Trouble In Crawlspace? See The Picture.

Charles_cz

I just finished bath remodeling and when I was re-doing plumbing in the crawlspace I noticed one post of way out of plumb. Joists are pushed to the left where the post is.

How far from a real trouble is this?

Thanks for your input. Charles

Attached Thumbnails

 

Dan_Watson

Id say about 800 miles.

neolitic

That is trouble.
You need an experienced set
of eyes on that.
If you are doing the work...
an engineer to CYA.

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Charles_cz

My work is done. Customer is good friend of mine and they will be selling house in near future. I assume that inspector will not miss something like that.
Is there anything I can do to help the situation in the mean time? Braces between joists or anything else?

canuck

You know it is wrong, why not just fix it? Depending on someone else to spot it and notify a potential buyer in my mind borders on criminal.

If it was a car, would you pour gear oil in it to quiet an engine knock? After all the buyer could have it inspected before he bought it and a good mech would catch it right?

Fix the problem or tell any potential buyer!!

Celtic

What's with the duct work on the floor and the full roll of tape on the opening?

__________________

Charles_cz

Hi canuck, that's why I am asking, if there is anything I can do to help. There are two stories above the floor and probably a lot of load. That is something that I am not sure if I want to mess with. I know it needs attention but I wanted to ask what would be best approach to deal with that. There might be easy fix or not. If I did not want to do anything this thread would not be here.

KentWhitten

I don't think your house will implode, but you've got some serious weight coming down there to twist a doubler like that. For someone whos here asking what can be done, it may be tough. I'd show that picture to an engineer and ask what should be done.

__________________
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

Cole

I agree with the above comments, your friend needs to contact an engineer and go from there. I would get it taken care of asap.

__________________
Tulsa's Leader in Outdoor Living Construction | Facebook | Tulsa Pergola Builder | Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens

BuiltByMAC

When I look at that picture, I have three questions:

1. Was the post hit from the side (are there scuff marks or scratches?)

2. Is the footing sinking on one side (visible cracks in concrete, visible settling)?

3. Are there hammer marks on the wood joists? That would indicate the post was originally installed at that angle and the joists were beat to fit.

Once you know the cause of the angle, an engineer can recommend a fix. I'd say just beat on the other side w/ a 12 lb. sledge, but you might take me seriously!

Mac

Burby

That post is mid span of the dbl joist, there should not be any real load above. Looking at the trunk line it does not appear to be sagging down any from weight above.
First thing I would do is go above and see what is there. There are 3 doubles, something you do not typically see. There should be a double if a non bearing wall is above, but that is it.

Without an inspection to determine any improper loads above there is no way any one can say to do this or do that, other than have one qualified evaluate the situation.

__________________
Proud to help make a house your Home

Never judge another by one's own intelligence

Wdavis3910

• reduce floor sag and improve door alignments
• Decrease floor separation and wall cracking
• Stabilize structures
• Stop rattling dishes - deflection

Burby

There is a decon box laying there, find the dead rat or it gonna stink.
Don;t forget to remove your scrap pipes from under there.
Suggest they use metal over the hole instead of duct tape unless the line on floor is to be re-used when they finish wraping the trunk lines with new insulation.

Back to the post.
That looks like a 4" post instead of a typical 3" lolly column used.
There is 2 pcs of rebar coming thru what I believe is a concrete floor?
So it seems there was an intended block pier meant for there as opposed to a screw up & rebar turn ups placed in wrong place.
For what ever the reason they used the 4" metal post.
I say this because there is a steel plate on top of the post & none on the bottom, (that can be seen, leading me to believe the post was installed on the footing prior the pour, if that is a concrete floor)
The slant does seem o be correct for the amount of twist in the double.

Please post back once discover the reason for this problem.
I think it will be 1 of 2 things, based on that pic alone.

1- being - the post was installed instead of block pier at time of construction. Non adjusting & no shims seen in pic. To be installed after the fact, I believe one or the other would have been needed. (with the only other possibility being that spot was jacked up then set down on the post, doubtful but is posible with some.
It looks like a poured foundation walls & instead of buying blocks, mortar & one to lay the blocks, or becaue of time when noticed one was needed, who ever h/o or builder, brought a steel post instead. (there needs to be other blocks or post under there, what ever the reason again this one was missed & added after the fact at the start time of framing).
The metal I believe was measured a bit long.
The house was built, once completed and all bearing points loaded down & settled, because the steel keeping a fixed ht, the dbl had no choice other than twist with time.

2nd being -
Again because of the 2 pcs of rebar shown as well as the additional dbls seen in the pic.
There should have been a carry beam at this location and to save time, it was omitted and ran joist straight thru the next carry beam. One inexperiencd looking at the plans decided to just put one post here, add some additional dbls to help carry the load and all would be good, save time put more money in their pockets & move on. Designers & archs always over build, we don't need that. Throw that post in there Bubba & roll on we have beer to get to!!
With the loads above you will see the cause of this problem now the H/O has.

Loads can appear to be equally distributed, when actually they are just transfered to a specific point and if not build per design one ends up with this flaw.
This could have been a single pier pressure point from loads 2 stories above, including the roof & the entire floor system not have been built per plans or the framing above could have been altered as this has been adding additional load weight here.

Either way it needs to be looked at by one qualified to offer repair process.

Send me a round trip ticket, not by bus, give me a few thous for WAM, I will draw you up plans for repair. And or give me a few guys & we will complete the work as well. No time for the finish work, give that to the locals to keep that money in the community.
Payment due upon completion.
Beer optional, but a must each night,

__________________
Proud to help make a house your Home

Never judge another by one's own intelligence

mrmike

Judging by the spacing of the joists, the adjoining ones next to it were already "scabbed" doubled up to help this problem that was probably addressed that way. If there are not any load bearing walls above it, should be an easy fix it isn't that far out of being level..

Charles_cz

Thank you guys. I will be back once we know what is happening.

neolitic

Sure looks like some serious weight
to me.
Also a shining example of what bridging
can do for you, and that after-thought
post, well........
Can we say, "eccentric loading" boys
and girls?


Merry Christmas!

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)