The Alpha Structural Imgur page is a gift that keeps on giving. So, we’ve compiled a new collection featuring cracked walls, foundation issues, and entire houses on the brink of toppling. Scroll through this list and see how these photos compare to the previous ones we’ve published. “They were often built with shallow footings that are prone to sink over time. Additionally, there is a lot of expansive soil in Los Angeles, which, due to its high clay content, expands and contracts. This leads to corners or sides of a home that sink." “The condition of the soil supporting the home was so bad that during our assessment, we found that the home was cracking and actually moving,” he revealed. “The complexity of the repair required, getting a large rig on a steep hillside to excavate a 55’ deepened foundation, made this one of the worst and most challenging in our long history. Let’s just say if we were on a reality TV show, this episode would’ve been a season finale,” he explained. “Interior wall cracks which occur in plasterboard or gyprock, exterior wall cracks such as cracks in the surface, brickwork, or in the rendering of external walls, and cracks in foundation walls.” “Stepped cracks tend to follow the lines of horizontal and vertical joints in buildings, such as beds of mortar between bricks or blocks, and may indicate structural movement.” “Cracks that are wider at the top or at the bottom may indicate that there has been foundation movement, with the direction of the widening giving an indication of the likely direction of the movement.” They involve breakages ranging between 5 mm to 25 mm. Some causes include footing issues, rusting, moisture buildup in the walls, and impact damage. “The wall may need to be inspected by a structural engineer to determine what remediation work is required. There is a possibility that a section of a wall needs to be rebuilt. “At the very least, an inspection by a professional and a plan of action needs to be determined – and acted upon as soon as possible.” “It’s recommended to maintain a safe distance between trees and the foundation, and to regularly inspect and trim tree roots as necessary.” Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
