Author

Topic:   Foundation/settlement question - 1631 visits (1 today, 4 this week)

Martin lehman
Member


Posts: 174
From:SAN DIEGO, CA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted December 16, 2005 10:33 PM            

What do you guys say is the reason for the bowing in these walls.
I have seen this a few different times and dont yet undertand it.
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In the home I inspected, the floor in one room "appeared" to be a little sloped/uneven.

Really hard to tell if there were any issues with the foundation as the house had new paint, stucco, everything new. Lots of cement cover up on the ground around the foundation on the addition.
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House was built on a filled lot with a 4ft reataining wall about 5ft from the rear wall of the home.
Is the house to close to the retaining wall?
Any codes/issues with this possible having a detramental affect on the foundation?
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Thank You

Scott Patterson
Member



Posts: 2953
From:Ridgeland (Jackson), MS
Registered: Mar 2001

posted December 17, 2005 06:37 AM            

quote:

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What do you guys say is the reason for the bowing in these walls.
I have seen this a few different times and dont yet undertand it.

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Martin lehman
Member


Posts: 174
From:SAN DIEGO, CA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted December 17, 2005 07:56 AM            

Quote:
"Most likely a wall stud that was bowed or simply off set from the sole plate. AKA, poor workmanship. Sometimes vent stacks are the culprits."

Is a bowed wall stud something that is in need of repairs? How would you write that up?

Quote:
"Yes, there are specific requirements but they depend on the area you live in. If you have seismic events, frost line, types of soil etc. Just looking at the pictures, I can't tell you much. Is this new construction?"

I live in San Diego CA and we are in a seismic area, what catagory I'm not sure.

The house was built in 1950's and it is just remodeled. Outside, stuccoed wall you see in the pic was an addition.
The addition extends about 12ft further back into the yard from the original blueprint of the home, making the new blueprint of the home that much closer to the retaining wall - about 5-6ft from the top of that little retaining wall.

Not sure if the wall is going to hold the load weight of the addition. Seeing as how the retaining wall was much further behind the home before the addition.

(How do you get the borders above and below the quote when you quote someone, what is the trick?)
Thanks

[This message has been edited by Martin lehman (edited December 17, 2005).]

Scott Patterson
Member



Posts: 2953
From:Ridgeland (Jackson), MS
Registered: Mar 2001

posted December 17, 2005 08:32 AM            

To get the quotes you use this html code:
Bracket[ then type the word quote you close the bracket] then you put the quote. Next you close the quote like this [/quote].

quote:

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Is a bowed wall stud something that is in need of repairs? How would you write that up?

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I seldom even note them.

As for the foundation. It was me I would simply say, I don't know. Then I would explain that the home was built in the 50's, we are in an active seismic area and if this is a concern to you(the client) I would invest in hiring a structural engineer(PE) who is familiar with the area and its soils.

Now this is what I would do.

John Arnold
Member


Posts: 599
From:Philadelphia PA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted December 17, 2005 08:55 AM            

quote:

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How do you get the borders above and below the quote when you quote someone, what is the trick?

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Martin lehman
Member


Posts: 174
From:SAN DIEGO, CA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted December 17, 2005 10:48 AM            

quote:

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As for the foundation. It was me I would simply say, I don't know. Then I would explain that the home was built in the 50's, we are in an active seismic area and if this is a concern to you(the client) I would invest in hiring a structural engineer(PE) who is familiar with the area and its soils.

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