Dangerously Racking (Tilting) Beams And Insufficient Support
Our Friendly Active Rain Inspection Expert "Jay" shares results from an inspection that should be noted by those home buyers thinking about buying one of our Greater Victoria Historic Beauties...
So many of our Local Historic Homes certainly have the potential to show issues like the ones Jay shared with us in his recent blog post.
With many of our Greater Victoria Historic Homes build on Rock and Boulder Foundations, with limited additional supports it should be noted it may in fact be harder to gain access to these crawl spaces in local homes. As locally most of our historic homes have very limited space to manouver around if any, adding to the ability to resolve and complications.
When an older house is remodeled and shored up, you don't want to see dangerously racking (tilting) beams and insufficient support as the result. This house is so old it's considered to be an "historic" home.
Unknown when this racking happened (perhaps during the earthquake) this built-up beam has dangerously moved.
It is also merely resting on top of a support column.
It is similarly unknown how deep the column is sunk for support, or what the column is resting on.
But this is not good support.
Right above this location is a load-bearing wall separating the dining room from the hallway.
The floor there looks like it is sinking, and dramatically, towards the wall.
The beam to the right is resting on a column simply formed of stone and mortar. That beam is leaning as well, as the top stone, not properly sized, is sitting an an angle.
Further, other beams are seamed like the one on the right. The three beams merely abut. The should instead interlock.
At least they set the seam onto a support column!
But, that is not a permanent support column and the two things are not connected in any way.
The column should be attached to the beam and the beam should be resting on something that is very permanent.
If not the house will sink. AND THIS HOUSE WAS SINKING IN SPOTS ALL OVER!
My client had restored other old houses and was as frightened as I. These were not the only deficiencies!
The sellers and agent were similarly shocked as they got my report. Seldom do I grade a foundation as "Poor." This house "racked up" as poor!
Why were they shocked? Because two years ago, when they bought this house, in the same condition it is in now, the home inspection said everything was in "perfect" shape. Alrighty then!
My recommendation: have a long look at historic properties. They have always been changed, restored, shored up, or whatever. And what was done is essential to how much longer they will last and remain historic! Historic homes have to be treated with care and by professionals. If not, more issues will follow than likely were "fixed" by the remodeling.
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
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