Although we’d love to say that buildings are indestructible, they’re totally destructible. In some cases, it’ll just take a strong wind to blow off a roof or a small earthquake to completely disrupt the foundations of a home. That’s why we take off our hats to the structural engineers of the world. These guys are the real MVPs who work as structural rehabilitators to bring broken-down buildings back into their prime. And while they’re used to doing these structural inspections, sometimes they’re just not prepared for the dangerous and downright outrageous things they see on the job. Yep, this is your sign to give home inspection services their credit…
Are the Posts Supposed to Bend Like That?
Home inspection services are often called-upon when a homeowner wants to complete a renovation. And this photo is proof that old houses should definitely be renovated at some point. After all, they don’t last forever – especially when the house has been built on wooden posts! We bet the person who attended this structural inspection couldn’t quite believe their eyes when they saw these posts quite literally bending under the weight of the house.
Let’s hope this inspector didn’t lean up against the house while he was giving the homeowners their quote. It looks like one push will send this house quite literally over the edge.
When the Foundations Split in Half
The foundation of any structure is super important. We’ve all played Jenga, after all. And if the bottom layers are broken or out of place, the whole thing comes tumbling down! This is the same thing with houses, which is why this home inspection service was so worried when they saw this house. At first glance, it looked like an issue with the homeowners’ flooring. But it was something way more sinister.
This is actually the rest of the foundation of the home quite literally splitting in half, and the whole structure moving as a result. And we bet that wasn’t a cheap or easy fix.
A Tetris-Inspired Pier and Beam Home
Anyone who knows anything about structural engineering and construction will know that pier and beam constructions aren’t uncommon. In fact, they can be found across the globe. This form of construction allows for crawl space under the home, and this is where many home inspection services spend their time when they’re undertaking structural inspections. And while pier and beams aren’t always perfect, they very rarely remind them of a game of Tetris.
Not only have the beams been piled onto each other in a weird formation, but the concrete stumps also look as though they’ve just been shoved on top of each other. The whole thing is a disaster waiting to happen.
That Roof Is Supposed to Be Straight
Earthquakes are the bane of many people’s lives, but there’s no doubt about the fact that it keeps home inspection services running. And when the team arrived for this structural inspection, they could see just how much the recent earthquake had affected the house. The foundations had shifted, there were deep cracks running through the walls, and that’s before we mention the roof that is supposed to be completely straight!
No, that bend in the roof was not an architectural choice. And while this house could have been repaired, it would have cost them a huge amount of money. So, we bet they just knocked the whole thing down instead!