Inspected a house today, they moved a screw column over about 1 foot,
the only beam pocket on the foundation side was not filled, the beam is only
resting on 1 1/2" of the foundation, I cannot tell if it is due to moving the
column and the beam slid or if it was installed like that. In any case its wrong.
Do I tell them to consult a structural engineer or do I tell them to jack it up,
slide it back, fill the pocket and reinstall the column?
Thanks, Steve
Not my job to tell them how to fix it.
I only report that it need immediate repair by qualified personal
Roy Cooke sr …Royhomeinspection.com
I’m not following what your describing. The beam is not in the beam pocket but rather it’s on a post? This may be OK. I need more clarification.
I had a situation like this and the engineer approved it.
Craig,
On one side it rests on the foundation wall but only extends 1 1/2" onto the wall, the space around the beam is open.(no mortar or bricks holding it in place) On the other end the beam ends at a staircase in the basement, this end is sitting on the column that has been moved. I will try to post pics tomorrow. I did take the earlier advice and told them it should be fixed by a qualifed person.
Steve
Photos would help.
I’ll watch for them
The end of the beam at the pocket should have a minimum of 3 1/2 inches of bearing on the foundation. I would suspect that is the way the beam was installed. You don’t need an engineer to diagnose that problem, what you need is someone who is familiar with the manner in which it is repaired. I can think of several methods to repair this concern.
Minimum bearing requirements will vary with the size of the beam and the load it carries. If you think it’s inadequate you might say just that. It’s the sort of thing that must be spec’ed by an structural engineer.
Here are some pics
The third picture is wrong, this beam had the pocket filled, disregard pic 3, you can see what I mean in pic 4.
Thanks, Steve
The pocket should have been filled with mortar. Also the steel post having been moved from its original location (photo 1) may not have a proper footing under it.
You’ve got Structural issues here.
Steel beam supports must have a minimum bearing of 3 1/2 inches…
Also…The newly installed cement filled lally column must have a poured footing (3 feet deep in my area) under it, I don’t see that in the 1st pic.
Even wood beams must have 3 1/2 inches bearing
David, where do you get your illustrations? I’d like to buy that software. It would be great to add those to my reports when needed.
Nice David;
Do you think expecting an anchored cast in place bearing plate as a beam seat and beam welded to it would be too much to ask of residential work. ha. ha. On a different note; wouldn’t that hold the lateral stability of the flimsy 8" foundations.???
Marcel 
Thanks David
Keep it simple.
A structural member has been moved. Consult a PE.
Before recommending cunsultation with a PE for what is the obvious, I would recommend a prominent and well established Residential Contractor that is accustum to these types of building scenarios. I would let that Contractor specify further evaluation with a PE or Architect to take on the responsibilities.
Note what you see and recomend further evaluation by Builders specializing in that trade. PE comes next without your recommended liabilities for unnecessary expenditures that might be devulged by the PE once on site.
It might even be prudent at that point to say that the design of the original Proffesional Design was waived when the modifications of this sort occurred.
Marcel