Just Because Everyone Else Does It, Doesn't Make It Right...

Remember when you were a kid and wanted to do something that you kinda sorta knew was wrong, and you went to your parents to ask for permission to do it? Generally, after a disappointing response,"NO!" you often sparked some rebuttal or rebuke of the reply with, "But, all the other kids are doing it...". Not that it changed the outcome of your parent's decision, but you certainly let your opinion be known.

Well, the same often holds true during construction especially on some of the older properties that are undergoing rehabilitation for resale purposes. Concrete blocks laid on bare earth floors are common to see, with the retort from the contractor, "Well everyone else does it that way...". Sound familiar?

Concrete and concrete blocks have compression strength, and fail miserably under sheer loads. An example of this compression strength is bridges. Have you ever noticed the movement of a bridge while stopped at a traffic light? This is compression loads at work. If the bridged did not flex, it would collapse. The same holds true with foundations and support piers. So, the catch in construction rehabs is to install the blocks in the designed direction of the compression strength of the block. The web of the block is the weakest point and most apt to crush or break. Since there are several tons of pressure being applied, wouldn't you want your house properly supported? I would.

So just because the rest of the kids on the block are doing it, it doesn't make the practice right. Unfortunately, there are no codes inspectors that I know of that go into crawl spaces, so most of these practices often go by unnoticed when the CO is issued. Just another reason that you want to have your home inspected by the professionals at Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Serving Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville and Spring Hill, TN.

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© 2008 michael thornton - complete home inspections, inc. brentwood, tn