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Photo of the Day...

I love the older, more experienced properties. Like many of our more ‘experienced’ citizens, there are certainly stories to tell, and a journal of what has historically happened in its life.

Yesterday while inspecting a property not too far from the world famous Opryland Hotel, I ran across this unusual repair by our ol’ buddy Bubba the unhandy handyman. One again, a classic example of how not to support a load-bearing girder.

The blocks were setting on the ground with no concrete foundation (18x18 for Davidson County), the bricks were kinda-sorta professionally mortared together, but the ‘coup de gras’ were the shims of asbestos shingle tiles… Yeah Buddy!

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Posted by Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector on 07/18/2008 07:15 AM

Comments (18)

photo of the day, brentwood home inspections, nashville home inspections, middle tennessee and williamson county home inspections

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18 Comments on Photo of the Day...

That's a pretty scary photo. I think I would have vacated that basement Pronto. Veronica

07/18/2008 07:22 AM

by Veronica DeCarolis (Weidel Realtors)

Gotta tell you... If I were the buyer on that home I'd think twice! Yikes. I just wouldn't feel good about that holding me up.

07/18/2008 07:27 AM

by Lindsey Hasford (Coldwell Banker Vision)

I like it reminds me of my Lego days!

07/18/2008 07:29 AM

by Darin Haughie (Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell, Inc. (EWM))

Michael,

The older they are , the more character they have....LOL

07/18/2008 07:45 AM

by Bo Hussung/ Title services in all 50 states (Cogent Closing Associates)

OMG, Isn't that something! The asbestos tile shims, gotta love the resourcefulness!LOL! I showed a house yesterday, floors were up and down, wonder if something similar was going on in the crawlspace???

07/18/2008 07:46 AM

by Debbie Malone, Realtor (R), Lynchburg, Smith Mountain Lake, VA (RE/MAX 1st Olympic)

Ah..the creativity you can do with what you have in a few minutes of time. Reminds me of a local fellow who had a lake lot and built a cottage. He was home from college for the summer..had no money but was resourceful with what he had. The line to the homemade septic system (word used loosely) was a dryer vent with sleeves from the diesel engines of a local garage that overhauls them. He put the flexible what he had laying around dryer vent inside a "linked" row of engine cylinder sleeves because he could get them free and they allowed movement with frost..sort of. Good picture!

07/18/2008 07:52 AM

by Andrew Mooers | Northern Maine Real Estate / Aroostook County Broker (MOOERS REALTY)

We had a story on our local news this week about a lady who just discovered that the foundation of her garage was build on stacks of railroad ties twenty years ago. She learned this after calling a structural engineer (I believe) to see why her car was suddenly scraping her driveway when she pulled into the garage. It really makes you wonder what's under older buildings.

07/18/2008 08:54 AM

by Tracy Williams Pender, MBA ~ Knightdale & Raleigh, NC Real Estate (Carolina Realty Max)

That looks pretty solid there don't you think?? Bet the buyer was a little nervous on this sale.

07/18/2008 08:58 AM

by Mary Strang, Viroqua, WI Real Estate (RE/MAX Hill Country)

omg - That's the unsturdy support I have ever seen. If it weren't for the weight of the floor, it would all fall over.

07/18/2008 09:23 AM

by Nashville real estate - Larry Brewer (Keller Williams - Franklin tn)

Michael, the funny thing is, I would guess it has been that way as long as the cast iron drain has been there. Don't you hate it when things like this "pass the test of time?"

07/18/2008 10:06 AM

by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com)

Morning Michael,

Thank you for yet another great lesson in Bubba construction. He sure has a creative mind, Michael.

07/18/2008 10:10 AM

by Harold (Hal) Place (A1 Connection Realty, Inc.)

Michael-Yet another great picture. "Bubba Construction"-Hal that is a good one.

Joe

07/18/2008 04:09 PM

by Joseph D. Federico, Westwood, MA Real Estate (RE/MAX Landmark)

WOW ..... That one is a douuzy. Just think, the bricks or shingles give out, the beam collapses and then the sewer line breaks. Now you got a nice mess of Shi$ to clean up before repairing the support beam..... YUCK ....... Gave myself a visual that I wish I hadn't.

Sean Allen

07/18/2008 04:16 PM

by International Financing Solutions

Why write it up at all? Its held up fine so far......

07/18/2008 09:44 PM

by J. Brandon Roberts (Reveal Property Inspections)

Is that for real?

07/19/2008 12:15 AM

by Stewart Penn - West Hollywood Condo Specialist (Penn Properties)

Thant's a great picture!

07/19/2008 10:10 AM

by David Slavin, ABR, SRES RE/MAX Grand, Katy, TX (RE/MAX Grand)

Git-r- Done. Looks like she will hold. We got two more to level. Lets throw the tarp to her.

07/20/2008 05:49 PM

by Shaun Wren (Western & Southern Life)

that is a scary photo. Funny but scary. You can't beat character!!!

07/20/2008 06:23 PM

by Maureen McCabe - Central Ohio real estate (Real Living HER)

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