When something has been said to slip away, the connotation is not positive. There are times I’ve heard. “I let opportunity slip away”. While that may be, opportunity is a perceived moment in time, not a solid object or predetermined destination. With buildings slipping is also in most instances undesirable and should be prevented.
Fastening building components is as varied as the types of building themselves. Yet the good old nail, screw and bolt do the bulk of the work most of the time. Omitting one of these fasteners at a key location can cause a bit of slipping to occur, like say a wall from a foundation.
Inspecting a detached garage the other morning I noticed some slipping…to the rear wall. The interior was fairly cluttered making it difficult to see. I did initially notice bolts fastening the walls to the floor slab near the entry door. The rest of the walls as I said were fairly well covered with stuff. Looking at the exterior I saw a bulge in the center of the rear wall. Going back inside and doing a bit of wading, I found the corresponding spot. The wall framing was off the foundation floating. Kind of gives new meaning to the term air support.
What appears to have occurred is the downspout at the corner was directed by an extension right against the slab near this part of the foundation. Over the time the water undermined the foundation thus causing settling. Since the wall wasn’t bolted to the foundation, it slipped away.
Reminds of a song;
Slip slidin’ away, slip slidin’ awayaay
James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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