other pics in here.
Marky Mark 4 years ago
Agreed. A pipe hanger would be appropriate but this is not a critical issue.
Load More Replies... Chuck Coulson 4 years ago
I have seen this type of thing dozens of times. It's no biggie, holding up a waste water line and it's not going anywhere unless someone or something pretty large knocks it. When you don't have money and you do the work yourself you make do and hillybiilly plumbing works fine.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
It's a cellular ABS waste pipe, there's not much load there.
Load More Replies... 
#5
If you don't know what termite damage looks like, here is a great example. If you notice this around your house, I would call a termite guy right away.
Blake Ingram 4 years ago
There was this 800 square foot shack on my sisters at the time newly purchased property. My parents were planning on renovating it into a little home for them. It passed inspection, but when it came time to start, we discovered termite damage up into the roof. The whole building had to be demolished. I was knocking out stucco with a hammer, hit a beam, and it turned to dust pretty much. I was able to stick a flat head screwdriver into the wood with very little pressure. Worst damage ever.
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
termite gals can do only 3 things: eat wood. sh*t rock. kick ass.
Load More Replies... Whawhawhatsis 4 years ago
Also, if your floors start feeling spongy underfoot while you have strange flying insects swarming several times a year, you'd better hope you can move out before your idiot landlord, who refuses to do anything about the termites swiftly eating the house, moves back in so HE can fall through the floor, not you!
Molly Block 4 years ago
This most definitely is in the south of the USA somewhere. I've lived here all of my life, and you should see what it's like when termites suddenly swarm in the summer months.
Cybele Spanjaard 4 years ago
Some homes have had a structural nightmare when the wall was revealed.
#6
This was a crazy bridge structure we saw across from a home we inspected. Many of the supporting posts are bending as the soil erodes and the structure above begins to move.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
Phhhh, it's been like this for years, what could possibly go wrong.....
Shelley DuVal 4 years ago
nah, not a lot, nothing to worry about. She'll be right mate.
Load More Replies... Cybele Spanjaard 4 years ago
One was almost see their logic but not their application....just as well discovered before ..
#7
Please watch your step!
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
I think I'd rather spontaneously evolve the ability to fly than use those stairs. Lamarck, here I come!
Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
A Jean-Baptiste Lamarck reference??? 179 degrees! (Very obtuse... but I studied biology in college.)
Load More Replies...
Molly Block 4 years ago
Do they mean on those steps or those flagstones? One is an ankle-breaker, and the other is a neck breaker!
#8
Do not jump on this deck if you enjoy living. Don’t even walk for that matter.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
This floors enforces social distancing AND diets... two people within six feet will surely get swallows, or any person over 200Lbs.
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
Will people not within 6 feet get amazons instead?
Load More Replies... Night Owl 4 years ago (edited)
Or breathe heavily near it. And don't sneeze
Load More Replies...
Shane Gibson 4 years ago
Looks like possibly laminated timber. I'm not sure they were rated for external use until recently.
Onion rings like to make your breath smelly 4 years ago
how can a home this big and (possibly) luxurious have this terrible of structural standing
#9
The column was barely hanging together with just a small portion of the top and bottom staying connected.
#10
This is a cripple wall that is bowing outward, causing movement in the units above. This is dangerous and could end in a collapse if not handled properly.
Steve Barnett 4 years ago
This needs very urgent attention given the recent building collapsing in Florida.
Erik Granqvist 4 years ago
Structural problems would be there even if the catastrophe in Florida never happened. What Florida did was showing ordinary people that structural saftey matter - it is litterarly about life and death. But Florida did not make the problems more widespread or worse in unrelated structures then they allready were.
snipergun 4 years ago
This can actually be handled? I thought this close to ground, the building just has to be taken down. But I guess that's also way how to handle it.
Kim Kermes 4 years ago
Depends on a lot of things gd, starting with whether its cheaper to demolish. I've seen a very large multi story building jacked up and moved around the block, in person.
Load More Replies... 
#11
This was a home we inspected with two sets of rotted stairs and plenty of interior cracking.
Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
Thank God you guys are professionals! Us laypeople would've never guessed these stairs were unsafe! (Sarcasm meant only for silliness, not derision... I enjoy these posts much.)
John Topper 4 years ago
When you need a ladder just to get inside that must be a really big red flag.
#12
I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your piers down!
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
"We call such piers "Morgan". However unstable he looks, however much nobody can come up with something good, he's still around."
Michael Gaskell 4 years ago
He needs to go back to America again I think, we've had enough of him.
Load More Replies...
k Wetherbee 4 years ago
Sadly, my back deck on my building looked just like this until they finally repaired it.
#13
This was a gnarly river rock foundation that was falling apart. Some say this is a rock-solid foundation, but those people must be stoned.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
I really dig your riveting puns, but I see no concrete evidence for your complaints.
lara 4 years ago
Yes, but his foundation is totally solid with regard to concrete evidence.
Load More Replies...
Joe Reaves 4 years ago
I'm not sure if that means stoned as in high or stoned as in executed. And I'm not sure I disagree with either interpretation.
#14
Here we have some damage dealt to a garden wall by a local FedEx driver.
At least it exposed the wall as being fragile and hollow. We'll be proposing a new wall here that will be properly done with concrete and steel reinforcement. It does hold back a sizable slope, after all.
lara 4 years ago
I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have driven by "brick walls" that surround a housing area and the walls are just built on the soil, no foundation, no support. And in about five years, if they are lucky, the walls begin to collapse because the ground absorbs water and dries out and there is nothing that holds the fence in place.
Argie Smith 4 years ago
OMG!! These FedEx drivers are wrecking people's property everywhere! Gouged my neighbor's brand new paved drive way so badly it could not be saved and took out their stone pillared mailbox on the way out! The driver looked at what he'd done, then peeled out making a getaway. Well, as much as you can put the hammer down in one of those trucks.... Thank you Ring cameras!!
Anna Phalactic 4 years ago
And the water implies active downward pressure/movement from that slope
#15
This deck system has some bad rot and we are almost ready to start the repairs! There are some beautiful views of DTLA from this home as well. Luckily it had just rained so most of the smog was cleared.
Valley Girl 4 years ago
I would not count anybody above or below that deck as lucky until the job is finished
A B C 4 years ago
Pollution is just a symptom of the real biggest killer - mankind.
Load More Replies...
Klaudia Goldstein 4 years ago
Looks like it could be the home of "Bosch" from the TV-serie (i don't know where he lives, but he has this phantastic view from this home)
#16
The termites stood no chance.
lara 4 years ago
No, no, they made a pact with the fire ants. The termites construct artificial habitats for the fire ants and the fire ants protect the termites. It is a win win for both species. Just imagine, ants with flame throwers.
Load More Replies...
#17
This pier missed the mark and is now floating. To be fair, the expansive soil caused a ton of movement and the pier began to sink a long time ago.
#18
I think this is the original.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
She's smiling because every time someone opens the window it tickles her armpit.
Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
Is this here because of, or in spite of, the Mona Lisa? Those posts look sus enough to be from TikTok, but I don't know....
DogPerson7 4 years ago (edited)
Yeah, at least it wasn’t a pride flag. It would have been really pushing straight people to be lgbtq when they don’t want to. Stfu.
Load More Replies... #19
The concrete porch area has some major cracking and is slowing pulling away from the house.
lara 4 years ago
Yes, but don't think of it as a minus, because now you have drainage of unwanted fluids.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago (edited)
Is it just me or does it look like they just peeled duct tape off of the crack? (And isn't a reversed welcome mat a hint for you to leave?) Either way it cracks me up 😹
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
The different coloration shows that someone tried to patch over the crack before.
#20
This failing retaining wall was bowing quite a bit and it didn't help that it was connected to a section of the basement wall. This needs some attention asap!
Cybele Spanjaard 4 years ago
Some. of these things can actually survive in 'norma'l conditions for longer than imagined .. not good!
#21
I guess the contractor who installed these didn't know left from right, or up from down.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
And when he had such a solid foundation of knowledge to work with...from kindergarten 🤤
#22
Anyone want to join in on this crawl? Didn't think so.
Katinka Min 4 years ago
The whole idea of crawlspaces is just effing creepy to me. Why do people not have proper foundations??
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago (edited)
That's the pits...well, a pit anyway. Peach, I think. 🤔 I shall name it Waldo.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
Too vague? OK, does anyone else see a (peach) pit?
Load More Replies... 
#23
Here's a rubble wall that is supposedly holding up that corner of the home. Well, that corner is now sinking since the wall holds very little structural value.
Cybele Spanjaard 4 years ago
Ping ping suddenly rocks go flying everywhere and the house..crumbles.
#24
Some good ol' termite damage.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
Termites are rotten to the core. They eat away at my confidence in my home.
DogPerson7 4 years ago
No no, we do that with big spiders. With termites we simply set the neighborhood on fire.
Load More Replies... #25
Much of this has to be replaced.
#26
Some nasty termite damage on an old girder.
Anna Phalactic 4 years ago
Treated and bolted to a new timber, it looks like. Leaving it in place is gentler than trying to remove it.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
Okay, I had no idea people would leave rotten wood behind during a repair 🙄
Load More Replies... #27
Here we have an eroded concrete pier that will more than likely be gone within a year or two.
#28
A mousetrap was placed here just in case any of those pesky buggers managed to slip through the cracks!
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
"Snappy" the mouse was quicker than the trap. This is concrete evidence.
#29
This stilted deck has multiple rotting members holding up and you can see the warping and rotation where some of the lumber connects.
Steve Barnett 4 years ago
Seeing pics like this reminds me of Josephine's house in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
This is just terrible work from the beginning! Even I can see that those posts aren't appropriate for holding that deck, and why place one of them to the side of it instead of underneath? God, it makes me anxious to look at.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago (edited)
"Multiple rotting members" holding up. "Warping and rotation". 😏😅😂🤣😂🤣
#30
"Jack-lift the house" they said. "It will be cool" they said.
Alexandru Bucur 4 years ago
Well, technically, the jack has more structural value than that flimsy bit of wood. I don't know why people in the US insist on building houses like this, because this is the structural equivalent of putting high heels on your house - instead of dissipating the forces, they are concentrated in single points and you absolutely will have uneven settling sooner or later, which means that the house itself will sag differently at different points. The flexibility of wood can help mitigate this effect a bit, but it only goes so far. Besides, what's with all the untreated pine used for structural purposes? Pine is probably the wood that rots the fastest, so you're just making sure you have to replace bits all the time or have the house rot out from under you.
Rich Peall 4 years ago
Can confirm; I live in a brick-built house in Europe, that was built in the 1940's (post-war build), and has had zero structural maintenance or requires any, and likely won't need any long after I've left the building... 10/10 would European building again.
Load More Replies...
Hugo A-niro 4 years ago
Lived in a house that was held up with jacks partially. It wasn't too obvious unless you spilled something but every thing would go down one way
Claudia Lorenz 4 years ago
Good old American way to use cheap building materials for maximum profit.
RoseAnne Hutchence 4 years ago
While up here in Canada, if a house isn't up to a rigid building code and doesn't pass a fairly critical inspection, mortgage is denied, insurance is denied and the place may be condemned (i.e., marked for destruction before someone gets hurt).
Fred Zankowsky 4 years ago
Looks like the jack was used to attempt to repair the post, they used that piece of wood to replace the original (maybe it was all they had close at hand), and when it didn't fit, they abandoned the jack, because it was doing what they wanted the post to do. Or maybe they got it this far, it was beer-thirty, and they forgot to come back the next day.
#31
Just posted up, chilling by the beach.
Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
Serious, seriously ignorant question: (probably the kind of thinking that caused most of these disasters): Could you just slip a disk under here?
#32
This was a slab crack that spanned all the way from the garage to the kitchen floor. It had lifted and cracked many tiles in the kitchen as well. So much so that the assessor was able to stick his pen in between the two sides of the concrete.
#33
Finally, somebody with good Jenga skills.
#34
There was a doubled joist acting as a beam in the center of the sub-floor. It was pretty rotted and was separating from the other joists.
Justine Nicole 4 years ago
I have bad eyesight that looks like the girl from Ring huddled in the corner
#35
These elevated grade beams are breaking apart and you can see how badly rusted the beam saddles are.
#36
Some major support joists just a tad bit off of their original place.
#37
Breaking apart a brittle foundation with just a pair of hands is a bad indication that your foundation needs some work!
#38
Here's some pretty significant rot damage to the main beam that is holding up a second story.
#39
Much of the original metal connection hardware was rusted and bolted into what is now rotted wood supports.
Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
Living by the seaside must be a real pain in the neck that way. (But aw, look at the little pawprints. Looks like the family dog was all excited to see the builders!).
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
It is (can hear the ocean from my living room right now). Dry-rotted, moldy, mildewed, water-logged Beach living with sand in every crack. But we love it, and the wildlife wild life especially (used to live in the city).
Load More Replies... #40
They also poured the concrete with different mixes and at different times. What a mess.
#41
All sorts of wedges, shims and jacks were used to help support the framing, but that did very little to help the situation.
#42
Snake vs. lizard matchup. You can probably guess who won this battle.
Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
Once I saw a snake eating another snake. But then I do live in Australia.
Ray Heap 4 years ago
How do you live in a country that actively wants to kill and eat you?
Load More Replies... Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Not sure what a (non-venomous) snake has to do with structural problems but OK.
Alexandru Bucur 4 years ago
This thread is simply interesting things the assessor saw while on the job, not necessarily structural damage. And you have to give it to him, mother nature can be very interesting, in a very cruel, morbid way...
Load More Replies...
#43
This was another contractor's attempt at a sister foundation. It's completely missing proper footings and much of the forming was left in place. Just another reason not to go with the cheapest option.
#44
We shared the original photos of this leaning building a while back, but now we are doing extensive repairs! I'll be doing a full story post on this project tomorrow! Over many decades, pervasive termite damage took place and the entire apartment structure began to lean as the wood was eaten up.
#45
Here's another concrete slab patio that has pretty significant cracking all over.
#47
I think we will just add layers until it's eventually higher than the Eiffel Tower.
#48
Here's some of the cracking inside the home. This place was sitting on a bed of expansive soil. The foundation itself was in fairly good condition, but the home has moved so much that the interior began to pull apart.
#49
Poor little guy got stuck.
#50
This was a home that sat at the top of a steep slope. The concrete patio in the back started to sink due to the movement in the soil below. The creep of the soil eventually caused stress cracking to appear and the fencing to lean as well. A good amount of work is needed here.
#51
The "pier pressure" is too much.
#52
Here’s some interesting jacks holding up an old concrete float that is supporting the subfloor of this home.
#54
Here's a concrete pier that is riddled with cracks. This is usually caused by a bad concrete mix, compression and lack of steel reinforcement.
#55
A soil shelf underneath a home. This will continue to erode over time and potentially cause some settlement issues.
#56
A runaway pier. It will never escape.
#57
Here's a leaky pipe that has caused some instability and rot damage in the surrounding subfloor.
#58
Here's one last shot of the crawlspace access where you can see the framing has rotated outwards significantly. The concrete there is basically dust.
#59
Allow me to pen this slab crack into my structural notes.
#60
A new member of our assessor team, Carlos, doing an inspection of some rotted framing.
#61
This is normally what spall damage looks like before the concrete has broken off.
#62
We are tearing up the concrete and perimeter drainage on this property to install proper waterproofing. Tons of rotted out framing was discovered after ripping open a few areas.
#63
Most of the hardware holding this place together was fairly corroded and we recommended that the owner should explore replacing most of it.
#64
When in doubt, shim it up.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
And leave the beer can there so the wife won't find it and know you were drinking on the job.
#66
Two ends of a girder sitting on a compressed and sunken post & pier.
#67
We come across these rubble walls quite often around LA and they're usually all in a similar condition as this one.
#69
Waterproofing of a retaining wall that was done backwards. This material is supposed to be on the backside of the wall, not the down-slope section.
#70
This is actually a large retaining wall right next to the property we were brought out to inspect. It had a large vertical crack going all the way through and one side was severely displaced.
The ivy couldn't even hide it from us.
Alexandru Bucur 4 years ago
As an arhitect, this kind of thread on BP always gives me more anxiety than entertainment, especially in the light of that recent condo collapse in Florida that killed more than 160 people (don't get fooled by the fact they're still only listed as "missing" - there is no way they survived the way that building collapsed - they simply haven't recovered the bodies yet). These are exactly the warning signs of structural collapse that should have been heeded long ago, but somehow people ignore for years on end until it's much too late. So, for the ever loving love of Pete (Conrad), take care of your house before it falls on you!
Nubmaeme 4 years ago
All I could think about while looking at these pictures is what will the places look like after the next good shaker hits LA?
Load More Replies...
Add New Image
What do you think ?
lara 4 years ago
There are three shows that Mike Holmes produces/makes. One is called "Holmes Inspection" ohmygawd, I cannot believe the "cover-ups." Then he has one called Holmes makes it right, or something like that. We watch him all the time. Mr. Holmes is a really good guy. The show is based in Canada, but we are fortunate enough to get to see him on DIY and HGTV. That is about the only show I watch any more. Fortunately, where we live, it is impossible to have basements in homes as the ground here is way too unstable. So we don't have to deal with failing walls or unsound basements or "sump pumps." Most of the houses here are either on solid foundations or pier and beam. Yes, there are basements in office buildings, but that is a whole different construction program.
A.M. Pierre 4 years ago
My dad's company gets houses ready for sale - repairing minor damage, cleaning, etc. You wouldn't believe the structural things he's seen. He was in an upper class neighborhood, VERY expensive homes, and yet the two-story high back deck was being held up by a wing and a prayer. No structural support, most of the main anchoring nails holding it together were 3/4 of the way out, you name it. The instant he looked over it he the forbade anyone to set foot on it - and the home inspector had already passed it!!
Yort 4 years ago (edited)
I think what’s scarier is that some of these super unsafe building things actually somehow last a long time. Until they spontaneously cause the side of an entire condo building to slide down.
Load More Replies...
Mónica Elisabeth Sacco 4 years ago
Why not going back to old, reliable bricks? What's wrong with US builders? Besides they would do a Lot of good to Woods and ecology.
Yort 4 years ago
It’s not as bad as these, but the last house I lived in had a terrible old stone staircase to the front door. It was clearly sinking, you could tell by where the crackers were. The top step was like half a foot steeper than the other steps. The landlord’s wife kept insisting it was fine (she wasn’t even in charge though??) until one of her friends fell off the staircase (she was fine, I think just got a bruised ego). We got a beautiful wood porch with stairs, but they were placed OVER the crumbling stonework. Not great! But not as bad as leaning retaining walls.
lara 4 years ago
There are three shows that Mike Holmes produces/makes. One is called "Holmes Inspection" ohmygawd, I cannot believe the "cover-ups." Then he has one called Holmes makes it right, or something like that. We watch him all the time. Mr. Holmes is a really good guy. The show is based in Canada, but we are fortunate enough to get to see him on DIY and HGTV. That is about the only show I watch any more. Fortunately, where we live, it is impossible to have basements in homes as the ground here is way too unstable. So we don't have to deal with failing walls or unsound basements or "sump pumps." Most of the houses here are either on solid foundations or pier and beam. Yes, there are basements in office buildings, but that is a whole different construction program.
A.M. Pierre 4 years ago
My dad's company gets houses ready for sale - repairing minor damage, cleaning, etc. You wouldn't believe the structural things he's seen. He was in an upper class neighborhood, VERY expensive homes, and yet the two-story high back deck was being held up by a wing and a prayer. No structural support, most of the main anchoring nails holding it together were 3/4 of the way out, you name it. The instant he looked over it he the forbade anyone to set foot on it - and the home inspector had already passed it!!
Yort 4 years ago (edited)
I think what’s scarier is that some of these super unsafe building things actually somehow last a long time. Until they spontaneously cause the side of an entire condo building to slide down.
Load More Replies... Mónica Elisabeth Sacco 4 years ago
Why not going back to old, reliable bricks? What's wrong with US builders? Besides they would do a Lot of good to Woods and ecology.
Yort 4 years ago
It’s not as bad as these, but the last house I lived in had a terrible old stone staircase to the front door. It was clearly sinking, you could tell by where the crackers were. The top step was like half a foot steeper than the other steps. The landlord’s wife kept insisting it was fine (she wasn’t even in charge though??) until one of her friends fell off the staircase (she was fine, I think just got a bruised ego). We got a beautiful wood porch with stairs, but they were placed OVER the crumbling stonework. Not great! But not as bad as leaning retaining walls.
Related on Bored Panda
