InterNACHI


Go Back   InterNACHI Inspection Forum > Specific Inspection Topics > Structural Inspections

Notices

Structural Inspections Contains discussions about the structural portion of a home inspection. This includes foundations, framing, etc.

 
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 4/1/08, 8:06 PM
mashburn's Avatar
mashburn mashburn is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 286
Default Main Beam issue

I found this on a 3 year old "cookie" home here in PA. I am just not sure how to write it up. Any thoughts?

Thank you.



Ashburn Inspections
724-516-1665

Last edited by mashburn; 5/7/09 at 7:19 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 4/1/08, 8:15 PM
James F. McKee's Avatar
James F. McKee James F. McKee is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amherst, Oh
Posts: 5,569
Default Re: Main Beam issue

truly fugly use of a jack post....jmo.....jim



Classic Home inspections

Jim Mckee
Amherst, Ohio

www.amhersthomeinspector.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 4/1/08, 8:15 PM
Joseph Hagarty,  CMI's Avatar
Joseph Hagarty, CMI Joseph Hagarty,  CMI is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Parkesburg, PA
Posts: 5,636
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Improper / Inadequate attachment of the Main Beam to Support Column. Structural Review and Repair needed...



Joseph P. Hagarty
joseph.hagarty@comcast.net
Main Line Inspections, Inc.
Phone: 610-399-3675
Email: MainLineHI@comcast.net

http://pa.nachi.org/mainlinepa/about.html
http://www.householdinspector.com

National President / NACHI (2003-2004)
NACHI Education Committee Member
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 4/1/08, 8:38 PM
mashburn's Avatar
mashburn mashburn is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 286
Default Re: Main Beam issue

I am sorry I should have stated that I did recommend further review, I guess I just wanted a softer way to put it.
It's been very long day.



Ashburn Inspections
724-516-1665
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 4/1/08, 8:48 PM
Troy Farmer's Avatar
Troy Farmer Troy Farmer is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Eagle, ID
Posts: 619
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Don't think of it as softening it, just call it like it is.



Troy Farmer
Presidential Inspections LLC
Chapter President Southern Idaho
PO Box 2144
Eagle, Idaho 83616
208-573-5300
http://www.presidentialinspection.com
http://info@presidentialinspection.com


"He who can, does. He who can’t, teaches"
"Where would we be without Teachers"
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 4/1/08, 9:02 PM
Marcel R. Cyr's Avatar
Marcel R. Cyr Marcel R. Cyr is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Winslow, ME
Posts: 19,798
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Quote:
Originally Posted by mashburn
I found this on a 3 year old "cookie" home here in PA. I am just not sure how to write it up. Any thoughts?

Thank you.
Michael; I guess I would have an issue here.

The steel beam supporting the floor joist appears to have been cut with an acetelyn torch and the orientation of the cap plate of the support column is not in the symetrical engineered location it should be and bolted properly.

This indicates a system that might possibly have been unengineered and should be evaluated by a structural engineer or a prominant General Contractor to access and address.

My next issue would have been with the glue factory used on the stairs, what was that about?

What are those orange pipes on the right that appear to go through a member of the framing?

I know, I ask to many questions right?

Marcel
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 4/1/08, 9:07 PM
Michael Larson's Avatar
Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hudson, WI including the Twin Cities of MN
Posts: 32,090
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcyr
What are those orange pipes on the right that appear to go through a member of the framing?
I saw that too and looked close. It makes no sense to me. Anyone else?
Attached Thumbnails
main-beam-issue-pipes.jpg  



You can argue with intelligent people but to argue with a mush head is like trying to grab fog-Thomas Sowell

Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts. - Henry Rosovsky-Harvard

Michael Larson
Hudson, WI

Services provided in East MN and West WI

Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 4/1/08, 9:15 PM
Joseph Hagarty,  CMI's Avatar
Joseph Hagarty, CMI Joseph Hagarty,  CMI is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Parkesburg, PA
Posts: 5,636
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcyr
Michael; I guess I would have an issue here.

The steel beam supporting the floor joist appears to have been cut with an acetelyn torch and the orientation of the cap plate of the support column is not in the symetrical engineered location it should be and bolted properly.

This indicates a system that might possibly have been unengineered and should be evaluated by a structural engineer or a prominant General Contractor to access and address.

My next issue would have been with the glue factory used on the stairs, what was that about?

What are those orange pipes on the right that appear to go through a member of the framing?

I know, I ask to many questions right?

Marcel
Marcel,

This is Pennsylvania.....

Home of the Unlicensed, Untrained, Uninsured Building Contractors of Pennsylvania.

UUUBCPA for short.

It is due to these Poor "Code Compliant" Construction practices that Home Inspectors need to be Licensed and Insured for.................... (as current legislation suggests)....................



Joseph P. Hagarty
joseph.hagarty@comcast.net
Main Line Inspections, Inc.
Phone: 610-399-3675
Email: MainLineHI@comcast.net

http://pa.nachi.org/mainlinepa/about.html
http://www.householdinspector.com

National President / NACHI (2003-2004)
NACHI Education Committee Member

Last edited by jhagarty; 4/2/08 at 12:19 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 4/2/08, 12:11 AM
Kenton H. Shepard, CMI's Avatar
Kenton H. Shepard, CMI Kenton H. Shepard, CMI is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 3,417
Send a message via ICQ to kshepard
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcyr

My next issue would have been with the glue factory used on the stairs, what was that about?


Marcel
Hi Marcel!

Those stairs look site built to me. Routed stringers with additional support added by glue block. That glue looks like PL400 or PL premium layed on with a drip stick!




Kenton Shepard, InterNACHI member # 04082383
Certified Master Inspector (CMI)
InterNACHI Director of International Development
Director of Green Building

EXPERT WITNESS SERVICE
Conventional and Log homes

(303) 717-8940
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 4/2/08, 6:36 AM
mashburn's Avatar
mashburn mashburn is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 286
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Quote:
Originally Posted by jhagarty
Marcel,

This is Pennsylvania.....

Home of the Unlicensed, Untrained, Uninsured Building Contractors of Pennsylvania.

UUUBCPA for short.

It is due to these Poor "Code Compliant" Construction practices that Home Inspectors need to be Licensed and Insured for.................... (as current legislation suggests)....................
The end of the beam does appear to be torched, usually the builder hides the ends quite well. I was luck to see this one.

The yellow pipes are the gas supply lines from a manifold in the utility room. Cutting into the joist like that helps it structual integrity a bit as well. UUBCPA

That is what I deal with here near Pittsburgh on a lot of new homes.

The stairs are caked with glue to avoid squeaks, aleast that is what the builder tells the client.

Thank you all for the response. I guess I was looking for a more eloquant way, not so much softer way to write it in the report.



Ashburn Inspections
724-516-1665
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 4/2/08, 12:37 PM
pdickerson pdickerson is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Clinton, WA
Posts: 341
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Is that a UC410 (concealed flange 4x10 beam hanger) attached to the joist whose structural integrity has been severly compromised by the gas pipe holes??? I wonder if a point load that large could be adequately born even by a joist that hasn't been made into Swiss cheese.

The post and beam are ugly. The post is off center and not properly attached to the beam (that I can see). State it simply and concicely, and recommend further review/correction. No emotion, just the facts and a recommendation.

I don't see a problem with the stairs. The builder is right about the glue stopping the squeaks.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 4/2/08, 12:49 PM
Scott Widick's Avatar
Scott Widick Scott Widick is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Pueblo West, CO
Posts: 313
Send a message via MSN to swidick
Default Re: Main Beam issue

Are those pipes to the right CSST and are you all still calling out them out for proper grounding?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 4/8/08, 4:30 PM
Jack L. Gilleland's Avatar
Jack L. Gilleland Jack L. Gilleland is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Clayton, OH
Posts: 1,173
Default Re: Main Beam issue

I don't believe that plastic gas lines add to the structural integrity of the joist, but I could be wrong. Of course, there isn't much joist left is there.



In the world view we are all important and our mere existence effects all life.

Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection Services Clayton
Commercial, Multifamily, and Residential
jgilleland1@att.net
Ohio_Commercial and_Home_Inspections
linkedIn
activerain
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Slate Main Beam Shims jevans Structural Inspections 2 2/27/08 5:50 PM
Main Beam / Unsupported Splice jhagarty Structural Inspections 16 6/29/07 10:26 PM
Main Beam Support jhagarty Structural Inspections 15 5/13/07 7:42 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 3:11 PM.


Popular Sections

:

All Sections

Inspection News

InterNACHI Membership

Inspection Standards

Inspection Education

InterNACHI Inspectors

Inspection Links

 

 

 

NACHI.ORG Statistics

 

 

no new posts