Structural inspectors and assessors are the silent heroes who deserve our respect. Their work is absolutely essential and ensures that you can live safely in your home. But what they see while on the job, while shocking, is a mystery to many.
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
#1
This was a property built in the late 1940s by a guy who used to build barracks for the US Army. The home was sitting on metal I-beams and they were supported by large concrete piles. The home hasn't moved an inch since being built. Very interesting and impressive!
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#2
Jenga! Your turn.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#3
This 7-inch crack is showing severe signs of differential settlement, meaning portions of the foundation are sinking at a greater rate. Foot added for reference.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
Structural inspectors do exactly what’s in their name: they inspect structures. Their goal is to see if there are any structural issues or defects that might compromise a building’s safety.
They evaluate a building’s integrity by looking at the foundations, beams, columns, posts, joints, trusses, and any other components that bear a load. A home has to be strong and rock solid, not just look nice.
#4
This subterranean basement had a window that opened up into an open area underground. Imagine opening the window in your basement and a group of bats fly in. That probably wouldn't happen here but it's possible! This is a great spot for putting your disobedient kids.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#5
These homeowners were out of town when their pool service technician left the water running. As a result, the pool overflowed and contributed to the failure of this deck.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#6
They did not understand the assignment.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
You might ask for a structural inspector’s services if you’re buying a home, spot cracks in the ceiling, walls, or foundations, or have problems with the drainage on your property.
The importance of these assessments can’t be overstated: your health and even your life might be at risk if something is seriously wrong with the integrity of the building. If there’s a potential problem, and you haven't been regularly maintaining your home, you definitely want it to be evaluated instead of praying for good luck.
#7
At least they placed the concrete on the dirt to avoid termites. 2 out of 10 for the effort.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#8
You are looking at the worst framing rot that we have ever come across on an inspection. You can't even touch this wall without the whole thing falling apart. Just look at the insulation around it! You know it's really bad when the studs begin to look like fractured vertebrae.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#9
This apartment complex's tucked-under garage has begun to spall. Spalling can cause serious injuries as it can damage the whole structure to a point of failure. There are three stories above this garage.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
Alpha Structural, which has been serving Los Angeles and Southern California for foundation repair since 1993, is known globally.
Not only has the company been doing stellar work for more than three decades, but it has also built up a very recognizable brand due to its prominent and iconic marketing on social media. In short, the company provides a glimpse of what it’s like to be on one of these inspections.
#10
These posts are waiting to fall over any day now.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#11
The main support beams for this stilt home are suffering from extreme wood rot.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#12
This home is suffering from a severe case of fungus growth inside the crawlspace. The amount of fungus that has spread across the joists and girder can potentially be a serious issue for the homeowners.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
It’s very likely that you’ve seen the business’ posts on Imgur, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Or maybe you’ve seen some of their clips on YouTube or TikTok. In short, Alpha Structural inspectors share some of the most impressively horrifying shots from their assessments online.
They’re captivating because they show the potential for danger. Not only that but some of the things that the inspectors find are truly mind-bogglingly creepy, from skulls to dolls.
#13
This Rancho Palos Verdes home is experiencing extreme settlement and shifting which is evident in the huge cracks along the exterior. Let’s just say the bend in the roof is not architectural.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#14
Pottery can be a very useful tool.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#15
"How do you know if your wood is rotting?" This is how.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
A representative of Alpha Structural previously explained to Bored Panda during an interview that there are many different factors that can affect the repair of a home. These range from budget constraints and timing to the accessibility of workspace.
There are tons of potential problems that homeowners might not even be aware of because they simply trust their contractors to get the job done. That’s why it matters a lot that you hire contractors who have lots of experience and great skills. They might be costlier, but it’ll save you a lot of frustration in the future.
#16
The foundation of this home has literally snapped in half resulting in extreme shifting throughout the structure.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#17
I don't know about you but I would want to park the furthest away from this wall...
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#18
An unstable slope will show indications of movement by the presence of geotropism, which refers to the growth of plants against gravity. The way the trees bend towards the bottom of the slope lets us know the hillside is unstable and is constantly moving.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
“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,” they told us.
“Many times, the homeowner had no idea that there was any problem performing this type of retrofit on a brick foundation. 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.”
#19
I love magic shows. This house impressed me with floating posts and invisible piers.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#20
Please watch your step!
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#21
This is the result of a creeping hillside and shallow pile placement. 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!
Image credits: AlphaStructural
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.
#22
Anyone want to step foot on this balcony?
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#23
Hmm, did they drink a bit too much and forgot to pour the footing?
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#24
Structural support shouldn’t be a balancing game.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
“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.”
#25
Interesting brickwork on that chimney you got there. Tell me you love controlled chaos without telling me you love controlled chaos.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#26
Life always finds a way...
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#27
"I'm on the edge" - Lady Gaga
Image credits: AlphaStructural
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.”
#28
Still selling for one million dollars…
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#29
This was taken during one of our structural inspections in North Hollywood. It's gonna take a little more than duct tape to fix this one.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#30
The “Balcony Bill” was signed back in 2018, and for good reason. Let’s get them up to code now.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
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!
#31
Santa better have insurance.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#32
Only bounce houses should move side to side. This home’s garage is clearly on its way out. Hope it’s empty.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#33
When you gotta go... you gotta go.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#34
Notice the compression of the posts into the girder. They go into the girder about an inch. This property has some crazy settlement and moisture problems
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#35
One good look at this photo and you'll see multiple things going on. The floors are sloping (and have been for quite some time) so bad that it is effecting the levelness of the lamp, desk, drawers, AC vents and door frames. This home has some of the craziest sloping floors that we've seen.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#36
Being that my company in LA does this sort of repair/prevention work, this was some scary news to see this morning. Torrential rain and debris caused a large chunk of Highway 1 on the West Coast of California to wash away. 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.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#37
This is one of the craziest things that we've seen during our inspections. This owner had undermined almost the entirety of his home by digging underneath the slab and excavating around the piles. There had been a minor mudslide and they decided it would be a good idea to create more space underneath... The grade of soil used to be up to the concrete slab above. Believe it or not, the property had not yet been red-tagged.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#38
Sometimes the access points to these crawlspaces can be a bit rough...
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#39
The Los Angeles hillside communities were some of the hardest hit during the storm. Hillsides all over SoCal failed and our assessors were quickly dispatched out on emergency calls. Don’t underestimate the power of water.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#40
Jenga but 100x bigger!
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#41
Jenga: House Edition.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#42
We inspected this "dangerous" retaining wall in Los Angeles that is leaning and broken apart. You can see how bad it's actually leaning from this angle. It has been there for quite some time but nobody has done anything to repair or replace it.
#43
Who else is bummed they missed this party?
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#44
Another failing railroad tie "retaining wall" that should be replaced soon. You can see how far it has begun to lean towards the street.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#45
We were called out to assess a failing deck on an ocean-front home, but the ocean had other plans.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#46
The pig from the three little pigs story did a better job at building a house of bricks. This looks rushed. Maybe the big bad wolf was closer than they thought.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#47
We have inspected this home a few times. It's a vacant lot, currently up for sale. It has been like this for quite some time and should somebody buy the property, they would be in for a nice replacement project. Here's the side of the home where you can see a decently sized crack separating the failed and stable areas. Nature is taking over where this retaining wall has cracked and displaced.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#48
Here we have a brick retaining wall experiencing surcharge from the neighboring hill. Structures that are settling can cause this surcharge in the soil. This creates a high-pressure situation which then pushes out the remaining soil and results in this type of damage to retaining walls.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#49
The brick and mortar piers are literally turning into dust. Not something you want holding up your entire house.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
#50
This post and pier looks funny. Someone replaced the post with a game of jenga.
Image credits: AlphaStructural
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