However, Alpha Structural Inc., a Los Angeles-based company, lifts the veil and shows the reality of the job. Its employees share nightmarish and shocking photos from their assessments. Today, we’re featuring some of their most powerful pics of all time. Scroll down to check them out. If this won’t get you serious about structural safety, nothing will!
More info: AlphaStructural.com | Imgur | Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
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Ben Reinhart, from Alpha Structural, opened up to Bored Panda earlier about one of the worst buildings that they’d encountered. “We went to a 3-story hillside home located in Playa del Rey. 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. We are not alarmists in any sense, but this was the first time we had to evacuate,” he said.
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“Temporary shoring was put in the next morning to prevent the home from collapsing. 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.”
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As the hillside slowly moves down or "creeps", the concrete piles, retaining walls and their footings begin to go down with it. This is why proper bearing material should be reached for all supporting systems on a hillside. Some places only require 5 feet down, others require 45+ feet down. It is imperative to get the proper depth!
According to Alpha Structural, basic maintenance should keep a home strong for a long time to come. “Our advice would be to clean out gutters, ensure you have downspouts that direct water away from your foundation, and see that the hardscape (walkways, patios, etc.) and landscape grade away from the home,” they said.
“Most foundation problems are caused by water and poor drainage. If you look under your home, check to see that there is no earth-to-wood contact. Not only will moisture from the ground get to the wood and cause rot, but it also allows for wood-destroying organisms to get into the framing of your home. Additionally, earthquake retrofitting is a cost-effective upgrade encouraged by not only engineering communities but also local and state officials.”
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Have you ever had to hire a structural inspector or assessor, Pandas? What’s the worst damage you’ve personally ever seen done to a building’s foundations? Which of the photos in this post shocked you the most?
If you’re in the mood to be social, scroll down to the comments and share your thoughts with everyone else!
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You're going to need yourself a Yoshi if you're wanting to cross here. Back in 2017, a massive landslide covered up over a half mile of the road. It took months to clean up and there was no access around it. If it continues to rain, I wouldn't be surprised if more of this happened in and around Southern California.
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