As seen in this photo, the brick exterior atop the foundation wall is tilted outward, away from the dwelling, and has missing mortar in various places. Additionally, the concrete foundation wall below has horizontal cracking directly below the brick, running along the wall, and also has a large chunk of concrete missing from the corner altogether. It seems that the brick that is tilted out is no longer being supported due to the missing concrete. Additionally, there is mortar cracks that have been filled with what looks like mixing cement. This is not the proper filling and will most likely continue to crack.
While some may confuse collar tie and rafter tie with one another, they are different entities. A collar tie prevents the rafters from pulling away from the rafter ridge beam. This basically holds the peak of the roof together and keeps the rafters from separating. A rafter tie are sometimes independent of joists but are sometimes doubled as a joist. They sit at the base of the roof and help keep the base of the roof from opening and separating. This prevents walls from pushing outward if there is overload weight on the roof.
A wall is usually considered unsafe if it leans to such an extent that a plumb line passing through its center of gravity does not fall inside the middle third of its base (the V3 Rule). In such an event,further evaluation by a structural engineer should be recommended.
Filler plates (blanks) should not be missing from the main service panel. These openings must be enclosed with a proper material to prevent objects from going in and/or arcs/sparks from coming out of the panel. Installing proper plates will help to prevent personal injury.
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) is a relatively new building system. Originally developed in the 1940s by two Swiss builders, the system has slowly become more popular since then and now it is being recognized for its simplicity, insulating efficiency and stability. The system consists of twin polystyrene foam panels of approximately 2 5/8" x 16" x 48", separated with internal bracing which help keep the foam panels parallel and turns the forms into a simple block. These blocks are then stacked on top of each other in a staggered orientation. Re-bar is inserted and tied in for added support, then concrete is poured within the hallow space of the paneled walls. From there, standard construction techniques are used to finish the building. Innovative construction techniques like this help keep Home Inspectors on their toes!
My research article is on Concrete Admixtures by Nick Gromicko and Ethan Ward. Uding concrete admixtures are common in both residential and commercial construction. Admixtures are ingredients other than Portland cement, aggregate or water that are often added to the cement mixture prior to pouring. These additives are used to: accelerate or retard drying times, allow for increased or reduced water content for the mix and even to provide additional elasticity to the concrete. Used in correct proportions and under proper conditions, these admixtures can produce many benefits, however, improper quantities or additives can lead to disaster.
THIS SPECIFIC TWO STORIES BUILDING LOCATED IN ST MAARTEN BEACH.IN ORDER NOT TO INTRERFER THE NATURAL SOIL WHICH INCLUDED BIG BOLDERS, A TWO FEET RAFT FOUNDATION WAS POURED.RAFT FOUNDATIONS ARE ALSO COMMON IN FLORIDA, WHERE THE WATER LEVEL DOES NOT ENABLES DEEP FOUNDATIONS.
Aluminum siding was very popular in the latter part of the 20th century and is still installed on many homes across the United States today. InterNACHI inspectors who know more about this common type of exterior cladding will be at an advantage when inspectingexteriors and answering clients questions.
In the picture provided, The Concrete foundation clearly shows that it is in extreme disarray. This would be marked as, in need of immediate attention by a structural engineer. This could deem the house as uninhabitable if not properly repaired due to the risk of collapse.
A home inspector should check, identify and inspect masonry crack’s like in the one shown in the picture. There are two recommended methods of assessing masonry, the hammer test and probe holes. Cracking like the one shown in the picture can result from a number of reasons such as expansion of salts, bulging or leaning of walls and corrosion of iron and steel wall reinforcements to name a few.
This is a photo of a crack in the brick veneer of a structure. The crack tapers as it goes down the wall. This indicates the crack is due to differential settlement of the foundation. Such cracks should not be filled with mortar but rather with a flexible sealant.
I read this article on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Detectors: https://www.nachi.org/carbon-monoxide.htm
Carbon monoxide is a colorless odorless gas which can be lethal at sufficient concentrations. It leads to suffocation by displacing oxygen. The poisoning occurred more often in the winter months.8
“Vapor Barriers”
A vapor barrier is a material used to prevent the intrusion of moisture through ceiling, walls, and floor assemblies of a building. A common example would be a 6-mil polyethylene barrier used in crawl space areas which is intended to keep ground moisture from coming up into the building structure.
This photo depicts an example of active movement in a brick wall. The cracking has been previously repaired, but failed. The crack has grown larger since the repair was made which has spread out further than the original repaired area. It is recommended to have a structural engineer inspect this to determine the cause and the correct repair.
The stemwall foundation in this photo has been damaged by a vehicle. An engineering assessment would need to be done to verify the method of repair. It will need to be verified if the foundation wall is adequate to carry the load of the structure.
If a Home Inspector Misses Something: It would be a good practice to include InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice (SOP) in the inspection report. As inspectors we’re sometimes accused of missing something and its in our interest to educate our clients so they have a realistic idea of what’s included or what’s not included in the inspection.
Damage to brick from moisture: Ground water gets absorbed by the brick foundation and wicks upward by capillary action. This water then evaporates from the brick. Efflorescence can then be seen as well as damage to the brick. This can lead to failure of the brick structure.
This is a picture of a concrete block foundation wall on an exterior of a home. Note the vertical tapering cracks behind the shrubs. These appear to be due to the soil and roots pushing on the foundation.They are also a result of moisture and thermal movement which appear to be an influence in the cracking, as this house is located in the Northeast,which has freeze-thaw cycles annually.The interior blocks appear to be shifting as well. I would recommend a structural engineer inspect this wall.
I read an article titled “Permanent Wood Foundations”.They gained permanent acceptance for use in the 1970’s. Inspectors can check to see if they have any problems by looking for dampness,exterior and interior wood decay, foundation leakage,buckling, and bowing of the foundation walls. Plywood in the foundation walls should be sealed.
Foundation wall from the interior just inside the access door. Foundation wall shows signs of moisture intrusion near the dirt floor. No signs of cracking at the time of the inspection. Considering the overall condition of this crawlspace I would recommend further evaluation by a licensed contractor or crawlspace specialist. Several defects are seen in this crawlspace.
