This photo was taken at the base of a basement wall. We note the following: The moisture staining on the wood stud and the cardboard box indicate that there has been water infiltration. The multiple rings of the moisture staining… Read More
Author Archives: Jerry Prugar
What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 9)
What can we tell from THIS photo? The wood plates and staples indicate that these are very old field built wood trusses. The soot and char indicate that they have been exposed to a fire. The relatively clean separation between… Read More
What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 8)
What can we tell from THIS photo? The portion of the wall on the left side of the cracking has dropped relative to the right. This indicates that the cracking is probably from some type of earth movement, such as… Read More
Here Are a Few Head Scratchers
Sometimes I see things that just don’t look right. Here are a few. How did THIS happen? No matter which way I turn, I violate a sign. This valley flashing doesn’t look like it’ll work, does it?… Read More
Cinder Concrete Floor Deck
Cinder concrete was an early development in concrete floor construction. It was appeared about one hundred years ago or so, when engineers and builders started combining steel and concrete to frame a floor. It was a method that used a… Read More
What Causes Siding to Become Loose in the Middle of the Wall?
We have often seen a loose course of siding in the middle of an exterior wall of a dwelling (Figure LS-1 and LS-2). In fact, I have seen it on my own home. What causes this? If you… Read More
Happy Birthday, America!!!! (2015)
Every day, but especially the 4th of July, is good day to remember Who has provided us with Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness (see Declaration of Independence): Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the… Read More
How many layers of shingles?
How many layers of shingles can be safely supported on a wood framed residential roof? Most building codes limit the number of layers of shingles to two. As a structural engineer, I design for two, but I prefer one layer… Read More