A roof structure and gas fireplace with a stone structure around it was installed on the deck. My biggest concern is with the stone structure, there were no signs of distress, movement, bowing, etc. to the deck structure, but to me it seems like a whole lot of weight on that deck with most of it being over the cantilever with no extra supports below.
Thoughts please.
TIA
Wowza. Somebody spent a lot of money on something that just doesn’t look right, but that isn’t the question or the point here …
Kevin, is the stone a really thin, light veneer, maybe?
I was wondering the same thing.
Last time I came across this I made a recommendation for further review because the fireplace surround was newer and added to an existing deck. Therefore, there was no performance history.
Also, I see there is no flashing. Those materials are going to expand and contract at different rates. The result will be mortar cracking and an opportunity for moisture to get under and cause damage.
Note: I do not like those guards embedded in the stone either.
I did tap on it and it felt solid as a rock, but no, I have no idea how thick the stone was Tom.
I had a similar installation on a deck a few years back. I called it out for structural concerns. Normal design loading of a floor is 10 PSF dead load + 40 PSF live load. Even with cultured stone, that weight is exceeded. Thus, my concern. In instances like this, sometimes I’ll add a note “no structural failure observed at the time of the inspection”, but also emphasize that it needs further structural evaluation. I categorize my findings, and this one goes under “Major”.
Definitely looks heavy. I would recommend an engineer to do load calculations and determine if more support is needed. Luckily it’s an easy fix if so.
Keven, what supports are under the deck acting as the foundation support for the stone masonry fireplace chimney, even if the fireplace is an steel manufactured insert.
In my opinion, it would be a follows errand to erect a masonry fireplace and chimney atop a deck without addition supports. A cubic foot of rock weighs, on average, 165.2 pounds.
Refer to a licensed general contractor with inhouse structural engineer for further evaluation.
4X4s were holding it all up. I was unable to verify if footings were in place and of course put that note in the report.
I would do the same as Brian, Mike and Robert recommended…structural engineer time. 
That’s what I did Larry, recommended and SE for further evaluation.
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Support posts? Those look a bit larger from here.
My bad, I meant 6x6s.
Thanks for pointing that out Brian.
As a contracor for 28 years before doing Home inspections, That stone is only about 3/4" thick and light weight like sand stone. But when you add 1000 2 Lb stones the weight adds up to allot. there is probably almost 2 tons of weight with the stone, Wood structure underneath and then backerboard, then the added few hundred pounds of thin-set and and then the mortar.
I would put it in my report to be evaluated by a structural engineer. it probably needs 2 posts and a beam under it to support that weight.
As its not original to the house they added it recently by the looks of it. I bet without a permit or inspections by the city.
I agree with the stone & mortar weight, but also add the weight of the entire roof structure and that’s some tonnage being supported by the deck.
I also agree with adding more supports underneath as a fix, but the SE can make the final call.
Not to mention snow. I know you are not in the heart of snow country but you must occasionally get a few inches on a roof. Depending on the moisture content, snow can be very heavy.
I see several suspect support anomalies.
1: As you mentioned, No visible footings.
2: Wood soil contract.
3: Beam/column missing sway bracing.
4: Vertical spit in 1 wood column…
5: Checking.
You can see a guardrail post was removed on the rim board with no additional support added under the masonry structure.
Question: Faux masonry panels in a chase?
I see no masonry atop the roof which would have a flue, and crown.
Could there be crushing due to load?
Morning, William. Here is what I get from one manufacture.
How much does stacked stone veneer weigh? Approximately 10-12 lbs. per square foot. Eldorado Stone qualifies as an adhered veneer because it weighs less than 15 lbs. per square foot
You also have to calculate the weight of the lumber for the chase, the insert, flue and fasteners and angle iron if applicable.
