Follow the Plans, Then Double Check
A homeowner in South Jordan, Utah is building a new 26×30 garage in their backyard. The plan calls for a monolithic pour, with the slab at 6 inches thick and the footing extending at least 30 inches below the soil line. We confirmed these values by seeing the provided plans. During the site visit, questions […]
Not at Risk of Failure, It’s Already Failed
We were asked to evaluate a 50-year-old A-frame cabin in Midway, Utah. The home is perched on short 6×6 stilts, roughly two feet tall, but the supports are badly off plumb—leaning nearly six inches. At some point, braces were added in an attempt to correct the problem, but they were installed in the wrong direction […]
Rotting Sill Plates
This follow-up visit was made after a home inspection in Herriman, Utah. The inspector noted rotting sill plates, unsupported junctions, and missing brackets. We confirmed these findings, though with a moderated level of concern. On the west side of the home, sill plates have rotted from years of poor drainage. Full replacement would be very […]
A Fresh Start
In Sandy, Utah, the clients are looking to refresh their home by replacing the existing windows at the front popout with a design that allows more glass and a better view. Structurally, this project is made simpler by the fact that the front wall does not carry the primary snow load. While the popout does […]
Many Options, But Only One Good One
In St. George, Utah, we were asked to provide a foundation inspection on a home nearly 95 years old. With a structure of this age, certain issues are expected, and one of the most concerning conditions in this area is elevated sulfate concentration in the soils. Sulfates in soil or groundwater can react with concrete, […]
Complicated Conditions
In Park City, Utah, the front deck of a home had settled enough to require structural support. The goal of this project was not to lift the deck substantially, but to stabilize it against further movement. To achieve this, the contractor installed four helical piers, each driven to a minimum pressure of 1500 psi. Depths […]
Stunning Settlement
During a recent inspection in Cedar City, Utah, a 20-year-old townhome revealed settlement that had gone unnoticed by its many residents. Cracks along the south living room wall and daylight now visible between the slab and the front (east) wall had been hidden until the carpet was removed. These are not cosmetic issues but indicators […]
That’s Some Sad Soil
We performed a structural inspection on multiple properties in Nephi, Utah due to widespread reports of settlement, cracking, and shear displacement point to underlying soil problems made worse by rainstorms. The geotechnical report for this neighborhood classified the silty alluvial soils as collapsible, with a Collapse Potential (CP) as high as 14.67%—well above the 10% […]
Charred Ceiling and Burnt Beams
On a recent inspection in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, we were asked to review fire damage in a multi-unit residential building. The layout is straightforward: Unit 1 sits at the base, with Unit 5 directly above. The fire appears to have started near the HVAC system in the entry hallway, which also serves as the bathroom […]
That Ain’t Structural
A general contractor took us around the back of a home in Riverton Utah. He explained his vision for installing a stairway and retaining wall beneath the middle floor’s porch, leading to a future basement entrance. This experienced contractor asked thoughtful questions to determine the proper dimensions for a lintel that would evenly distribute the […]