Structure inspection

Structure

The structure of a house is the most fundamental element of a house; is in itself, the skeleton of the house. Although construction methods vary from time to time, and from region to region, there are some basic elements that are present in every home. These include the foundation, on which the structure is maintained, the walls, floors, ceilings, roof frame and the parts that support it.

Ceiling

A lot of new constructions use pre-fabricated frames. These frames are joined together by triangular reinforcement plates embedded in the wood, which consist of several reinforcing cores suitably arranged to support the roof system. Some problems with roof beams are due to the way they are handled or stored. When a missing or broken part is made ineffective in a beam, and since the integrity of the beams is in the accumulated force of the beam components, the integrity of the ceiling system or at least that beam could be damaged. A structural engineer should be consulted to design or modify any repair on the beam.

Foundation for walls

The foundation of the walls are walls that extend from far below the level of the ground. The foundation wall should be able to transfer the weight (load) of the outer walls and the first floor and withstand the lateral pressure, exerted by the earth around it. In modern constructions, foundation walls are usually 8 to 10-inches thick, reinforced concrete or concrete units 8 to 12-inches wide (concrete blocks). The thickness of the wall is determined by the weight (vertical load), the bottom leveling depth (lateral load) and the material used. Other materials used are bricks, stones, cement blocks, clay floors, and wood. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.