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.
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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.
The owner must be an idiot! What did they think would hold the house up. Air?
Somebody was preparing for the zombie apocalypse or something!
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.
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.
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.
Phhhh, it's been like this for years, what could possibly go wrong.....
Please watch your step!
I think I'd rather spontaneously evolve the ability to fly than use those stairs. Lamarck, here I come!
Do not jump on this deck if you enjoy living. Don’t even walk for that matter.
This floors enforces social distancing AND diets... two people within six feet will surely get swallows, or any person over 200Lbs.
The column was barely hanging together with just a small portion of the top and bottom staying connected.
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.
This needs very urgent attention given the recent building collapsing in Florida.
This was a home we inspected with two sets of rotted stairs and plenty of interior cracking.
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.)
I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your piers down!
"We call such piers "Morgan". However unstable he looks, however much nobody can come up with something good, he's still around."
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.
I really dig your riveting puns, but I see no concrete evidence for your complaints.
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.
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.
I would not count anybody above or below that deck as lucky until the job is finished
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.
I think this is the original.
She's smiling because every time someone opens the window it tickles her armpit.
The concrete porch area has some major cracking and is slowing pulling away from the house.
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!
I guess the contractor who installed these didn't know left from right, or up from down.
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.
Some good ol' termite damage.
Termites are rotten to the core. They eat away at my confidence in my home.
Here we have an eroded concrete pier that will more than likely be gone within a year or two.
A mousetrap was placed here just in case any of those pesky buggers managed to slip through the cracks!
This stilted deck has multiple rotting members holding up and you can see the warping and rotation where some of the lumber connects.
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.
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!!
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...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.
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!!
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...