When was the last time you had your home or business inspected, pandas? Be honest, was it last month, or was it three weeks before you moved into the building nine years ago? We tend to assume that everything is just fine with any structure we enter because well, frankly, the idea of the roof collapsing on top of us or the floor caving in isn’t something most of us want to imagine. But unfortunately, buildings don’t last forever, so to ensure that we’ve chosen a safe space to conduct our business or live our lives, those places need to be inspected every now and then.
And who better to inspect your building than Alpha Structural, Inc.? Alpha Structural is a leader in the engineering and construction of foundation and hillside repairs, and a popular presence on the internet thanks to their social media accounts. Below, we’ve gathered photos from their famous Imgur account, featuring some of the most bizarre and shocking things structural inspectors have discovered while on the job, so we hope you enjoy these pics and remember to always have those inspections done on time.
Keep reading to also find an interview with Ben Reinhart, Vice President of Marketing for Alpha Structural, and be sure to upvote the photos you find most surprising. Then, if you’re interested in checking out Bored Panda’s previous articles featuring Alpha Structural, you can find the most recent ones right here and here!
More info: AlphaStructural.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Imgur
#1
“I’m on the edge” – Lady Gaga
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#2
Santa better have insurance.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#3
Still selling for one million dollars…
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#4
Jenga! Your turn.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#5
We were called out to assess a failing deck on an ocean-front home, but the ocean had other plans.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#6
Who else is bummed they missed this party?
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#7
Jenga but 100x bigger!
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#8
At least they placed the concrete on the dirt to avoid termites. 2 out of 10 for the effort.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#9
Interesting brickwork on that chimney you got there.
Tell me you love controlled chaos without telling me you love controlled chaos.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#10
This home was flooded due to a burst pipe. All the water damage and extra pressure it applied to the slab caused a severe crack to form.
You can see it runs across the entire length of the living room.
You can see here the slab has a offset crack, characterized by a height difference on either side of a the crack.
It can be tempting to think that cracks in concrete aren’t a cause for concern, but if they’re affecting your home’s structure, they need to be addressed. Your concrete slab is essential to your home’s structural integrity. A weak foundation can lead to the collapse of interior walls.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#11
Do you see it? Let’s zoom in…
Yeah, not scary at all.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#12
Check out this red-tagged home we had the pleasure of visiting this week. No big deal. Just a little movement down the hill.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#13
Moisture in your crawlspace is never a good thing as it causes wood to decay. It is also an ideal habitat for mushrooms and mold
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#14
During the storm a tree fell on top of this home. Luckily, no one was seriously injured, though the homeowner was sitting on their couch when their ceiling came crashing down. You can see here how their roof is completely warped from the impact. Inside, the extent of the damage is clearly visible.
P.S. the couch in question is under there somewhere.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#15
For 1 million dollars, would you spend the night in this room?
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#16
Here we have a floating post and pier. The room above must be fun for the kids, an in-house bounce house.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#17
I think i’ve become an animal whisperer. They seem to be following
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#18
“I’ll take signs you’re having foundation issues for $100.”
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#19
Is it just Los Angeles drivers or does this happen everywhere? At least the driver miraculously just hit the garage and not the rooms where people were sleeping.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#20
Not one thing in this picture is aligned.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#21
Structural dust.
Welp. Sir, your house is being supported by dust.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#22
A car plowed into the side of this church. We came out to inspect the structural damage, but the most impressive part was that there were no tire marks on the grass. It is completely pristine. How?
Was it a flying car?
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#23
Down the hill the fence goes and with it the homeowner’s backyard.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#24
Just waiting on one good shake.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#25
You don’t need to be an expert to know this is bad.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#26
This retaining wall needs some serious intervention before it fails.
Oh, too late.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#27
We always like a spacious crawlspace, but, as you can see, the foundation wall at the entrance has begun to deteriorate. There seems to be something growing from inside the wall.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#28
If my pen fits then I’m concerned.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#29
Sometimes concrete slabs crack due to improper installation procedures. They will need to be inspected by a professional to determine the cause.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#30
Oh, you think your deck is structurally sound. I dare you to stick a knife in it.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#31
In nature, wood rot is the natural decomposition process turning fallen logs into nutritious soil.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#32
Girders act as the intermediate support for the floor joists. They carry the bulk of the weight above them. They should not be twisting away from the post.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#33
The column looks a little worn, but at least it’s not supporting a giant parking garage
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#34
Next time you’re on a deck you should look over the side of it and assess how structurally sound it truly is. It’s a favorite party trick! People love it…
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#35
Your house feels a bit slanted? Hmm, I wonder why.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#36
We wouldn’t want to be the home directly below.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#37
If the structure is in an area accessed by the public, then spalling can be hazardous in terms of falling debris or trip hazards. If left unchecked, then spalling will accelerate and spread so that, eventually, the structure could become unstable.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#38
Don’t underestimate a failing retaining wall. This wall will fall, and the results will not be pretty and will ultimately end up costing more than replacing it at this stage.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#39
The biggest shim we’ve ever seen.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#40
Plummer special!
The very handy plumber dug out the foundation to place a pipe and, in the process, undermined an entire row of post and piers.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#41
If your home is sitting on a slab foundation, these are the types of cracks you do not want to see. Cracks like the ones above are a clear result of structural issues
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#42
If you’re worried about foundation issues in your home, look out for these common indicators:
-Sloping or sagging floors,
-Visible cracks in ceilings,
-Gaps appearing between walls and floors,
-Walls beginning to lean or bow, or
-Floor cracks appearing.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#43
What a great life lesson… even foundation post and piers come in every size.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#44
Almost every landslide can have multiple causes. Slope movement occurs when forces acting down-slope exceed the strength of the earth materials that compose the slope. These pipe and board builds were not strong enough to hold the earth behind them
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#45
The mortar used to hold the river rock together can degrade over time to the point where the rocks will fall out or could easily be pulled out.
If neglected, a distressed river rock foundation not only affects the cosmetic appeal of the home but also puts its residents at great risk.
Depending upon the circumstances, a replacement of some or all the unreinforced foundation may be necessary. Usually, homeowners preferred to “sister” the foundation. This preserves the curb appeal of the home. This option is often less costly than a replacement.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#46
Once the retaining wall is unable to withstand the force behind it, it will come crashing down. Luckily, a retaining wall does not fail without first showing warning signs. Common signs that a wall is slowly failing can include cracking in the wall, bulging of the face of the wall, and tilting. If a retaining wall shows any of these signs, it is likely time to have the wall evaluated.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#47
A car rammed into the side of a bar and took out a supporting column. By the look of it, it was already on its way out.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#48
No one should be parked too close to this wall
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#49
Deck or failed retaining wall? Yup, definitely a failed retaining wall.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
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