Structural support is backbone or more apt the skeleton of a home or building. Without a correctly designed and installed support system the building will fold like a house of cards. Defects in the structural system can cause significant failures in the building.
On a recent inspection it was discovered in a quite newer home (2005) a serious structural concern. The first photo shows the end of one of two main structural support beams in this home. This is the pre-formed pocket in the foundation wall made to accept the beam. As is evident in the photo the beam has been shimmed to raise it to the proper height.
The problem is the shims here were able to be pulled right out of the pocket when checked. The beam was toe nailed to the sill plate with one nail on each side! The shims were not actually pulled completely out, but were moved several inches forward and very quickly pushed back into position.
The second photo shows the other support beam on the opposite side of the foundation. The beam is actually resting on a piece of wood just a few inches thick. As is clear in the picture this beam is resting on three separate pieces of wood.
The four foundation beam pockets will have to be evaluated for correction by a foundation specialist or structural engineer.
The buyers of this home were extremely happy they had the support of a qualified professional home inspector to thoroughly survey their home or their deal may have collapsed.
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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