Need Help w/Foundation
 

Hello All,

I was tearing down a free standing deck (not connected to house), in the
attempt to eventually replace it. After tearing away some of the rotted
wood, I found some damage to the wood portions of the foundation.

1. In order to get it repaired, do I call a Home Inspector to get an
unbiased opinion, or start calling people specializing in foundations?
2. It looks like it is more than just scraping away and treating the lumber
with a preservative.
3. What would be the correct term for this portion of the foundation?

I tried to take some photos of it so that you can get an idea of the area
and extent of damage. Any help and/or recommendations are appreciated.

Thank you so much,
Steven Banks
http://www.msftman.com/photo_of_foundation.htm

Need Help w/Foundation
 

I was tearing down a free standing deck (not connected to house), in the
attempt to eventually replace it. After tearing away some of the rotted
wood, I found some damage to the wood portions of the foundation.

Looks like poor installation of flashing on the house. Doesn't matter
that it wasn't connected, it looks like it was close enough to the
house to put and keep water right against the house.

1. In order to get it repaired, do I call a Home Inspector to get an
unbiased opinion, or start calling people specializing in foundations?

Home inspectors are for people buying houses. The unbiased opinion they
would give a buyer would simply be "yup, that looks rotten, better call
somebody who can help you". And a home inspector will typically know
nothing about how to repair such a problem, beyond maybe a very
ballpark estimate ("hmmm, that looks expensive, maybe a few grand") and
phone numbers of his buddies in the contracting business.

2. It looks like it is more than just scraping away and treating the lumber
with a preservative.

Yup. Looks like you need it torn out and replaced.

3. What would be the correct term for this portion of the foundation?

The concrete part is the foundation. I think I see two separate boards
sitting on the concrete -- a smaller one in better condition on bottom,
then the rotten thicker one on top. If so, the board resting on the
concrete is the "sill plate" (modern) or "mud sill" (old fashioned
term). Looks like you might have a sill plate that is fine -- perhaps
it was pressure treated lumber. The board on top would probably be a
"header" or "floor joist" -- a 2x6 or 2x8 laid on edge on top of the
sill plate, and looks totally rotten. Expect more rot behind and
underneath it, too.

I tried to take some photos of it so that you can get an idea of the area
and extent of damage. Any help and/or recommendations are appreciated.

Ask friends for recommendations on general contractors, esp. those that
do repair work (as opposed to new construction). Some foundation
specialists might be able to help too, although I think many (at least
around here) mostly just stick to concrete and cement work.

This will not be a cheap repair necessarily, so get a few quotes if you
can. They have to see it in person to make an intelligent estimate, but
offer to email them the photos to get a ballpark idea of how much it
might cost.

Good luck,
-Kevin

Need Help w/Foundation
 

Kevin,

Thank you so much, your speculation seems right on. One of my customers said
I should check the floor joists also by going in the crawlspace. Looks like
any FUN home improvements will have to wait... :-(

Thanks again,
Steven



"kevin" wrote in message
oups.com...

I was tearing down a free standing deck (not connected to house), in the
attempt to eventually replace it. After tearing away some of the rotted
wood, I found some damage to the wood portions of the foundation.

Looks like poor installation of flashing on the house. Doesn't matter
that it wasn't connected, it looks like it was close enough to the
house to put and keep water right against the house.

1. In order to get it repaired, do I call a Home Inspector to get an
unbiased opinion, or start calling people specializing in foundations?

Home inspectors are for people buying houses. The unbiased opinion they
would give a buyer would simply be "yup, that looks rotten, better call
somebody who can help you". And a home inspector will typically know
nothing about how to repair such a problem, beyond maybe a very
ballpark estimate ("hmmm, that looks expensive, maybe a few grand") and
phone numbers of his buddies in the contracting business.

2. It looks like it is more than just scraping away and treating the
lumber
with a preservative.

Yup. Looks like you need it torn out and replaced.

3. What would be the correct term for this portion of the foundation?

The concrete part is the foundation. I think I see two separate boards
sitting on the concrete -- a smaller one in better condition on bottom,
then the rotten thicker one on top. If so, the board resting on the
concrete is the "sill plate" (modern) or "mud sill" (old fashioned
term). Looks like you might have a sill plate that is fine -- perhaps
it was pressure treated lumber. The board on top would probably be a
"header" or "floor joist" -- a 2x6 or 2x8 laid on edge on top of the
sill plate, and looks totally rotten. Expect more rot behind and
underneath it, too.

I tried to take some photos of it so that you can get an idea of the area
and extent of damage. Any help and/or recommendations are appreciated.

Ask friends for recommendations on general contractors, esp. those that
do repair work (as opposed to new construction). Some foundation
specialists might be able to help too, although I think many (at least
around here) mostly just stick to concrete and cement work.

This will not be a cheap repair necessarily, so get a few quotes if you
can. They have to see it in person to make an intelligent estimate, but
offer to email them the photos to get a ballpark idea of how much it
might cost.

Good luck,
-Kevin