My first post. Please be gentle.
I am about to buy a 100 year old house and the house inspector claims to have found serious problems. Below I will give you the problems with the builder/seller explanations. The house is a one story house with a crawl space. The crawl space is over the ground level. The house was totally rehabbed 3 years ago.
1. None of the beams in the crawl space are supported at the ends. There are apparently sufficient support but the ends are cantilevered.
Builder says this is a somewhat rare and unique structure: balloon structure. That is, there are no load-baring walls and that the beams and joist only support the floor weight and the furniture. And therefore end supports for the beams are not necessary. For what its worth it seems it was always like that and when we jump uo and down on the floor it did not budge felt very solid. House is empty right now.
2. Many of the vertical supports are made of blocks of wood over concrete bases. (Please forgive me if I am not using the correct lingo.) These are vertical pieces of wood, say 6"x6" or 8"x8" and about 24" long.) Inspector says wood should not be used over concrete (rotting and termite problems.)
Builder says these have been there for 100 years and nothing has happened.
FWIW: the wood columns do look very old but I also see water stain in the bottom 3 inches but they look very dry now and I do not see any termite damage.
3. Some support columns are are made of two cements blocks over each other but they are dry stacked.
Builder says such is OK and again they have not gone anywhere for many years.
4. Some support columns are made of a cement block with a brick on the top and under the beam. Inspector says it should be a one piece column.
Builder says.......same as above.
5. Inspectors says some of the shims are made of inferior (that is, compressible) scraps of wood. He says we should either use better wood or even better, metal shims.
Builder says.....(same as before)
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I have some good photos that I can share by email or PM or if appropriate I will post.
I appreciate any help that I can get.
I am about to buy a 100 year old house and the house inspector claims to have found serious problems. Below I will give you the problems with the builder/seller explanations. The house is a one story house with a crawl space. The crawl space is over the ground level. The house was totally rehabbed 3 years ago.
1. None of the beams in the crawl space are supported at the ends. There are apparently sufficient support but the ends are cantilevered.
Builder says this is a somewhat rare and unique structure: balloon structure. That is, there are no load-baring walls and that the beams and joist only support the floor weight and the furniture. And therefore end supports for the beams are not necessary. For what its worth it seems it was always like that and when we jump uo and down on the floor it did not budge felt very solid. House is empty right now.
2. Many of the vertical supports are made of blocks of wood over concrete bases. (Please forgive me if I am not using the correct lingo.) These are vertical pieces of wood, say 6"x6" or 8"x8" and about 24" long.) Inspector says wood should not be used over concrete (rotting and termite problems.)
Builder says these have been there for 100 years and nothing has happened.
FWIW: the wood columns do look very old but I also see water stain in the bottom 3 inches but they look very dry now and I do not see any termite damage.
3. Some support columns are are made of two cements blocks over each other but they are dry stacked.
Builder says such is OK and again they have not gone anywhere for many years.
4. Some support columns are made of a cement block with a brick on the top and under the beam. Inspector says it should be a one piece column.
Builder says.......same as above.
5. Inspectors says some of the shims are made of inferior (that is, compressible) scraps of wood. He says we should either use better wood or even better, metal shims.
Builder says.....(same as before)
-------------
I have some good photos that I can share by email or PM or if appropriate I will post.
I appreciate any help that I can get.