40 Insane Discoveries That Left Even Structural Engineers Speechless

We might think buildings are indestructible, but they’re not. A strong wind can blow off a roof, and a small earthquake can damage foundations. That’s why we admire structural engineers. They fix damaged buildings and often face unexpected hazards on the job. Let’s give home inspection services the credit they deserve.

Are the Posts Supposed to Bend?

Home inspection services are often needed for renovations, and this photo shows why old houses should be updated. They don’t last forever, especially those built on wooden posts! Imagine the inspector’s shock seeing these posts bending under the house’s weight. Hopefully, the inspector didn’t lean on the house while giving the quote—it looks like one push could send it over the edge!

When the Foundations Split in Half

The foundation of any structure is crucial—just like in Jenga, if the bottom layers are weak, everything can collapse. This is why home inspection services were alarmed when they saw this house. Initially, it seemed like a flooring issue, but it was far worse. The foundation was splitting in half, causing the entire structure to shift. Fixing this won’t be cheap nor easy.

Tetris-Inspired Pier and Beam Home

Anyone familiar with structural engineering and construction knows that pier and beam constructions are common worldwide. This design allows for crawl spaces under homes, where many home inspection services focus their structural inspections. Although pier and beam setups aren’t flawless, they rarely resemble a game of Tetris. In this case, however, the beams are oddly stacked, and the concrete stumps appear haphazardly piled on top of each other.

That Roof Should Be Straight

Earthquakes are a nightmare for many, but they keep home inspection services busy. When the team arrived for this inspection, they saw the earthquake’s impact on the house. The foundations had shifted, deep cracks ran through the walls, and the roof, which should have been straight, was bent. That bend was not a design choice. While the house could be repaired, it would have been extremely costly.

Adult Foot Vs Differential Settlement

Differential settlement is often detected during structural inspections, but it’s rare to find it this severe. As shown by the foot for scale, the foundations are sinking at different rates, creating a complete mess. Just look at how deep those cracks go! That’s definitely not something any homeowner wants to see. While duct tape might be a joke fix for minor issues, it certainly won’t help here.

Fungus Isn’t Fun

When you think about it, the word “fungus” is quite misleading. There’s nothing fun about finding fungus, especially during a structural inspection. This picture, taken in the crawl space under a home, shows beams, joists, and girders overrun with fungus. This is a serious issue. It’s harmful to the residents and compromises the house’s structural integrity. The more the fungus grows, the more dangerous the house becomes.

Hillside Properties and Rainstorms Don’t Mix

Let’s be honest; shows like *Selling Sunset* and *Buying Beverly Hills* make us dream of Hollywood Hills homes. While these houses are stunning, home inspection services often find that they aren’t as structurally sound as they appear. Never underestimate the power of water, especially in landslide-prone hills. In this case, water pressure pushed against the retaining wall until it bent and broke. Fortunately for these homeowners, the damage was limited to their backyard and didn’t affect the entire house.

These Support Beams Aren’t Supportive

A support beam, as its name suggests, supports the house and must be strong and stable. Unfortunately, the home inspection service found a rotting support beam inside this stilt home. Given the house’s elevated position on a hill, this discovery is certainly concerning. Remedying this issue would likely require a full renovation and replacement of the beams, which is both costly and stressful for homeowners.

Leaving the Pool Water Running

Having a pool is great, but it also comes with extra responsibilities. You must maintain water cleanliness, ensure safety, and manage operational aspects like turning it off when necessary. Unfortunately, a pool service technician neglected these duties while their clients were on vacation, leading to a pool-related landslide that damaged the entire backyard and demolished the decking. Hopefully, the pool company has insurance because it looks like a substantial claim is headed their way.

If the Trees Are Bending, the Hill Is Unstable

Structural inspections are crucial when building on hillsides due to the inherent risks involved. Observing trees around the property can be a good indicator of stability. If trees show signs of leaning or bending, it often indicates that the hillside is unstable and has been shifting over time. This instability raises concerns about the foundations of structures built on such terrain, as they too may be susceptible to movement and damage.

Stilt Houses and Salt Water Aren’t Friends

Living in a beach house sounds dreamy with ocean views, but there are challenges, especially with stilt houses and saltwater. This home inspection service found that the footings of one house had been severely eroded by saltwater, jeopardizing the home’s support. Additionally, they encountered a puzzling arrangement of beams that raised further concerns about the house’s structural integrity.

Rotten Wood Beams Aren’t Good

Wooden beams are widely used in construction, but modern renovations often incorporate steel beams to address issues associated with wood, such as rot. Structural inspections sometimes reveal rot in wooden beams, which can significantly compromise a building’s integrity. As rot progresses, the beams lose support and stability, affecting the entire structure. Finding rot from the middle of a beam is especially concerning. Hopefully, this inspection concluded with a plan to remove and replace the rotten beam to ensure the building’s safety and stability.

You Shouldn’t Be Able to Slide a Hand Under a Pier

In pier and beam houses, it’s crucial that piers are flush with the floor and securely in place. If not, the entire structural integrity of the house is compromised, posing risks of instability and danger. During a recent structural inspection, the home inspection service discovered they could slide their entire hand underneath a pier and lift it up, a clear sign of improper installation. This kind of issue typically requires an expensive fix for homeowners, as it cannot be ignored without serious consequences.

Nature Will Find a Way to Infiltrate a Crawl Space

Having a crawl space under your house is convenient for monitoring foundations and conducting structural work without major disruption. However, it can also pose challenges, especially with nature’s tendency to encroach. In one case, giant tree roots found their way into the dark, damp crawl space of a house, causing significant damage to the foundations. While treehouses are beloved, the homeowners likely didn’t anticipate their house becoming one unknowingly.

The Grass and the Wall Were Once Flush

In today’s world, many houses are constructed on hills and slopes, much to the concern of structural engineers. While this isn’t always problematic, it can become a major issue when the hillside starts to erode and slide away from the structure. During a recent structural inspection, engineers observed this exact scenario. Originally, the grass and the wall were intended to be flush with each other. However, as the hillside eroded, the wall began to collapse alongside it, creating a significant gap and height difference between them.

When Spall Damage Takes Hold

High-rise buildings are typically constructed with concrete for strength and stability. However, concrete is not immune to damage, particularly spalling, which can eventually cause structural issues and even collapse. During a recent inspection, the home inspection service noticed spall damage on the ceiling of the basement garage in a high-rise building. If left untreated, this damage could lead to the ceiling collapsing, potentially endangering cars below and compromising the building’s integrity.

The Leaning Wall of the Parking Garage

At first glance, this might seem like the side of any parking garage, but to those familiar with structural engineering, it’s much more concerning. The vehicle barrier wall at the top of the garage is visibly leaning to one side. What’s even more alarming is that this issue isn’t on the ground floor. If that wall were to collapse, the potential damage could be catastrophic. Hopefully the parking lot was promptly renovated and repaired to prevent any accidents.

A Retaining Wall on Its Last Legs

A retaining wall is crucial for supporting structures, especially when it’s adjacent to a house. This picture shows a retaining wall that’s severely compromised, likely due to poor drainage causing waterlogged soil to push against it. Structural inspections indicate it’s just a matter of time before the wall will need complete replacement. This isn’t a DIY fix and can be quite costly.

A Leaking Bathtub Gone Wrong

Looking at this picture of the underside of a bathtub, there are some concerning observations. Firstly, having an electrical outlet underneath the bathtub is a significant safety issue. Secondly, there is visible spalling and exposed rebar, which are signs of concrete deterioration that should not be visible. These issues became apparent due to a leak from the bathtub. Following a structural inspection, the homeowners were advised to demolish and renovate the entire area to address these safety and structural concerns properly.

What’s That Gap for?

No homeowner wants to discover issues with their home’s foundations, which is why regular structural inspections are crucial for monitoring structural integrity. Ideally, homes would remain free of such problems. However, in cases like this one, foundation issues can lead to significant structural problems, such as the entire house shifting. In this instance, a wall that was once flush with the house has moved away over time, leaving an unsettling gap between them.

Always Fill the Holes in Cinder Blocks

There are two types of walls: structural walls that affect a home’s integrity and cosmetic walls used for decoration or separation. While decorative walls don’t require the same structural strength as load-bearing ones, they still need to be safe. In this case, the significant cracks visible indicate serious structural issues. During the home inspection, it was clear that the builder had cut corners by not properly filling the holes in the cinder blocks, leading to a weak and compromised structure.

That Hole Shouldn’t Be There

Structural inspections are all about getting into every corner of your property to uncover potential problems, which homeowners often don’t regularly check. During one such inspection, an engineer discovered a large hole underneath someone’s deck that shouldn’t have been there. What’s even more concerning is that the homeowners had been dealing with a rodent issue, and this hole likely served as their entry point.

DIY Bodge Job Gone Wrong

Spotting issues with your home can be frustrating, especially when they require significant and costly repairs. In the case of this pier and beam house, someone attempted to level it themselves, opting for a makeshift solution involving nuts and bolts as jacks. This DIY approach not only poses serious safety risks but also fails to effectively address the structural issue. When the home inspection service later discovered this improvised job, they were understandably outraged by the negligence and poor quality of the work.

A Bucket as a Pier

The importance of proper support for pier and beam foundations cannot be overstated, as they are critical to a home’s stability. During a structural inspection, it was shocking to discover that someone had used a bucket to prop up the beams of their home. Even if the bucket was filled with concrete, it’s no substitute for a professionally installed pier.

The Tree Hit the Roof

Roofs are designed to withstand various weather conditions, but they are no match for the impact of a giant tree. Most structural inspections advise homeowners about the risks posed by nearby trees, but not everyone heeds these warnings. In this case, the situation is worsened by the fact that the tree has been pruned and maintained over the years. It begs the question why the homeowners didn’t also consider reducing the tree’s size to mitigate the risk it posed to their roof and property.

Daylight Shouldn’t Visible in a Crawl Space

Venturing into the crawl space of your home can be a dark and secure area meant to maintain the house’s structure. However, during a home inspection, the service discovered a surprising issue: a hole in the crawl space wall that didn’t require additional lighting. A compromised crawl space is concerning because it can lead to problems such as mold, pests, moisture, and even structural issues.

That Crack Wasn’t on the Plans

Home inspection services extend their scrutiny beyond just the interior of a house to include structural inspections of the exterior. In one instance, they were called to a home with a small sidewalk adjacent to the neighboring house. Unfortunately, water undermined this sidewalk, causing a crack in the foundations that allowed water to flow downhill and erode the neighbor’s backyard. Such cracks indicate structural damage that shouldn’t exist. Given that the sidewalk belonged to the homeowner, it’s likely they had to cover the costs for repairing the damage to their neighbor’s yard.

How Many Pens Can Fit in the Bricks?

Bricks and mortar remain popular in modern renovations due to their strength when properly constructed. The key to their strength lies in filling the gaps between bricks with mortar. If not properly filled, the structure can be compromised. During a structural inspection, it was evident that a substandard builder had constructed a wall with gaps much larger than acceptable. Ideally, these gaps should be so minimal that not even a single pen could fit through. However, the gaps were large enough to accommodate numerous pens, revealing construction flaws.

When the Stairs Come Away From the House

Home inspection services often encounter settlement issues in homes. While minor settlement is expected in new constructions as they adjust to their foundations, significant settlement in older properties is worrisome. Weak or compromised foundations can lead to structural damage, such as the separation seen here between the staircase and the front portion of the home. This movement means that the stairs are gradually shifting away from the house, which could lead to further deterioration and eventual collapse if not addressed promptly.

The Retaining Wall Is Being Iced Out

It seems like nature has a way of asserting itself, as seen in this backyard where a tree’s roots have gradually pushed against and warped a once-sturdy wall. This phenomenon, where the roots grow larger and exert pressure, has clearly displaced the wall from its original position. The homeowner’s attempt to stabilize the wall with two-by-fours was likely seen as inadequate during the home inspection service’s assessment.

Support Beams Should Be Connected

Hillside properties indeed require robust and stable supports to mitigate movement and erosion risks. Initially, this house appears well-supported with a maze of intersecting beams underneath. However, closer inspection reveals that some of these beams are completely disconnected, rendering them ineffective in providing structural support. This could pose significant risks to the stability and safety of the house over time.

No Parking, Please

Structural inspections often reveal a variety of issues when examining the crawl space under a house. From inadequate piers and beams to mold, fungus, and concerning electrical and piping issues, inspectors are accustomed to finding a range of problems. However, finding a rusted steel beam adorned with a “No Parking” sign underneath a home surely brought amusement to the inspection.

The Trees Caught This Wall

Retaining walls play a crucial role in hillside properties, especially in mitigating erosion risks. Home inspection services frequently encounter homes where retaining walls have failed due to inadequate construction that doesn’t meet building codes or withstand the hillside’s environmental changes. In this instance, the homeowners were fortunate; if not for the trees below catching the failing retaining wall, it could have slid down and potentially damaged their neighbors’ roof, resulting in significant expenses.

That Much Fungus Is Not a Good Sign

Fungal growths under homes can be alarming, as discovered during a home inspection where fungus was observed dripping down from the floor above. This sight often elicits surprise from inspectors, as it’s not common to witness such extensive fungal infestation. The affected wood appears wet and rotten, while the flooring material is visibly warped and distorted.

Time to Say Goodbye to This House

Buying an oceanfront property, especially one on stilts above the water, can be a dream come true for many, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Wood and saltwater are known adversaries, making it essential to thoroughly inspect the building’s quality before purchasing. During a home inspection of an old oceanfront property, inspectors discovered significant issues underneath the house. Many beams were bowed, some were completely eroded, and the overall structure appeared precarious and in urgent need of repair.

When a Bad Leak Goes Awry

Leaks in homes can indeed cause significant damage, affecting the structural integrity of the building. In one instance, a family experienced a collapse of their deck due to water damage to the supporting structure underneath. The collapse left a substantial crack in the deck, prompting the family to place a cone as a precautionary warning.

If a House Moves, so Does the Sidewalk

Settlement issues are a frequent concern encountered by home inspection services, but encountering a house that has shifted enough to move the public sidewalk in front of it is very unusual. In such cases, the visible movement of the sidewalk indicates significant structural movement of the house, posing potential hazards and raising questions about the stability of the entire street. During the structural inspection, engineers not only diagnosed the problem affecting the house but also assessed broader implications for the neighborhood’s infrastructure integrity.

Seeing Settlement From Down Below

Crawling underneath a home may not be pleasant, but it can reveal crucial insights, particularly when addressing flooring issues or wall cracks. During a home inspection at this property, inspectors ventured below ground and quickly identified signs of settlement. Visible were a substantial gap and crack between the wood and concrete, indicating a significant structural shift that should ideally be flush and stable.

A Home’s Worst Enemy: Efflorescence

When a home inspection service identifies efflorescence, it’s a sign of dissolved minerals migrating through a surface due to water leaks, often indicating a persistent issue. While homeowners might not welcome this news, addressing it promptly ensures the home’s long-term stability. Finding the underlying cause of efflorescence is crucial to preventing further damage and maintaining the property’s integrity.

This River Rock Won’t End Well

Using river rock as a foundational material is indeed risky, especially in seismic-prone areas where stability is crucial. Home inspection services, upon inspecting such constructions, often find them lacking adequate support and reinforcement, which can compromise the safety and longevity of the home.

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