Yesterday I took off my Garth the Home Inspector hat, and put on my Garth the Structural Engineer hat. I was called out to Saratoga Springs to one of the large homes that bordered right on the lake. It did have an amazing view. I'm thinking the contractor wasn't as good as the view.
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| Notice the crack in the bottom left center and the buckle at right center |
Oops
So the lender already thought it might have had structural issues. He was right. The home had two balconies in back, upper and lower. The structural supports for the lower unit were not just bent, but based on all appearances, completely broken. The deck couldn't even support its own weight. Buckles and sagging and images of a Hollywood collapse. The photos don't begin to do it justice. No way I would stand on that deck. None.
But That Wasn't Even the Worst of It
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| The deck sagged so much it pulled the fasteners right out |
The home had other issues. This lake sediment is very silty, and consolidates much. It seems the contractor did a less than masterful job of compacting all of his backfill around the home, so you get a free thrill ride just navigating the concrete.
It Got Worse in The Garage
I've seen soil settlement this bad only once before. Apparently under the garage, the contractor must have just backed up the backhoe, and filled in a deep chasm. Maybe a gorge of some variety. The garage slab had settled over 12 inches in some areas! The home above the slab dangled, hanging on only by the support provided by the frame itself! It was frightening.
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| Yeah, those are my sunglasses, there for perspective |
Moral of the Story
Pouring concrete on non-backfill soil is good. Soil compaction is good. Shooting the contractor if he pushes loose fill back into the hole near the foundation: very good. It's also good to watch the contractor, and if he tries to make the deck supports out of sticks and twigs: well, that would be a wonderful idea.
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