Hey Folks,
Just wanted to get a few opinions on this one. I inspected a home today for a friend and former business associate. It’s a home he’s flipping and bought from an engineer. The back deck/patio had quite a number of retaining walls/supporting concrete walls under the deck/patio. Anyway, in one area the corner of the Concrete Patio is cantilevered out 6’ one way and about 10’ the other (so it’s just a floating corner with no support). When standing on the corner above, it feels like it is poured on solid ground (not a hint of movement when you jump up and down). I still don’t like it, and plan to put a recommendation to consult a Structural Engineer, but would like to hear what others have to say about it.
Google large span cantilever concrete. It is very common. Of course, this does not indicate the structure you have pictured has been engineered and installed correctly. However. you have significant visual limitations and no access to original design plans.
Okay, I will be interested in how you justify this. (for what it is worth if I went that route, at a minimum I would put some of this back on the seller to provide design plans, permits etc.)
2 Likes
From CA, it looks like the deck is 8" or thicker poured concrete, most likely amply reinforced. Unless you observe an overt defect, like a huge crack or noticeable movement (which you did not witness), why would you want to question the engineering?
3 Likes
Unfamiliar…CYA…methodology probably.
3 Likes
Made it worse!
Well, HIS action was constructive. 
Yep. That’s it. CYA. I’m all on board at this point.
We all encounter questionable building systems or components. What narrative will you use to justify having a structural engineer evaluate?
3 Likes
I would trust that way more than many of the wood decks I see!
7 Likes
Was the previous owner an SE and did he/she design it themselves?
Clearly it’s not a redneck design and slap together piece of… Calling for further review by an SE is overkill IMHO. Especially if there are no signs of structural failure.
8 Likes
I agree with Mike on this one.
Just because you don’t like it, has no weight unless there is visual defects.
3 Likes
Unless you see damage, defects or deflection there is no reason to question the design. We look at houses every day that may contain under designed components. In this case we are looking at a concrete deck. Put it on the ground and it becomes a concrete slab or stand it up an it becomes a concrete wall. Concrete strength depends on many factors you can’t see on a home inspection. If you can’t see damage, defects or deflection, take a photo for documentation and continue on with your inspection.
If the homeowner engineer or not gave me a stamped set of engineering design plans I could not tell my client the concrete deck was good. I could check his design and verify his calculations, but was it built according to the plans? Were concrete cylinders made and tested to verify strength? Was the steel size, strength and placement match the plans? Was proper curing procedure followed? You get the point, as an inspector engineer or not, visually documenting damage, defects and deflection is all we have.
6 Likes
good points Randy
The cantilevered patio looks like it came from a Frank Loyd Wright design (the Falling Water house). I agree, unless there is any cracking or deficiencies, I would just describe it as being unorthodox, not having a structural support post, but stating that there were no apparent deficiencies. The homeowners may be able to shed more light on the design and construction, if they were the ones who installed it. A structure constructed that way should have structural engineer designs behind it.
2 Likes