20 Structural ‘Nightmares’ And ‘Miracles’ Assessors Had To Witness On The Job

The building inspectors are back with their latest unorthodox finds. While architecture and construction rules are in place to ensure the safety of the people inhabiting the building, the regulations aren’t always followed leading to some mind-boggling fails folks try to get away with.  Sure, cutting corners might save you a penny in the short term but the long-term damage can be quite dangerous to the inhabitants. California-based firm Alpha Structural, Inc. shares the scariest and most unconventional things they have come across during structural assessments and we have to admit these bizarre finds are strangely amusing. So if this is the kind of thing that floats your boat, scroll below for an entertaining selection of curated images from the building inspectors themselves.  More info: AlphaStructural.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Imgur

#1 This Home Is Suffering From A Severe Case Of Fungus Growth Inside The Crawlspace. The Amount Of Fungus That Has Spread Across The Joists And Girder Can Potentially Be A Serious Issue For The Homeowners. We’ve Found A New Addition For Props On "The Last Of Us." Mold Of Any Type Can Cause Respiratory Problems And Other Health Issues. If Left Untreated, It Can Weaken The Home’s Foundation And Cause Other Issues As It Spreads To Other Areas Of The Home

Image source: AlphaStructural

#2 We Were Called To Do This Assessment For Something Completely Unrelated But When We Pointed Out This Wall To The Homeowners They Said, “Yeah, No, It’s Been Like That For Years. It’s Fine.”

Image source: AlphaStructural

#3 Hillside Failures Have Filled Our Schedules, But There Will Always Be Room For Floating Post And Piers In Our Hearts

Image source: AlphaStructural

#4 Is This Post Floating? The Homeowners Not Only Have To Deal With The Effects Of A Bad Foundation Pour But They Also Have Mold Now

Image source: AlphaStructural

#5 During The Heavy Rainstorm, This Parking Garage Experienced Water Intrusion Which Caused Extensive Flooding. Without An Effective Drainage System, The Water Had Nowhere To Escape, Leading To The Flooding Of The Entire Garage. According To The Owners, Before The Water Was Cleared Out All The Cars Were Floating And Hitting The Ceiling

Image source: AlphaStructural

#6 Walking Inside The Home We Can See The Damage Is Extensive. The Garage Is Riddled With Cracks. You Can See Portions Of The Slab Sinking. This 7-Inch Crack Is Showing Severe Signs Of Differential Settlement, Meaning Portions Of The Foundation Are Sinking At A Greater Rate. Foot Added For Reference

Image source: AlphaStructural

#7 This Walkway Was Completely Undermined During A Slope Failure. We Guess They Now Have A Cantilevered Pathway

Image source: AlphaStructural

#8 You Can See The Extent Of The Damage And Where The Front Of The Wall Ended Up After The Storm Passed

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#9 Although The Piles “Supporting” This Home’s Deck May Look Impressive, They Were Installed Illegally And Without Permits. When Building Foundations, Especially For Hillside Homes, It Is Critical For It To Be Designed And Installed In Compliance With Building Codes And Regulations. Failing To Do So Can Result In Serious Safety Hazards, Including Potential Collapse

Image source: AlphaStructural

#10 When The Hillside Failed In Front Of This Home, It Brought Their Retaining Wall With It. This Wall Was A Non-Conforming Retaining Wall As It Was Not Permitted. Could Have Been One Of The Reasons Why It Didn’t Do So Well During The Storm

Image source: AlphaStructural

#11 The Ocean Just Revoked Your Visiting Privileges

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#12 Those Two Brackets “Supporting” This Balcony Are Working Double Time. Deferred Maintenance Or Irregular Repairs Are Almost Always The Reason Of Why A Balcony Fails. Balconies Can Be Prone To Failure Since They Are Exposed To The Elements. This Is Why There Are Many State Laws Requiring Balcony Inspections On Various Building Types

Image source: AlphaStructural

#13 This Will Not Last Another Rainstorm

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#14 This Home’s Retaining Wall Completely Gave Way And Fell Down The Hillside. When Not Built To Code, Retaining Walls Can Collapse And Cause A Lot Of Damage To Not Only The Homeowner’s Property, But To Adjacent Properties. We Are Curious To Know Where The Wall Would’ve Ended Up If The Tree Didn’t Hold The Very End Of It. Here You Can See Just How Massive The Retaining Wall Is. The Damage That Could’ve Happened To The Homes Below Is Worrisome

Image source: AlphaStructural

#15 Another Assessment Day, Another Failed Retaining Wall

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#16 When We Heard, “Falling Apart At The Seams,” We Didn’t Think It’d Be This Literal. When Your Home Is Showing Signs Of Possible Foundation Issues, It's Important To Have Your Home Inspected And Repaired In A Timely Manner. Small Issues Can Lead To Bigger Issues Such As Water Damage, Pest Infestations, And Even Severe Structural Damage To The Home. This Makeshift Pier In A Crawlspace Is Not A Safe Or Effective Way To Support The Structure Of A Home. Properly Installed Posts Should Be Made Of Durable Materials And Securely Fastened To A Concrete Footing

Image source: AlphaStructural

#17 Sometimes We Drive By Buildings We Wish We Had Been Called Out To

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#18 An Unstable Slope Will Show Indications Of Movement By The Presence Of Geotropism, Which Refers To The Growth Of Plants Against Gravity. The Way The Trees Bend Towards The Bottom Of The Slope Lets Us Know The Hillside Is Unstable And Is Constantly Moving

Image source: AlphaStructural

#19 I Guess It’s Not Protocol To Double-Check Your Work. The Urfp Is Meant To Connect The Sill Plate To The Foundation Wall. It Strengthens The Connection During An Earthquake. This Is Doing Nothing

Image source: AlphaStructural

#20 When Nature Decides It's Time For A Convertible…

Image source: AlphaStructural