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Do you have parts that need support?

Well support comes in all shapes and sizes. There is moral-support, child-support, spousal-support, support-hose, military-support, and athletic-support-----we can all use a little support here and there. This is about "foundation-support" and how without enough of it, bad things can happen. Not always "REALLY" bad things----as in this case----but perhaps bad enough to make the floors springy or squeak; or for doors to not close properly. In some cases, all it might mean is that all of one's marbles would run to the same place.

Many homes that have crawl spaces have support posts spaced along central carrying beams. These posts, depending on the spans and sizes of beams, might be anywhere from 4 to 10 feet apart. Modern requirements call for these support posts to be attached at the top and the bottom. The concrete footing for the support post in the following picture is out of sight under the plastic ground cover. We can clearly see that it is not attached at the bottom----in fact the post is ¾" from touching anything.

Support post

Looks like it is time to bring out the "lumber-stretcher" and make that post long enough to make contact with the footing and then we can properly attach it. Again, this is brand new construction----the contractor hasn't even packed up his truck yet----better get him back down here.

Charles Buell

PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.

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Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector on 11/15/2008 10:08 AM

Comments (59)

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Originally posted at: Seattle Home Inspector's Blog: Do you have parts that need support?

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59 Comments on Do you have parts that need support?

NOV

2008

Oh my-- that looks pretty dangerous. Bet you run into everything in your business.

This is a great example of why even a new construction should be reviewed by a qualified home inspector. I like the standards of ASHI and the quality of their members.

Bob & Carolin, I wouldn't call this so much "dangerous" as an oversight. Pretty easy to fix. This kind of defect would likely only be noticed in years to come after the beam settled---if it did. I think it is a good example of where an inspector might alarm people unnecessarily :)

Martin, as a Certified Member of ASHI I agree with you, and I don't want to get into a "tiff" with any of the other associations, so just let me add that there are lots of great inspectors in many of the associations (including NAHI & InterNACHI)----there are also lots of bad inspectors in all of them as well. In some respects you still have to be "lucky" to find a good inspector, and I think word of mouth by happy buyers and agents is still the best resource. All of their Standards of Practice are virtually identical.

That builder may have been planning to come back and fix it but you and I doubt it, don't we?

Can a metal or wood brace be added here? Measure twice, cut once. LOL

Barbara, I suspect he was planning on shoving a ski under it on his way to Vale:)

Randall, there are ways to properly shim the post or simply replace it. It obviously isn't supporting very much so there is little danger in taking it out and putting a new one in and then properly attaching it top and bottom. The builder would still make his flight out of town no doubt:)

Man how unsafe-lucky you found this. It looks pretty unsafe. Great job.

Wow Charles, "floating" support. What will they think of next? Hard to see how they missed this one. But you didn't.

Hi Charles, isn't that new type of pier and beam system there doing today called a Floating Foundations.

~ Life is Good

P.S. Just E-mail you some stuff.

Pat, as I said in an earlier comment, this is not so "unsafe" as merely something that should be addressed to prevent possible problems down the road. "Eventually" the floor system is likely to sag until the post makes contact with the footing.

Gary, now if they can find a way to market the idea:)

Roy, was that why I had a "squeaky" voice when I came out of the crawl space?---the house was floating on helium?

I'm sure the house will settle enough in the first year to be in contact with the ground. It will be fine. LMAO

Charles, I brought this to the attention of a contractor one time and he told me it was to lend support when the house settled (with a straight face).

Sure is a good thing the buyers had you check the place out before the builder was done! Some corners should not be cut!

Scott, yup:)

Paul, you mean that is not true?:) Actually, with dimensional lumber beams you can have crowns that do need to be taken out----but you take them out at the time of installation not wait for it to happen on its own latter. I will do a blog about this.

Jim & Maria, some posts should not be cut---improperly:)

Charles .... That is obviously a "settlement support post" designed to be used once the home settles into place.

Sean Allen

Sean, does this mean that one would find these support posts at Home Depot in the "Prophylactic Support" isle?

Mr Charles,

Your effort to repair that issue with bearing, by leaving your fluke voltage tester under it, is not a professional repair. I hope you know that. Fact is, that post still does not have proper bearing. I hope you told your clients that, instead of making them think you fixed it. My boss would have never repaired it that way because he is too cheap to leave his tester behind.

Your critic,

Nutsy,

Nutsy, while you have learned "some" important things about your boss, you should get him to tell you about your predecessor that is stilldown in a crawl space somewhere with his leg under a similar support post.

I like Roy's conclusion....new concept called floating foundation. Again Mr. Home Inspector to the rescue, thank goodness.

Well, you had me with the title, Charles. But the pic is an eye catcher, too. I also enjoyed some of the comments. Esp from the squirrel in the blue windbreaker.

Carl & Ceil, thanks for the comment.

Margaret, don't you just love those "double entendre" titles?:) The squirrel is quite a "windbreaker" and you really don't want to be around when he does:)

Dear Mr Charles,

If you were an observant inspector you would know that I am not wearing a windbreaker. That is my crawl space attire. It is full rain gear and it was costly to get it in my size.

Your critic,

Nutsy

PS, I hope you can recognize my attire below. That is my pilgrim outfit for Thanksgiving.

Nutsy, I never said anything about your wearing a windbreaker I just said you are a windbreaker:)

Charles,

I believe these post are found at Lowes, not Home Depot.

Sean Allen

Sean, thanks for the Lowes-down on that:)

A good inspector, with good intentions, would have corrected that mis-statement.

Nutsy,

NOV

2008

Is that rodent beginning to annoy anyone else? He seems to be popping up in a whole lot of posts lately.

Charlie, I see this kind of thing so much now days on new houses.

Kevin, Squirrels are annoyingby nature. We have to be tolerant or have a barbecue.

Mr Kevin has no idea how annoying I could be, if he makes me mad. Ooops....what happened to that darn cable three minutes before the Super Bowl? Hmmmm....only Nutsy knows.

No brag, just fact,

Nutsy

I have a riddle for you.

How does Nutsy feel when a car goes whizzing by?

He just feels "tired!"

I hope that Mr James invites me to his barbecue. I love smoked morsels.

James' new best friend (hint, hint)

Nutsy

Certifried home inspector assistant

Mr. Nutsy,

You are more than welcome to come to a barbecue. In fact you will the main cou....er guest of honor. I think I will ask Charlie B. and his assistant as well. By the way bring all your family and friends. You can never have to much food.

James,

On behalf of Nutsy, I know that he really appreciates your offer. He is wondering what delectable dishes you will be serving.

James, sounds like a great party.

Steve, I suggest you let Nutsy be surprized:)

Charlie, I think surprise is the right word. Boy will he ever be!

Charles I'm sure the contractor just didn't notice it. Easy thing to overlook as long as you don't walk to close or bump it.

NOV

2008

I am so ready for this big event. I even bought a new wardrobe so I can help Mr James flip the tender morsels he has committed to serving the guests. I am so pleased and surprised.

NOV

2008

Nutsy you cannibal you----I knew that was true of the rats with no hair on their tails----but you? Say it isn't so!

Mr Charles,

Now that Mr James and I are bound at the hip, best buddies, do you think it would be okay with him if I was to call him Mr. Jimmie Q? Just wondering what you think. He did invite me and the clan to the barbecue so I think he wants to get to better know the family and all.

Nutsy

Certifried Home Inspection Assistant

I think I want to show up at this feast with a camera just to watch the fur fly!!!

Barbara, I am sure that with any good Squirrel-B-Q there will be lots of left overs for Raven and her friends that will be flying in for the occasion.

"Mugsy" Mugsy would like an invite too. He says he will bring the fruit. I, for one can't wait to see Nusty scurrying for "morsels".

Here's a couple of Ravens kin picking up their invitations for the barbecue. Crows love tasty barbecued morsels. Better than eating road killed squirrel.

Must be what the Raven is Cravin' !!

Mugsy is certainly be a welcome addition to the party---he is not a vegetarian is he?

James, I suspect the entire Murder of Ravens from the area will attend

Kevin, too hard to pass up

NOV

2008

I am laughing with you people, although I think most of the posts on here are plain not funny at all.

Your bud Nutsy

NOV

2008

Mr Charles and Mr James,

I believe that, instead of the chef outfit, I will fly to Connecticut for Mr James barbecue wearing this outfit. That way, when Mr. James picks me up at the airport, he will be able to recognize me. Do you fine gentlemen think this would be an appropriate themed outfit for the barbecue.

NOV

2008

That assistant of mine has kind of the General Custer look. Not sure I want him at the barbecue with James.

All he is missing is an arrow:)

NOV

2008

Charlie, You forgot, he also needs to be scalped. Can't eat em with the fur on.

Nutsy is offended and so am I. You two took his good natured spoof seriously. It must be hard to buy food in Seattle and CT, you guys are pretty desperate. I hope James can accommodate all of Nutsy's friends and family at his big event.

Steven, Check out this baby. I am waiting anxiously for it to arrive, unfortunately it's on back order. This grill should be more than able to accommodate Nutsy and his big family. Lots of room for friends and family.