Originally Posted By: loconnor
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During an inspection 2 days ago, I was in the basement of an old home and observed a 6 ’ wide X 8" or 10" high beam with a horizontal crack running almost the entire length along the wider side. The crack was (to me) pretty deep (approx 1-1 1/2 deep). In addition the owners had a 3/4" water pipe assembled in a wide u shape to hang their clothes on. This pipe was bolted into the beam right in the crack and was obviously contributing to making the crack bigger.
The beam ran only halfway through the basement, so I walked to the end and looked down the beam. It was definately twisted. A steel vertical post was supporting it on one end and a wood log beam post on the other. The wood post had many stress cracks and I recommended replacing it with a steel post, like on the other end.
The realtor had told the buyer that the main beam could be reinforced by bolting in 3/4" plywooh on each side. I recommended a structural expert to evaluate.
Has anyone seen a beam of this size before and with cracks as large as I described? This home is almost 100 years old.
--
Larry
Western Michigan NACHI Chapter
http://www.w-michigan-nachi.org
"We confide in our strength
without boasting of it.
We respect that of others
without fearing it"
Thomas Jefferson
