Jack of all Trades- Wenatchee and Cle Elum Home Inspections

Jack of all trades, master of none, is an aphorism.  As a home inspector this may be a just phrase.  Home inspectors maybe the epitome of this aphorism.

But one thing we home inspectors do know is... what is wrong, is just wrong.

Here we have a Jack of another trade masquerading as a support column or post.

There are approved metal columns but generally these are 3” or more in diameter and must be permanently connected to a concrete footing with embedded anchor bolts or by the complete encasement of the bottom base plate in concrete. And the top plate must be secured to the supported beam (girder).

Various ICC-ES Reports state that the columns must be installed vertically and plumb. The height adjusting screw of these types of columns must be disabled after installation. This can be achieved by destroying the screw threads or with a weld or you could set the column screw side down and completely encasing the screw in concrete.

The IRC guidelines (R502.9) for fastening of post states- “Where posts and beam or girder construction is used to support floor framing, positive connections shall be provided to ensure against uplift and lateral displacement.”

Needless to say these columns do not meet this criteria either and will need evaluation and correction by a qualified contractor.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Steve Jobs

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…      

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service