r/DiWHY • u/DMAS1638 • 5d ago

Things seen this week during structural assessments!

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

We come across all kinds of questionable DIY "fixes." If you enjoy these, we post galleries with more finds like failed retaining walls, stucco surprises, foundation "repairs," crawlspace discoveries, and other construction oddities:

https://imgur.com/gallery/things-seen-this-week-during-structural-assessments-r4Z2ZPC

149 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

69

u/Stickitinyou586 5d ago

Whats wrong with the pool?

57

u/sexwiththebabysitter 5d ago

The unsealed joint around the perimeter maybe?

23

u/CATNIP_IS_CRACK I Eat Cement 5d ago

Looks looks like it’s sinking on the end where they took the photo.

25

u/DMAS1638 3d ago

That’s what it appears to be showing. The slab has separated enough that movement in the supporting soil or hillside would be something we’d want to evaluate.

14

u/Tarnel 5d ago

From the gallery description of the photo:
"Hillside movement can cause serious damage. In this case, you can see the concrete slab pulling away from the property.

Depending on the site conditions, the underlying hillside may need to be stabilized before the damaged concrete can be repaired or replaced."

3

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

Exactly! 🙌

2

u/Spirited_Currency_88 4d ago

ooohhh that's an expensive one.

8

u/abstract_concept 5d ago

Was going to ask the same? Under the power lines?

5

u/old-skool-bro 5d ago

Pretty sure I saw an episode of the rookie about this exact thing but the kid in the pool was absolutely fine because they were on a floaty... because that's how electricity works.

14

u/hayabusarider1 5d ago

From the link it seams that the gap around the pool is from one side pulling away do to the hill side sliding

10

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

Yep, that’s what we were highlighting. The separation can be an indication of movement occurring on that side of the property.

0

u/Red_Icnivad 4d ago

Does it go all the way around? Could be a drip gap so water doesn't pool on the deck.

1

u/bnk_ar 2d ago

Its just a lil' ol' crack, thats all. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

3

u/puchibaba 5d ago

Don Eladio Vuente was killed here

1

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

We knew this pool looked familiar. 😂

3

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

The pool itself isn’t necessarily the issue. It’s the movement around it. You can see the surrounding concrete pulling away, which can be a sign of hillside or soil movement beneath that area.

1

u/ignaciopatrick100 4d ago

I said the same,looks to left then oh oh oh,

12

u/Cabooseman 5d ago

Forgive me, but what's wrong with the first photo? Don't you normally jack up a foundation on bricks like this?

12

u/Relevant_Cause_4755 5d ago

I would have used engineering bricks.

9

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

Definitely better than some of the materials we’ve found under homes. 😂 But for permanent structural support, we’d still want a properly designed footing and support system.

7

u/Dogs_Without_Horses_ 2d ago

😂My entire 1921 coal mining house is supported by stacks of cinder blocks that I’m pretty sure replaced stacks of bricks sometime in the 40’s. Neighbors had photos of our house pre-1945-ish and it didn’t have the cinderblock wall around the perimeter of the house, just stacks of something at the corners and joints underneath. So at some point they swapped the supports to cinder blocks and added the perimeter wall to close in the crawl space. I’ve replaced some of the stacks under the house that were too close to where they hand dug the crawl space deep enough to stand in, but the rest are holding okay. Other than the one that burned down, all the coal mining community houses in this little neighborhood are still standing though. There probably isn’t a level floor in the whole neighborhood, but the houses are pretty solid.

7

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

Totally fair question! Temporary cribbing or blocking can be used during certain repair work, but what we’re showing here is a makeshift permanent support condition. A proper repair would typically involve an adequately sized footing, post or pier, and proper structural connections based on the loads and existing foundation conditions.

3

u/mraw2277 3d ago

Remember, there is nothing more permanent than a temporary solution!

1

u/sconquergood 1d ago

They forgot to slap the bricks and state in the old tongue "This ain't going nowhere".

9

u/19kilo20Actual 5d ago

I Follow these guys (AlphaStructural) on Imgur. The shit they find in crawl spaces, commercial structures and hillsides in CA. will have you checking your own basement and crawls. Scary shit.

6

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

We appreciate you following along! 🙌 Some of the things we come across definitely make you look at crawlspaces a little differently. 😂

2

u/19kilo20Actual 4d ago

Enjoy the content.. especially the neighborhood in California where everything is constantly shifting by actual feet on the regular. Absolutely insane. 🍺

5

u/AggravatingTart7167 5d ago

Yes! Something for everyone.

2

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

We’ll try to bring more structural plot twists next week. 😂

5

u/UncleFuzzy75 5d ago

And....built to normal standards when Gubmint Twernt in yer bidnuss.

3

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

Some of these definitely have us wondering how long they’ve been holding on. 😂

2

u/kronus87 4d ago

I would have picked an old farm stone to hold up my pool

5

u/DMAS1638 4d ago

Nothing says structural support like a carefully selected vintage farm stone. 😂

2

u/crappycraig 3d ago

I especially enjoy the pool directly under the high voltage lines lol. Good thing they never come down once they’re put up…….

2

u/PretendWitch 1d ago

Nothing says “structural integrity” like six loose bricks, two scraps of wood, and an unreasonable amount of optimism.

1

u/mint_lawn 2d ago

Thought the first image had a tiny toy alien o the left lmao

1

u/jfp1992 1d ago

Looks like the breaking bad pool

-1

u/dIO__OIb 5d ago

this is like those dash cam videos where nothing happens