50 ‘Nightmares’ And ‘Miracles’ Spotted During Structural Inspections (New Pics)
Interview
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
This post may include affiliate links.
"I'm on the edge" - Lady Gaga
Alpha Structural is a Los Angeles based leader in foundation repair whose mission is “to engineer and build the most precise, practical and responsible repair for our customer’s property, in conformance with State and Local Building Codes and with their budget in mind, so that they may realize their goals concerning the correction of their property.” It was started by David Tourjé, who had built many custom hillside homes in the 1980s and decided to specialize in foundation and hillside repairs due to the increasing demand.
Alpha Structural has now been going strong for decades, becoming the number one choice for Foundation Engineering and Repair, Landslide Repair, Earthquake and Structural Rehabilitation Contractor in the Los Angeles area. “Our production staff has over 850 years of experience and all of it is hard-core and down-in-the-trenches, not managed from behind a computer,” their website states. “Our in-house engineers and technicians are among the most experienced in all of Southern California. If that’s not enough for you, here are just a few more reasons why you should choose us for all your foundation needs.”
We were called out to assess a failing deck on an ocean-front home, but the ocean had other plans.
9 lives just aren’t enough.
For mummification to occur, the body must be exposed to certain conditions, including chemicals, low humidity or a lack of air, which prevent the tissue from decaying.
Crawlspaces can in fact provide just the right mix for a body to mummify. I don't know what to do with this information.
But despite being based in California, Alpha Structural has had an impact on so many people around the world thanks to their hilarious and informative internet presence. With accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Imgur, Alpha Structural has thousands of followers who are eager to view their team’s most shocking finds from inspections and be glad that these things weren’t discovered in their own homes! We’ve been featuring Alpha Structural on Bored Panda for about three years now, and in the past, we’ve been lucky enough to get in touch with them to learn more about their company and the importance of structural inspections.
Alpha Structural previously told Bored Panda, “There are many factors that can affect the repair of a home such as budget constraints, timing, accessibility of workspace, etc. For the most part we would put the responsibility on the contractors that were hired to do the work. Most homeowners are not aware of the repair ‘methods’ used, especially when the work is under the home."
“For example, we’ve seen brick foundations that have been ‘retrofitted’ by bolting the framing to the brick walls. However, this doesn’t serve any purpose as the bricks can’t hold these bolts. Many times the homeowner had no idea that there was any problem performing this type of retrofit on a brick foundation,” they explained. “Without trying to sound cliché, we can say the old maxim, ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true when selecting a contractor to repair, or upgrade your home’s foundation.”
Who else is bummed they missed this party?
At least they placed the concrete on the dirt to avoid termites. 2 out of 10 for the effort.
We reached out to Alpha Structural about this piece as well, and we were lucky enough to get in touch with Ben Reinhart, the Vice President of Marketing. First, we wanted to hear if there had been any exciting updates since the last time we had spoken with Alpha Structural. "We recently celebrated our 30th anniversary!" Ben shared. "Also, we started servicing Orange County and will soon be expanding to Ventura County as well!"
Interesting brickwork on that chimney you got there.
Tell me you love controlled chaos without telling me you love controlled chaos.
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.
Do you see it? Let's zoom in...
Yeah, not scary at all.
They are great little animals. They eat all of the bad things!
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No no possum...not healthy to be breathing all that fiberglass! Bet you're itchy, too, eh?
Reminds me of a story my grandmother told me. Grandpa went to open a couch-bed in the basement of their house, and he saw these glowing eyes looking back at him. Fortunately, no harm to him or the opossum.
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Opossums are good for the environment and great for pest control ... leave them alone
Anyone else who sees the grey shadow under its chin as a mouth and think ‘wtf am I seeing’
Aww poor little poss covered in all of that itchy fiberglass insulation.
Not really theh eat chickens, eggs, catfood, and food from your garden.
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Opossums freak me out. All hissing and showing their teeth. Looking like big a*s rats. Had to remove several from hay barns and crawl spaces.
Our roof space is full of them. They are cute but they scream like banshees.
Definitely an Australian possum, completely unrelated to the opossum. Possums are very cute nocturnal animals, and commonly get into the roofing. At one home, my housemate and I would leave them very tasty medleys of cut up fruit at night. Got some adorable photos. (They hadn't got into our roofing; they just visited at midnight.)
Possum is grouchy looking lol, maybe cause he didn't want his picture taken!! I can sympathize, I look the very same when someone tries to take my picture 🤣🤣
It is cute ❤️and not dangerous ro humans i believe..🤔 Well no more than humans are to this earth🤐😅😆
Well, after looking at the top one I now believe I have figured out what some of those supposed ghost's in the attic pictures are. That would be downright terrifying if you didn't find out what it was.
I got one of those f*****s under my house right now. Wakes me up at dark thirty every morning.
At least you don't have to worry about tics etc 😅
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i feel like that is another mummy but a dog mummy and proped up as if it was barking for help
No one else sees the insulation in front of the ground that, at quick glance resembles a body?
My dog used to play with one in the backyard almost every night. Never had any issues.
Kinda looks like an old stuffed animal. Zombie possum? Probably just wet. Hard to tell the difference
My grandma told my mom she was hearing scratching noises at night, my mom thought, oh no, mom is starting to lose it 🙄. But then my mom heard something when she was visiting too! My dad put a trap in the attic and proceeded to catch 2 raccoons and then a possum. He patched up the issue.
He shouldn't stay if he is digging in your insulation
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Awwww. They need to build her a little opossum house. She's nesting. Opossums build the cutest little nests. Or they steal your beds for your feral cats & drag them under your house to where the heating is in the house to stay warm over winter. Lol. That's what they always do on my property. They're smart little creatures who are just trying to stay safe & warm. Best little guys to have in your yard.
NOPE! i would burn the house down you cant get rid of those giant possum rats that like to run around at 2am growl for no reason and like to play knock knock on your walls at 3am well i did have fun with the infestation of possums at my old house i still hate them lol
We also asked Ben if it's crucial to have a structural inspector take a look at every building we might be living or working in. "When purchasing a property, it’s very important to do your due diligence," he told Bored Panda. "Get all the inspections; you need to make sure that you’re getting what you expect. We’ve heard all sorts of horror stories about people buying homes, waiving contingencies, and then finding out down the line that they have major structural issues."
"Regarding someone who is already the property owner, they don’t necessarily need to get inspections unless they start noticing signs of structural damage," Ben added. "Large, wide cracks, sloping floors, etc. The best thing a property owner can do for their structure is to make sure they have a good drainage system and keep up with regular maintenance. This will go a long way."
Check out this red-tagged home we had the pleasure of visiting this week. No big deal. Just a little movement down the hill.
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
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.
We also asked Ben about any of the wildest things the Alpha Structural team has encountered while on the job. "We come across some crazy stuff. I’d say that one of the most shocking was when one of our assessors found a human skull in the crawl space of a home he was inspecting," he shared. "The skull was complete with a clump of long, black hair and a few chunks of mummified flesh but minus the jawbone. The assessor immediately left the crawl space and notified the police. Surprisingly, when the coroner came, he concluded that the skull was roughly 2,000 years old! It’s suspected that a previous homeowner had found the skull while hiking in Peru in the 1970s and smuggled it back into the country."
For 1 million dollars, would you spend the night in this room?
Silent, motionless, and wearing a helmet, hell yes! In today's economic climate, I'm there for $100k
Here we have a floating post and pier. The room above must be fun for the kids, an in-house bounce house.
I think i've become an animal whisperer. They seem to be following
We were also curious what type of person would make for a great structural inspector. "Being a structural assessor is a much more exciting job than people would expect. You see all types of buildings, some of which have a very rich history. You meet a lot of people who are experiencing various structural/geotechnical issues," Ben told Bored Panda. "We try to help them find a solution for their problem that fits within their budget. I’d recommend someone who has experience with construction and who likes to solve problems and help people."
"I'll take signs you're having foundation issues for $100."
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.
Ben also added that, "Cracking in drywall/stucco is very common, especially in SoCal. The best thing people can do to mitigate this is make sure that they have a proper drainage system. Don’t let water pool near your foundation. Cracks that are around ¼ of an inch or wider are more concerning. This is a sign that there may be a structural issue."
If you're concerned there might be a structural issue in your home or you'd like to learn more from the experts, be sure to check out Alpha Structural, Inc.'s website right here!
Not one thing in this picture is aligned.
WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH JENGA AND BAD CONSTRUCTION HAVE I BEEN MISSING SOMETHING?
Structural dust.
Welp. Sir, your house is being supported by dust.
Just like our routine check-ups at the doctor to ensure our health is in tip-top shape, regular building inspections can prevent any issues from creeping up on your residence or office space before it’s too late to fix them. According to Build, structural inspections are important to catch any issues that you might have missed when checking out the space. “It’s easy to get carried away with the idea of getting a new place, but the last thing you want to do is pay for a bad property that lacks minor details which turn out to be crucial after the purchase has been made,” Build explains. “If things such as pest infestations, incorrect electrical wiring, or a faulty plumbing system are not addressed as soon as possible, they can become a major source of discomfort or even danger. These minor yet significant details are what professional [building inspectors] look for when conducting inspections. A building inspector will catch details your untrained eye missed.”
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?
Down the hill the fence goes and with it the homeowner’s backyard.
Just waiting on one good shake.
Having a solid building inspection can also help with your power in negotiations, before you’ve decided whether or not to purchase a space. “With a good inspection, your negotiation stakes are more solid. When making an offer on a property, having a solid understanding of the building’s structural problems and having reports to back up your claims will help you save tens of thousands of dollars,” Build writes.
“A building inspection is one step you never want to overlook. It is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure that your new building is a good investment, and it is critical to do your research before making such a large purchase. The priority of anyone looking to purchase a property should be to seek the advice of a professional building inspector in order to make a proper and well-informed decision.”
This retaining wall needs some serious intervention before it fails.
Oh, too late.
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.
Are you feeling inspired to schedule your next home inspection, pandas? If you’ve got cracks in the wall or you suspect the basement has water damage that could cause problems in the future, now’s the time to get that checked out. We hope you’re enjoying these shocking photos, so keep upvoting all of your favorites. And then if you’re interested in checking out our previous articles featuring Alpha Structural, you can find the most recent ones right here and here!
Sometimes concrete slabs crack due to improper installation procedures. They will need to be inspected by a professional to determine the cause.
Dialation joints, large concrete slabs need dialation joints, concrete like everything else reacts to termodinâmics, if its hot it Will expand, if its cold it Will contract, só you need to put rubber joints on the slab ( x meters apart from eachother, depending on the size of the total área, and Im not a civil engineer, só i don't know how to calculate that ) but those rubber joints Will let the concrete " move " widout cracking.
Oh, you think your deck is structurally sound. I dare you to stick a knife in it.
In nature, wood rot is the natural decomposition process turning fallen logs into nutritious soil.
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.
The column looks a little worn, but at least it's not supporting a giant parking garage
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...
I've already tried this on my neighbor's deck.He had it professionally installed. He loved it! I would do this trick again, it's a real crowd pleaser.
We wouldn't want to be the home directly below.
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.
In one of my previous workplaces, I was advised not to park near a specific wall due to moisture. Everyone feared it would collapse. It was the underground carpark for a major hospital.
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.
The biggest shim we’ve ever seen.
But but that beam is only resting on one tiny edge of the block underneath 😳😱
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.
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
Oh you can just patch and paint and no one will even notice /S
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.
What a great life lesson... even foundation post and piers come in every size.
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
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.
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.
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.
But, on the positive side, it revealed the contact card of a junk car buyer!
Deck or failed retaining wall? Yup, definitely a failed retaining wall.
Note: this post originally had 104 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Most of these just make me wonder why Americans don't just do what the rest of the world does: dig a trench where you're putting load bearing walls, fill it with concrete, then build on top of it with bricks? Balancing a flimsy wooden box on a bunch of sticks seems like you're asking for trouble.
We do have those, but none of those are featured here because they actually work.
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Whoa. This post got way too overwhelming. I don't need to know about all these possible problems, I'd rather live in ignorant bliss.
I think I need my crawlspace inspected now. And if the person doesn’t arrive with at least five blue and white choose-your-own-adventure pens then I’m requesting someone else.
Everyone should get it looked at! Ours was totally wooden and pebble Jenga when we got this place
Load More Replies... Came here to see just how bad our house is in comparison. Convinced inspection wa spaid off cuz there was so much wrong to be paying 300k. We bought it in 2017ish and we had to remove the past scumlord's Jenga, fix broken doorframes, kitchen knifes and blocks, we STILL have holes, toilet wasn't attached to floor, we technically have 2 roofs that I always worry about, our kitchen is unfinished underneath and is basically sawdust into dirt next to the crawlspace, and who knows what is going on since then in the crawlspace. I've noticed a slope in the kitchen but I don't want to deal with it right now. We had to remove tons of dry rot when we got here and remodel walls anyway. Tons of dead animals needed to be cleared out. We have constant pest control issues. I think we should just tear this place down and rebuild but that would take money and now I feel trapped here. I don't want to sell it and subject someone else to this place. I literally cry about it lol
when i was a baby, a tree crashed into my kitchen and almost hit the room me and my parents were in. then when my brother was a baby, he was under a mantle with a ton of heavy stuff when there was an earthquake. luckily my mom grabbed him and he didnt get hit by anything. we're apparently disaster magnets.
Many of those posts made me think of my old house. Cheaply built terraced house ca. 1927. Stone foundations and walls, wooden floor. The floor was only supported by beams running from wall to wall and was sagging in the middle.It was held up by a car jack. I sold it and now I live in a nice solid concrete 1970s house. No cracks, no sagging, everything level. It's heaven!
I really enjoyed this post. It was very interesting. Find more of these types of things, please. This is much better than reading the same old stuff like family battles, angry boyfriends, bad in-laws, etc.
My first thought? Homeowner's insurance. Keep those payments up to date, people. Don't wind up posting on Bored Panda, people.
I am not cut out to be a structural inspector. Nothing could make me crawl into some of these places.
I've learned two things from this: 1.) Everything is jenga 2.) If you cringe as hard as I did, your jaw hurts for a while.
I work in insurance and these images stressed me out so much - I cannot imagine the calls the claims department would have to take for some of these!
I guess living up north with cold forces one to build in a way this cannot happen.
My house should be on here. Cracks in walls and ceilings, sloping floors, door ways that look like they are from a Dr Sues book. Now I'm kind of worried.
As far as I can see, the main danger sign is when THAT biro appears! 🥴
Our house had less of a foundation than most of these. 130,000 dollars later we have a modern, solid foundation.
Those concrete footings... they're tiny! Would barely do for a child's playhouse where i live. I put up a pergola/arbor recently (freestanding) and the building inspector (personal acquaintance) insisted that i excavate for footings 15in X 15 in X 24 in.
Most of these just make me wonder why Americans don't just do what the rest of the world does: dig a trench where you're putting load bearing walls, fill it with concrete, then build on top of it with bricks? Balancing a flimsy wooden box on a bunch of sticks seems like you're asking for trouble.
We do have those, but none of those are featured here because they actually work.
Load More Replies... Whoa. This post got way too overwhelming. I don't need to know about all these possible problems, I'd rather live in ignorant bliss.
I think I need my crawlspace inspected now. And if the person doesn’t arrive with at least five blue and white choose-your-own-adventure pens then I’m requesting someone else.
Everyone should get it looked at! Ours was totally wooden and pebble Jenga when we got this place
Load More Replies... Came here to see just how bad our house is in comparison. Convinced inspection wa spaid off cuz there was so much wrong to be paying 300k. We bought it in 2017ish and we had to remove the past scumlord's Jenga, fix broken doorframes, kitchen knifes and blocks, we STILL have holes, toilet wasn't attached to floor, we technically have 2 roofs that I always worry about, our kitchen is unfinished underneath and is basically sawdust into dirt next to the crawlspace, and who knows what is going on since then in the crawlspace. I've noticed a slope in the kitchen but I don't want to deal with it right now. We had to remove tons of dry rot when we got here and remodel walls anyway. Tons of dead animals needed to be cleared out. We have constant pest control issues. I think we should just tear this place down and rebuild but that would take money and now I feel trapped here. I don't want to sell it and subject someone else to this place. I literally cry about it lol
when i was a baby, a tree crashed into my kitchen and almost hit the room me and my parents were in. then when my brother was a baby, he was under a mantle with a ton of heavy stuff when there was an earthquake. luckily my mom grabbed him and he didnt get hit by anything. we're apparently disaster magnets.
Many of those posts made me think of my old house. Cheaply built terraced house ca. 1927. Stone foundations and walls, wooden floor. The floor was only supported by beams running from wall to wall and was sagging in the middle.It was held up by a car jack. I sold it and now I live in a nice solid concrete 1970s house. No cracks, no sagging, everything level. It's heaven!
I really enjoyed this post. It was very interesting. Find more of these types of things, please. This is much better than reading the same old stuff like family battles, angry boyfriends, bad in-laws, etc.
My first thought? Homeowner's insurance. Keep those payments up to date, people. Don't wind up posting on Bored Panda, people.
I am not cut out to be a structural inspector. Nothing could make me crawl into some of these places.
I've learned two things from this: 1.) Everything is jenga 2.) If you cringe as hard as I did, your jaw hurts for a while.
I work in insurance and these images stressed me out so much - I cannot imagine the calls the claims department would have to take for some of these!
I guess living up north with cold forces one to build in a way this cannot happen.
My house should be on here. Cracks in walls and ceilings, sloping floors, door ways that look like they are from a Dr Sues book. Now I'm kind of worried.
As far as I can see, the main danger sign is when THAT biro appears! 🥴
Our house had less of a foundation than most of these. 130,000 dollars later we have a modern, solid foundation.
Those concrete footings... they're tiny! Would barely do for a child's playhouse where i live. I put up a pergola/arbor recently (freestanding) and the building inspector (personal acquaintance) insisted that i excavate for footings 15in X 15 in X 24 in.
