It is seldom the case in a newer house, because of modern construction and code requirements, but in older houses you find odd attempts at structural repairs. In this article we will look at a few post and pier problems in an older home.

As a home ages, the chances of various problems increases -- settling, rot, wood destroying insect damage.  So, when we get underneath a 100 year old home, the photos below would be typical. People have tried to solve immediate problems with less than stellar work.

Today we are used to seeing positive connections, at least at the top of the posts. That might be wood members nailed from the sides of the post to the beam or there might be metal connectors. I did not expect to find them here and I was not surprised. Often wood posts rest directly on concrete piers. Moisture from the soil can wick up into the wood and eventually that will lead to decay. An impervious membrane, such as a composition shingle, between the concrete and the wood is of significant benefit.

If we take into account the above information, and realize that this is an older home, then let's comment on additional problems at the posts above. The post at the left is resting on a concrete block. Not only does that block have no poured footing beneath it but, also, the block has the hollow channels pointed sideways. Such blocks are designed to have channels facing up and down. Installed in this way, sideways, it will easily crush. The post at the right is a mystery -- why did the person do such a sloppy job installing it? I think the answer is not hard to guess. We will consider it to be a case of the quick fix -- probably out of necessity. These are repair and maintenance items that the buyer will be dealing with in the future.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections