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When was the last time you had your home or business inspected, pandas? Be honest, was it last month, or was it three weeks before you moved into the building nine years ago? We tend to assume that everything is just fine with any structure we enter because well, frankly, the idea of the roof collapsing on top of us or the floor caving in isn’t something most of us want to imagine. But unfortunately, buildings don’t last forever, so to ensure that we’ve chosen a safe space to conduct our business or live our lives, those places need to be inspected every now and then.

And who better to inspect your building than Alpha Structural, Inc.? Alpha Structural is a leader in the engineering and construction of foundation and hillside repairs, and a popular presence on the internet thanks to their social media accounts. Below, we’ve gathered photos from their famous Imgur account, featuring some of the most bizarre and shocking things structural inspectors have discovered while on the job, so we hope you enjoy these pics and remember to always have those inspections done on time.

Keep reading to also find an interview with Ben Reinhart, Vice President of Marketing for Alpha Structural, and be sure to upvote the photos you find most surprising. Then, if you’re interested in checking out Bored Panda’s previous articles featuring Alpha Structural, you can find the most recent ones right here and here!

More info: AlphaStructural.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Imgur

Alpha Structural is a Los Angeles based leader in foundation repair whose mission is “to engineer and build the most precise, practical and responsible repair for our customer’s property, in conformance with State and Local Building Codes and with their budget in mind, so that they may realize their goals concerning the correction of their property.” It was started by David Tourjé, who had built many custom hillside homes in the 1980s and decided to specialize in foundation and hillside repairs due to the increasing demand.  

Alpha Structural has now been going strong for decades, becoming the number one choice for Foundation Engineering and Repair, Landslide Repair, Earthquake and Structural Rehabilitation Contractor in the Los Angeles area. “Our production staff has over 850 years of experience and all of it is hard-core and down-in-the-trenches, not managed from behind a computer,” their website states. “Our in-house engineers and technicians are among the most experienced in all of Southern California. If that’s not enough for you, here are just a few more reasons why you should choose us for all your foundation needs.”

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#5

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

We were called out to assess a failing deck on an ocean-front home, but the ocean had other plans.

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#6

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

9 lives just aren’t enough.
For mummification to occur, the body must be exposed to certain conditions, including chemicals, low humidity or a lack of air, which prevent the tissue from decaying. 
Crawlspaces can in fact provide just the right mix for a body to mummify. I don't know what to do with this information.

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But despite being based in California, Alpha Structural has had an impact on so many people around the world thanks to their hilarious and informative internet presence. With accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Imgur, Alpha Structural has thousands of followers who are eager to view their team’s most shocking finds from inspections and be glad that these things weren’t discovered in their own homes! We’ve been featuring Alpha Structural on Bored Panda for about three years now, and in the past, we’ve been lucky enough to get in touch with them to learn more about their company and the importance of structural inspections.

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Alpha Structural previously told Bored Panda, “There are many factors that can affect the repair of a home such as budget constraints, timing, accessibility of workspace, etc. For the most part we would put the responsibility on the contractors that were hired to do the work. Most homeowners are not aware of the repair ‘methods’ used, especially when the work is under the home."

“For example, we’ve seen brick foundations that have been ‘retrofitted’ by bolting the framing to the brick walls. However, this doesn’t serve any purpose as the bricks can’t hold these bolts. Many times the homeowner had no idea that there was any problem performing this type of retrofit on a brick foundation,” they explained. “Without trying to sound cliché, we can say the old maxim, ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true when selecting a contractor to repair, or upgrade your home’s foundation.”    

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#9

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

At least they placed the concrete on the dirt to avoid termites. 2 out of 10 for the effort.

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We reached out to Alpha Structural about this piece as well, and we were lucky enough to get in touch with Ben Reinhart, the Vice President of Marketing. First, we wanted to hear if there had been any exciting updates since the last time we had spoken with Alpha Structural. "We recently celebrated our 30th anniversary!" Ben shared. "Also, we started servicing Orange County and will soon be expanding to Ventura County as well!"

#10

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Interesting brickwork on that chimney you got there.

Tell me you love controlled chaos without telling me you love controlled chaos.

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#11

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

This home was flooded due to a burst pipe. All the water damage and extra pressure it applied to the slab caused a severe crack to form.
 
You can see it runs across the entire length of the living room.
You can see here the slab has a offset crack, characterized by a height difference on either side of a the crack. 
 
It can be tempting to think that cracks in concrete aren’t a cause for concern, but if they’re affecting your home’s structure, they need to be addressed. Your concrete slab is essential to your home’s structural integrity. A weak foundation can lead to the collapse of interior walls.

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The Chocolate Gecko
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"It can be tempting to think that cracks in concrete aren't concerning" my brother in christ, I have the whole San Andreas fault in my living room

Marcellus II
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Consider it a free, well-ventilated basement, that grows along with your needs.

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David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just how hard did someone jab that pen into the floor? It's impressive a pen could even do that TBH.

Janet Howe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think all that came from just a burst pipe flood. Some of that could be due to high water table pressure. Pushing up from underneath the slab floor.

Hotdogking
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To show you the power of flex tape, I cut the floor of this building!

Angie B
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Put some gorilla glue in there, I heard it holds pretty well.

Jack Harris
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hear me out, I would bet a good amount that, that crack is a result of a neighboring buildings construction. I saw the exact same thing happen in my old warehouse because they were building a mall right next to it.

FlatEarf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Call a professional it should be fine for a bit but definitely get a professional to look at it and tell you your options it can change based on the case. Just don't pour concrete in it or your might end up with a bigger problem

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Bonesko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That window is beautiful, despite the rest of the house's condition. I hope that stays

D00FINSHMERTZ
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A couple five gallon buckets of epoxy and it'll be good until the next owner 😁

Edda Kamphues
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lived in a place where the bathroom caved in due to rotten stumps. Instead of fixing it, the owners sold it. For 1.5 million ...

forestferns
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i was gonna be like oh thats not that big of a deal bit then i was like OH HECK NO

Brenda Minturn
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

Brenda Minturn
Community Member
1 year ago

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Ocean #Four
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cement sealer (don't remember the name of the product). Also, who the fek would live in a place with straight concrete floor and no flooring? That must be cold af 🥶

Justin Rogers
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People usually skimp on putting "hog wire" or other mesh/metal in their concrete. Even my ancestors new this, straw in Adobe and twigs/sticks in the bricks as well

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#12

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Do you see it? Let's zoom in...
Yeah, not scary at all.

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We also asked Ben if it's crucial to have a structural inspector take a look at every building we might be living or working in. "When purchasing a property, it’s very important to do your due diligence," he told Bored Panda. "Get all the inspections; you need to make sure that you’re getting what you expect. We’ve heard all sorts of horror stories about people buying homes, waiving contingencies, and then finding out down the line that they have major structural issues."

"Regarding someone who is already the property owner, they don’t necessarily need to get inspections unless they start noticing signs of structural damage," Ben added. "Large, wide cracks, sloping floors, etc. The best thing a property owner can do for their structure is to make sure they have a good drainage system and keep up with regular maintenance. This will go a long way."

#13

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Check out this red-tagged home we had the pleasure of visiting this week. No big deal. Just a little movement down the hill.

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#14

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Moisture in your crawlspace is never a good thing as it causes wood to decay. It is also an ideal habitat for mushrooms and mold

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#15

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During the storm a tree fell on top of this home. Luckily, no one was seriously injured, though the homeowner was sitting on their couch when their ceiling came crashing down. You can see here how their roof is completely warped from the impact. Inside, the extent of the damage is clearly visible.

P.S. the couch in question is under there somewhere.

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We also asked Ben about any of the wildest things the Alpha Structural team has encountered while on the job. "We come across some crazy stuff. I’d say that one of the most shocking was when one of our assessors found a human skull in the crawl space of a home he was inspecting," he shared. "The skull was complete with a clump of long, black hair and a few chunks of mummified flesh but minus the jawbone. The assessor immediately left the crawl space and notified the police. Surprisingly, when the coroner came, he concluded that the skull was roughly 2,000 years old! It’s suspected that a previous homeowner had found the skull while hiking in Peru in the 1970s and smuggled it back into the country."

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#16

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

For 1 million dollars, would you spend the night in this room?

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Settled for Infamy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Silent, motionless, and wearing a helmet, hell yes! In today's economic climate, I'm there for $100k

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#17

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Here we have a floating post and pier. The room above must be fun for the kids, an in-house bounce house.

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We were also curious what type of person would make for a great structural inspector. "Being a structural assessor is a much more exciting job than people would expect. You see all types of buildings, some of which have a very rich history. You meet a lot of people who are experiencing various structural/geotechnical issues," Ben told Bored Panda. "We try to help them find a solution for their problem that fits within their budget. I’d recommend someone who has experience with construction and who likes to solve problems and help people."

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#19

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

"I'll take signs you're having foundation issues for $100."

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howdylee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that looks like a floating floor. they may have caulked the base trim to the FLOATING floor, the flooring may have contracted do to temperature swings. best case scenario.

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#20

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Is it just Los Angeles drivers or does this happen everywhere? At least the driver miraculously just hit the garage and not the rooms where people were sleeping.

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Ben also added that, "Cracking in drywall/stucco is very common, especially in SoCal. The best thing people can do to mitigate this is make sure that they have a proper drainage system. Don’t let water pool near your foundation. Cracks that are around ¼ of an inch or wider are more concerning. This is a sign that there may be a structural issue."

If you're concerned there might be a structural issue in your home or you'd like to learn more from the experts, be sure to check out Alpha Structural, Inc.'s website right here!

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#21

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Not one thing in this picture is aligned.

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Just like our routine check-ups at the doctor to ensure our health is in tip-top shape, regular building inspections can prevent any issues from creeping up on your residence or office space before it’s too late to fix them. According to Build, structural inspections are important to catch any issues that you might have missed when checking out the space. “It’s easy to get carried away with the idea of getting a new place, but the last thing you want to do is pay for a bad property that lacks minor details which turn out to be crucial after the purchase has been made,” Build explains. “If things such as pest infestations, incorrect electrical wiring, or a faulty plumbing system are not addressed as soon as possible, they can become a major source of discomfort or even danger. These minor yet significant details are what professional [building inspectors] look for when conducting inspections. A building inspector will catch details your untrained eye missed.”

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#23

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

A car plowed into the side of this church. We came out to inspect the structural damage, but the most impressive part was that there were no tire marks on the grass. It is completely pristine. How?
Was it a flying car?

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#24

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Down the hill the fence goes and with it the homeowner’s backyard.

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Having a solid building inspection can also help with your power in negotiations, before you’ve decided whether or not to purchase a space. “With a good inspection, your negotiation stakes are more solid. When making an offer on a property, having a solid understanding of the building’s structural problems and having reports to back up your claims will help you save tens of thousands of dollars,” Build writes.

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“A building inspection is one step you never want to overlook. It is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure that your new building is a good investment, and it is critical to do your research before making such a large purchase. The priority of anyone looking to purchase a property should be to seek the advice of a professional building inspector in order to make a proper and well-informed decision.”

#27

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This retaining wall needs some serious intervention before it fails.
Oh, too late.

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#28

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

We always like a spacious crawlspace, but, as you can see, the foundation wall at the entrance has begun to deteriorate. There seems to be something growing from inside the wall.

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Are you feeling inspired to schedule your next home inspection, pandas? If you’ve got cracks in the wall or you suspect the basement has water damage that could cause problems in the future, now’s the time to get that checked out. We hope you’re enjoying these shocking photos, so keep upvoting all of your favorites. And then if you’re interested in checking out our previous articles featuring Alpha Structural, you can find the most recent ones right here and here

#29

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

If my pen fits then I'm concerned.

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Day
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this the only kind of pen that you can stick in concrete cracks? A previous post used the exact same one.

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#30

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Sometimes concrete slabs crack due to improper installation procedures. They will need to be inspected by a professional to determine the cause.

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Paulo Freitas
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dialation joints, large concrete slabs need dialation joints, concrete like everything else reacts to termodinâmics, if its hot it Will expand, if its cold it Will contract, só you need to put rubber joints on the slab ( x meters apart from eachother, depending on the size of the total área, and Im not a civil engineer, só i don't know how to calculate that ) but those rubber joints Will let the concrete " move " widout cracking.

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#31

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Oh, you think your deck is structurally sound. I dare you to stick a knife in it.

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#32

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

In nature, wood rot is the natural decomposition process turning fallen logs into nutritious soil.

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#33

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Girders act as the intermediate support for the floor joists. They carry the bulk of the weight above them. They should not be twisting away from the post.

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Timbob
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well what do you expect? The spring fell out! That’s your problem right there!

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#34

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The column looks a little worn, but at least it's not supporting a giant parking garage

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#35

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Next time you're on a deck you should look over the side of it and assess how structurally sound it truly is. It's a favorite party trick! People love it...

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Your Local Forza Enthusiast
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've already tried this on my neighbor's deck.He had it professionally installed. He loved it! I would do this trick again, it's a real crowd pleaser.

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#36

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Your house feels a bit slanted? Hmm, I wonder why.

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JoMeBee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeesh, and this is why you don't use wimpy little piers (pertains to previous post...)

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#38

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If the structure is in an area accessed by the public, then spalling can be hazardous in terms of falling debris or trip hazards. If left unchecked, then spalling will accelerate and spread so that, eventually, the structure could become unstable.

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Edda Kamphues
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In one of my previous workplaces, I was advised not to park near a specific wall due to moisture. Everyone feared it would collapse. It was the underground carpark for a major hospital.

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#39

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Don't underestimate a failing retaining wall. This wall will fall, and the results will not be pretty and will ultimately end up costing more than replacing it at this stage.

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#40

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The biggest shim we’ve ever seen.

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#41

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Plummer special!
The very handy plumber dug out the foundation to place a pipe and, in the process, undermined an entire row of post and piers.

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#42

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

If your home is sitting on a slab foundation, these are the types of cracks you do not want to see. Cracks like the ones above are a clear result of structural issues

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#43

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If you're worried about foundation issues in your home, look out for these common indicators:
-Sloping or sagging floors,
-Visible cracks in ceilings,
-Gaps appearing between walls and floors,
-Walls beginning to lean or bow, or
-Floor cracks appearing.

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#44

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

What a great life lesson... even foundation post and piers come in every size.

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Cate
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This us the umpteenth picture of a crawl space with pillars and utility pipes all over the place. I guess this is the USA? What about foundations, proper walls and floors? Seems mad to me.

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#45

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Almost every landslide can have multiple causes. Slope movement occurs when forces acting down-slope exceed the strength of the earth materials that compose the slope. These pipe and board builds were not strong enough to hold the earth behind them

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#46

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The mortar used to hold the river rock together can degrade over time to the point where the rocks will fall out or could easily be pulled out.
 
If neglected, a distressed river rock foundation not only affects the cosmetic appeal of the home but also puts its residents at great risk.
Depending upon the circumstances, a replacement of some or all the unreinforced foundation may be necessary. Usually, homeowners preferred to “sister” the foundation. This preserves the curb appeal of the home. This option is often less costly than a replacement.

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#47

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Once the retaining wall is unable to withstand the force behind it, it will come crashing down. Luckily, a retaining wall does not fail without first showing warning signs. Common signs that a wall is slowly failing can include cracking in the wall, bulging of the face of the wall, and tilting. If a retaining wall shows any of these signs, it is likely time to have the wall evaluated.

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JoMeBee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I stand corrected. This kind of retaining wall lean: also bad...

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#48

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

A car rammed into the side of a bar and took out a supporting column. By the look of it, it was already on its way out.

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#49

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

No one should be parked too close to this wall

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JoMeBee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well at least they weighted the ground surface with rock. That'll bring things to a head faster!

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#50

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Deck or failed retaining wall? Yup, definitely a failed retaining wall.

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#51

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

This home’s access door to their California basement was located in the bathroom. I'm sure they dominated at hide & seek.

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#52

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

As the slab shifts into the building, the retaining walls on the side are being pushed away. This is very dangerous for the structural integrity of the building and the safety of others in the next building.

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#53

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The equation is simple: wood + water = decay.

Because of this, any part of the home that might be damp has the potential to result in rot, but it’s the parts of the home where there’s excess moisture that you need to monitor.

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#54

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

This home's structural posts for its deck are not secured. The connection where the beam meets the concrete footing is not secure as it is slanting due to it sliding down the hillside.

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#55

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

This failing retaining wall is holding 4 feet of dirt.

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#56

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The rainstorm caused many homes to flood. As homeowners realized this week, it can be difficult to pinpoint where the water is coming from. If the property is flooding it could be coming into the home from under the floor. If the property lacks sufficient drainage, heavy rains can cause water to pool against the exterior of the building, and this water can then seep into your foundation and begin pooling inside your home.

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#57

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The scariest crawlspace award goes to...

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#59

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Rusted pipes pose a significant threat to your structure’s foundation.

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#60

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Knowing the common signs of foundation issues can help you take the necessary steps that can spare you extensive and costly repairs in the future.

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#61

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

You can really see how the surrounding expansive soil has affected the post and piers.
My favorite game.

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#62

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Why does it look like they just take the pipe, ram it into the foundation until it goes through and call it a day?

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#63

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The California 'bomb cyclone' unleashed powerful winds and heavy rain, homeowners across the state have witness firsthand how powerful mother nature is.

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#64

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

It was common in the early 1900s to use brick to build foundation walls. If you have an older home, you may notice this is your foundation type. The problem is that over time, they can become weak. Mortar breaks down, and bricks start to fall out

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#66

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

You guessed it!

Another...

plumber's special.

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#67

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Jenga! Which one would you pull?

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#68

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

We visited a home this week with a very interesting backyard. They had walls on 
top of walls.
 
LEVELS! 
Did anyone else watch that episode of Seinfeld? This must be what he meant.
If you couldn't tell: yes, all three walls were done without permits. All three walls are beginning to fail.

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Daffydillz~
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"When the walls come crumblin' crumblin' When the walls come tumblin' tumblin' down"🎶

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#70

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Size matters when it comes to foundation cracks. The picture above is an example of what a concerning crack would look like. The two sides of the gap are pulling away from each other and one side is sinking. We call this “differential settling.”

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#71

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Yeah, that's a “no” from me.

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#72

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The homeowners called us back out this past week after the rain to reassess their non-conforming retaining wall. It's called hydrostatic pressure. As the soil behind the wall collects more water, the greater the hydrostatic pressure on the wall will be. Luckily no one was near when it failed.

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#73

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

I guess they're ready for every level as their foundation sinks.

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#75

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The design takes a front seat over practicality. Are we collecting water in the crawlspace?

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#77

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The tragic events that occurred at the Champlain Towers South condominium complex near Miami brought a lot of attention to these types of deteriorating buildings. The nationwide coverage allowed for more people to be aware of the warning signs. Spalling is not just a cosmetic issue. It can very much be a structural issue.

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#78

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

You get a strap! You get a strap!
Straps for everyone!

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#79

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The roof of a home plays an essential role in ensuring the structural integrity of the entire home. It provides a protective barrier against all the outside elements. The components are all designed to work together to help keep the home well-protected from a variety of potential risks. Even under the finest weather, a roof will eventually deteriorate over time.

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#80

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Vertical cracks = Very bad structural issues

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#81

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

At least they put some shoring up. This wall is doing nothing structurally for the home and needs to be replaced immediately

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#82

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

The girders support the floor joists. During the construction of the foundation, usually a pocket is built within the wall to hold the girder. They can also be hung from the foundation wall with special hardware. Wouldn’t recommend a piece of plywood to do the job.

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Gourdeous
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These look like they're actually in hangers with the weight being taken by the concrete wall.

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#83

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Efflorescence is the white chalky powder that you might find on the surface of a concrete or brick wall. It's a sign of moisture intrusion that could lead to major structural issues if not checked out.

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#84

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Every bit as scary as it looks.

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#85

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

While under a home, as much as you might want as much light as you can get, seeing natural light from outside can pose dangers to your home's foundation.

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#86

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Excavation next to or near any foundation or retaining wall requires special care.

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#87

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Spalling occurs when the reinforcing steel inside the concrete rusts, expands, and then ruptures the concrete.

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Helen Bennett
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then you get a vicious circle. In climates where it can freeze, freezing water in the cracks makes things worse.

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#88

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Termite problems occur when wood components of the foundation are in direct contact with soil. Earth-to-wood contact gives termites easy access to food, moisture, and shelter, everything they need to thrive.
They're just asking for it

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#89

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

We see many crawlspaces and foundations. Well, this is what it looks like when a slab begins to fail. When a slab foundation fails, it can be a very invasive assessment. You have no direct access to it, so you have to pull the floors and carpet off to assess the damage.

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#90

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

You do not want your girder to look like this. The homeowners are probably already noticing sloping or bouncy floors.
Yikes.

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#91

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

When you're not careful on who you hire to do a specialized job it can make it easy to get roped into paying for a job you do not need. This home's foundation was strapped when it clearly did not need to be. Not one single crack was present behind the straps.

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#92

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

A support jack is not a permanent solution. It should only be used to make repairs to a damaged foundation. Once the repair is finished, they should be removed.

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#93

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

So, we’re just using pipes as support beams now?

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#94

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

One of the biggest problems that river rock foundations face is the mortar degrading. The river rocks in the foundation can become loose over time if the mortar begins to degrade as it ages. When the mortar degrades, the rocks can be easily pulled out or fall out of the foundation.

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#95

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Hillsides all over SoCal came sliding down as the rainstorm hit. As beautiful as the hills are, there have always been issues with houses being built on top of them.

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#96

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

This is not the worst looking crawl space but looks can be deceiving. A quick shifting of the sand and you can see the post and pier's footing is not being properly supported.

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Mike Ray
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looking at these pics just makes me want to rent for the rest of my life

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#97

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

There are different types of foundation cracks your home can suffer. Being able to tell the differences between them helps you determine the best way to fix the problem. Two of the most important categories to know about are vertical and horizontal cracks. Horizontal cracks that run across your foundation and/or walls are some of the most serious types of cracks your home can suffer.

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#98

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

It may be hard to tell from this picture, but this hillside home's stem wall is out of plumb. You can look at the mudsill and the cripple wall above the foundation wall to see how much it has shifted forward.

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#99

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Often, river rock foundations here in California are in Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZ). This program aims to identify and protect the distinctive architectural and cultural resources of Los Angeles’s historic neighborhoods. So, any new projects in that neighborhood must complement its historic character. For this reason, sistering the foundation is the best solution.

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#100

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

New year, same problems.

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#101

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

This home’s post and pier seemingly looks fine, but if you take a closer look, you can notice someone has filled in the bottom portion.

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#102

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Bearing failure. The weight above is too much for the girder and it's being crushed. The girder is supposed to be sitting in the notch above the stem wall and mudsill. You can clearly see that it has sunk down meaning the entire floor above has sunk with it.

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#103

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

Another cripple wall leaning into the crawlspace. A cripple wall is a short wall that rests on the foundation and supports the floor and exterior walls. Cripple walls help carry the weight of the house. During an earthquake, cripple walls can easily collapse if they are not braced to resist lateral movement.

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#104

Funny-Dangerous-Structure-Fails

I spy with my little eye...
a missing footing.

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