Inspected a small (830 sq ft) house today and noted steel cable bracing. I’ve researched and haven’t been able to find out what this is called. Any help in identifying this would be appreciated.
I have no idea what existing lateral force would necessitate the use of cable ties to hold those walls from spreading.
I did notice the cable clamps to be upside down. You never saddle a dead horse when it comes to cable clamps.
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Around here it’s called a “huge red flag”. Obviously defer it out and ask the engineer to identify it for you so you can remember the next time you see it…
Those are eye bolts with tension cables.
Who, what, where, when and why will be difficult to determine.
I see a lot of step cracking under 2nd story windows and along the ground. They are obviously trying to stabilize something.
I would put it back on the seller for more info as well as an engineer.
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We get something much like that on brick buildings in earthquake country, Califor-nia.
But on a wood frame stucco house? The cause is either mental illness on the part of some past owner, or a serious problem you have not found yet. Red flag indeed.
The eye bolts are called… eye bolts. There should be tensioners also. The entire system is called “unusual”.
I would do the same as, Brian,
Obviously CMU with all those step cracks.
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Yep, right, blocks all the way up. The outline of the blocks is visible even when there are no step cracks.
Hey guys, thanks for the info. I didn’t know if this was a specific structural engineering application. I’m always down for learning something new. Naturally, it was deferred to a structural engineer and listed as a definite red flag.
I did learn about saddling dead horses. That was something I never knew about. My ex could beat a dead horse back to life, but I don’t think that would apply in this scenario.
Thanks everyone for the input; you guys are invaluable.
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Well at least they got the clamp right, Scott. LOL
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Been quite a while since I heard that phrase used Marcel. Used to hear it a lot back in the day.
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