Let’s see a show of hands, Pandas: how many of us truly think about the structural integrity of our homes, schools, and offices? Unless there’s an obvious problem like a pipe jutting out through the Wall or the floor getting more and more crooked by the week, we’re pretty content to go about our daily lives without another thought about hidden structural defects.

However, what a professional can uncover during structural assessments can be truly shocking and might make you wonder how some buildings are still standing. The structural inspectors from Alpha Structural, Inc. post the weirdest and most jaw-dropping things they find while on the job, and today we’re featuring some of their most powerful recent photos. Scroll down to see just how bad things can get, Pandas.

For some more engineering ‘nightmares’ and ‘miracles’ found during inspections, check out Bored Panda’s earlier articles right over here, here, and here when you’re done with this list.

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#1

This post and pier looks funny. Someone replaced the post with a game of jenga.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#2

They did not understand the assignment.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#3

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

Alpha Structural is a company in California that has been servicing, repairing, and upgrading structures and foundations for close to 30 years. They’re primarily based in Los Angeles and Southern California. Meanwhile, their employees have over 400 years of combined professional experience in their engineering department.

Quality, professionalism, and an eye for drawing in viewers on social media are the name of the game. And they’re very good at it.

#4

In this scenario, we would most likely propose a partial foundation replacement. But all I can think is how many pens will fit in there?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#5

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

#6

When a deck is showing signs of wear and tear, you should look for any rusting of metal components. This isn't only an appearance issue but, also a safety warning. The structural components of the deck could be unsafe and could cause a total collapse of the deck floor. Steel nails that are used in deck construction are coated with a layer of zinc that protects the steel from airborne ocean water salts. Over time the zinc layer is worn down by the corrosion process. Once the zinc layer is gone, bare steel is exposed to sea salts that rapidly destroy the structural strength of the nail connections, making deck components dangerous for occupant use.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

During a couple of previous interviews with some of the staff members working at Alpha Structural, Bored Panda learned more about inspections, how they work, and how employees stay safe.

"The most nightmarish inspection we’ve done [in 2020] has to be the property in Portuguese Bend down on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. First off, because of soil conditions and high landslide risks, not much structural work can be performed there,” Derek Marier told us about one of the worst properties seen during an assessment.

#7

This internal stem wall is leaning significantly to one side. This is compromising the structural integrity of the home as other sections now carry more weight than intended.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#8

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

#9

Trees and plants need to be carefully chosen when this close to a wall. Usually, you would want to keep trees at least 15ft. away. Most of a tree's growth happens out of sight, and those roots can do real damage.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

"The home had a very interesting foundation system made up of screw jacks, steel beams, and cribbing (commonly used for temporarily lifting a structure while work is being done underneath). The front portion of the deck and home were sinking and unfortunately, the homeowner can’t really do much about it,” he said.

“It could have toppled over at any given moment and that’s why the 'nightmarish' description fits well.”

#10

Hmm, did they drink a bit too much and forgot to pour the footing?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#11

Oh okay. I guess someone forgot to build a door to enter the other side.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#12

The picture does not do the wall justice. This retaining wall is massive, and it is also failing. Yes, it has been braced. No, it doesn't make it less scary.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

Alpha Structural employees use a lot of protective gear while on the job. They take safety very seriously, even if the actual risks are very minimal. “Crawl suits, masks, gloves, steel-toed boots, and many other forms of safety precautions are taken. The chance that a building is actually going to fall over when we do our work is slim to none,” Marier explained to us.

“Any actual danger is sniffed out pretty quick and avoided. If our guys think it’s unsafe to inspect or work on a location, they’ll make a call based on their best judgment and sometimes they choose to not do it. That’s just our safety policy!" he said.

#13

Signs of slab damage are important to assess and handle as soon as possible.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#14

Cracks in your garage can be common. When there is a significant crack like the one above, examining them further and checking the home for other signs of possible soil and foundation movement is recommended.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#15

This bolt has rusted and allowed the foundation wall to begin to spall. Horizontal foundation cracks are the most concerning. As you can see, the crack has been patched before, but this is something that needs to be replaced ASAP.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

Structural faults, cracks, and wobbly timber beams holding up the entire building aren’t the only things that inspectors come across. Sometimes, they stumble upon incredibly bizarre finds like skulls of creepy dolls.

“You’re expecting to locate a structural defect but end up finding something you can almost label as satanic or ancient,” Marier said.

#16

I’m not sure why they went with an angled cut for the top of the post. This is going to be a “no” from me.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#17

A girder in a raised foundation system is a beam that runs across the crawlspace and holds up the floor joists. The girder usually sits on the stem wall with a mudsill in-between to further enforce the connection. This girder has failed which, puts the entire home at risk of sinking.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#18

How many mudsills does it take to secure the home to the stem wall? This home was sinking so the "fix" was to raise it back up and shove multiple pieces of plywood to make up the difference.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

“I’ve heard horror stories of people getting trapped under houses by attempting to squirm through those gaps. That’s a nightmare in itself. Thank the lord there was no scary doll or human skull staring me in the face while I was attempting to crawl through!” he opened up about one particular inspection where he had to go into a tunnel that someone dug under the foundation.

#19

This internal cripple wall is leaning to one side. I guess it's already doing half the work for the next earthquake.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#20

We did this assessment for a brand-new home in Los Angeles built in 2017. This is a 3.2-million-dollar home. When we went into the crawlspace, we noticed these wood pieces in odd places. We’ve seen a thing or two, so we knew we had to cut these off and inspect behind it. When we removed the wood pieces, we immediately knew why they were trying to hide what was behind it. Sloppy concrete work. We found several exposed spots. Leaving components of the home open to the elements can cause problems like this rusted beam. This beam is holding up three stories.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#21

Oh look: it moves. It shouldn’t need to be said, but no part of your home’s foundation should move with a push.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#22

This beachside home had new hardware installed just 5 years ago. You can just see how much the elements have corroded them in such a short time. Of course, it is impossible to find a piece of iron without at least some signs of rust present as time goes by. However, the rate at which something will rust is accelerated by salt. Who still wants a beachside home? The view comes with a price to pay.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#23

Just imagine for one second dragging your body through a very tight space over thousands of little jagged rocks. This one hurt.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#24

I love magic shows. This house impressed me with floating posts and invisible piers.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#25

Plant roots are very opportunistic and will grow and penetrate wherever possible. Typically, when roots encounter solid, impervious surfaces such as pipes, sidewalks, and foundations, they are redirected laterally or upward. However, if there is a crack nearby, they can and will exploit those voids.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#26

The “Balcony Bill” was signed back in 2018, and for good reason. Let’s get them up to code now.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#27

Structural support shouldn’t be a balancing game.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#28

Here we have some pretty serious spalling in a residential garage. Spalling is a term used to describe areas of concrete which have cracked and delaminated from the substrate. Concerning structural damage, it doesn't happen overnight but persistent water leaks and failure deferred maintenance could cause significant structural issues.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#29

Hmm, gap between the mudsill and stem wall... this homeowner is probably experiencing some sloping floors in this area.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#30

Rain is one of the number one reasons why retaining walls fail. As you can see this one did not survive the rainstorm that hit Los Angeles earlier this month. The hillside came rolling down, and the wall did not stand a chance.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#31

This post, pier and girder system is all out of whack... Pier is sinking on the right side, post is straight but barely in contact with the girder and the girder is not level. This house is definitely experience some settlement.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#32

Wood rot at its best... or worst.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#33

Do you see what we see? No foundation. Nope, not a typo. It has absolutely no foundation wall.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#34

This home’s foundation wall is severely undermined. The dirt has fallen away leaving the footings exposed. This tells us the home isn’t properly supported. We also have efflorescence which is a sign of water intrusion.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#35

This home’s retaining wall failed during the heavy rainfall Los Angeles experienced a couple of weeks ago. A common reason why retaining walls fail is saturated soils, usually from rain, with a lack of a proper drainage system behind the wall.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#36

The soil eroded and left a massive gap in the hill as it all came sliding down. All the extra weight causes the wall to get to a point that it is not strong enough to support the soil, it becomes overloaded, and fails. A drainage system behind a wall like this could’ve potentially helped. A drainage system can include a layer of gravel, drainpipes and weep holes that redirect the water that would usually sit behind the wall. Retaining walls typically are not designed to resist the weight of soil and water. So, when hydrostatic pressure builds up behind a wall, it can become overloaded and fail. The wall caused damage inside the home too. This could’ve been much worse.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#37

Sure, let's push out the supporting post and run this pipe through here instead.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#38

This facade will continue to crack, which will lead to large chunks of the concrete falling off and could cause harm to anyone standing beneath. You can see some of the rebar exposed in this picture.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#39

Name a better duo: crumbling piers and tilting posts.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#40

Many people do not know that concrete is porous. So when it is wet, the water can make its way into the other side, and as moisture begins to seep into the concrete eventually, the water will break it down, causing cracks and leaks. The combination of water and air encountering the rebar creates a chemical reaction called iron oxide, also known as rust. The rebar inside the concrete will begin to rust once it is exposed to these elements. Without them, the rebar will not rust. Once the rebar begins to rust, it can cause the steel components of the building to expand 6 times the original size. This force created by the expanding rusted rebar causes the cracking and gaps you see.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#41

Stick a knife in it. It's done and needs to be replaced.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#42

Rebar, which is steel reinforcement, makes a wall stronger and reduces cracking and leaning. Older block walls may not have rebar in them and are more apt to crack or fail. The majority of maintenance and repairs on a block or concrete wall can be done by masonry or concrete wall contractors. In extreme circumstances, a geotechnical and/or structural engineer may be needed. I know it's hard but take your eyes off the wall and look up to the balcony... Yeah, that's not supposed to happen either.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#43

Not all cracks are created equal. These are what you would call checking cracks. These types of cracks often have a starting and stopping point. They occur when the wood dries out. Usually, the interior area of the wood takes longer to dry than the exterior resulting in a difference in moisture. This difference creates shrinkage and stress within the beam. It’s a natural process and is generally not a major concern unless it goes all the way through the beam. This beam is an extreme version of checking and will be further examined. Never a bad idea to get them checked out. Just in case.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#44

This pier is missing a proper post. Instead, there are two shims in place. They look slanted and ultimately not what you want to see for a secure connection.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#45

Someone was trying to play Tetris in real life. This picture showcases very sloppy work. You can see the concrete blocks are not straight and the amount of cement pouring down the front tells us no care went into this work.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#46

This retaining wall had been slipping for years. Luckily, it had not fallen over completely before we were called. The building next door would've suffered some structural damage if it had.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#47

This picture is an example of why taking accurate measurements before starting any project is important.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#48

There are many reasons a retaining wall might fail, but one thing is always certain: there are always warning signs before it reaches this point.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#49

One of our Senior Structural Assessors, Kyle, can be seen here inspecting a failing retaining wall.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#50

How many more straps can they add before they realize that replacing the post and girder is the best option?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#51

Load-bearing spider webs keep this post and pier in working order.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#52

Horizontal cracks are more often an indication of a more serious problem. They can be caused by hydrostatic pressure from the outside and are more likely to lead to foundation failure.

Diagonal and vertical cracks in the stem wall are usually a result of settling in the concrete foundation and are quite common. When cracks are wider than 1/4 inch, you may want to have it looked at.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#53

Wood rot can take a toll on the load-bearing components of a home. This girder is supporting a whole section of the home above. It has just about had enough. 
Most of the girders were completelly rotten. No surprise, since it sat so low. In some sections, the girders were sitting on dirt.
We were not surprised to see the termite damage this home has. 

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#54

A constant drip from leaky pipes. It is hard to identify when you might have a leak somewhere especially when it is in your foundation.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#55

The whole side of the house sunk over 8 inches.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#56

Here is a massive crack along the side of the building originating form the corner of the door. Cracks in the corners of doors can be an indicator of structural damage.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#57

These post and piers are sitting on mounds of dirt that is slowly but surely falling away. This will become a major problem for the structural integrity of the home if not corrected. As the dirt falls away, it exposes more of the piers and creates an unbalance in the way it holds the weight of the home.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#58

Rhymes with mixpansive foil.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#59

I found this D.I.Y retrofit on one of my crawls... this is one way to save money... I guess... For a seismic retrofit, you want to strengthen the connections of the foundation to the home. Here you can see that there are concrete blocks in-between the mudsill and the stem wall. This prevents the bolts from connecting to the foundation walls. What to do... hmmm... they opted to add wooden planks to connect the mudsill to the concrete blocks, then added another plank to connect to block to the stem wall. Sometimes the cheaper fix turns out to be more expensive in the end.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#60

This is an old jack left in place. The jack may hold for a bit of time but has no footing to help prevent movement. This should be replaced with a post and pier system.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#61

Dirt foundation wall?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#62

Would it be an Alpha post without some good ol' earth-to-wood contact?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#63

I don't think people realize how much damage termites can do to your house.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#64

This home's internal stem wall has already begun to crumble away. This can cause several issues for the homeowners as this area is very close to the posts and piers holding the home up.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#65

Mudslides are caused by disturbances in the stability of a slope. We had several here in California due to the rain. They are very dangerous and can cause major damage.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#66

It was common in the early 1900s to use bricks to build foundation walls. Chances are if you have an older home, you may notice you have a brick foundation. The problem with these foundation walls is that over time, they become weak as the mortar breaks down. Gaps are present where the mortar has completely crumbled away.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#67

This house is providing termites with everything they need to thrive: easy access to food, moisture, and shelter with a direct entry to the home.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#68

Here, we have a leftover section of a river-rock foundation. Since these types of foundations are classified as unreinforced masonry, meaning they have no rebar holding the foundation together, it is not possible to retrofit this type of foundation.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#69

The homeowners wanted to update the stucco on this wall and hired a handyman. When they found this wood rot, we were their next call. You can't do much updating when something has bad bones.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#70

Spalling is when areas of concrete have cracked and delaminated from the substrate. The most common cause of spalling is the corrosion of the steel reinforcement bars inside.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#71

Came across more decaying foundation walls, seems to be going around.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#72

I guess they didn’t want to move the rat poop to install the bolt correctly?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#73

Termite problems often occur when wood components of your home are in direct contact with soil.

Every single post was in direct contact with the soil. If you look above the posts, you can see a gap between the two girders. This tells us the connection is weak and is susceptible to failure.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#74

This 100-year-old wall was compromised when the owners decided to build an underground parking space without considering the wall above. One year later, this is how it’s looking.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#75

You can see the side of this house has begun to concave and convex due to the failure of the foundation wall.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#76

Horizontal foundation cracks are a very serious problem. Foundation walls are very good at handling compressive strength, which is the weight of a house pushing down on the wall. Where they struggle is with lateral loads. When enough lateral force is exerted on the foundation wall, it will crack. And because foundation walls are load-bearing, when the wall cracks and loses structural integrity, the entire building can be compromised and in danger of collapse.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#77

Can anyone tell us what this is a sign of? Hint: Run away when you do see it.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#78

This beam is a part of a hillside deck. What do you think? Termite damage or wood rot?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#79

This home sits on a mini hillside that failed. It went straight into their neighbor's driveway. Luckily, no one was hurt.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#80

Concrete is one of the strongest building materials out there, but it can be surprisingly delicate, especially during pouring and construction. Poor concrete installation reduces the durability of the structures and can lead to structural failure.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#81

Hmm, how long has that 7-Up been down here? Post and piers are leaning in every direction in this picture, but it is the addition of the cord "supporting" the beam that does it for me.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#82

A house with a foundation that should have been replaced years ago. The structural signs inside the home of this amount of damage are evident. You can see the foundation wall has fallen that it is not supporting portions of the mudsill.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#83

Hmm, I see they keep their supply of shims ready and available for quick "installation."

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#84

Looks like there wasn't enough room for the girder between the subfloor framing and the stem wall. Someone came up with a "creative" solution—they cut a corner of the foundation away and placed a shim underneath the girder.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#85

Looks can be deceiving. This home has a facade, including a black tarp that is hiding a monstrosity of a retaining wall. You can see the original wall is leaning forward.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#86

Public service announcement: DO NOT DIG HOLES NEAR YOUR FOUNDATION. The homeowner attempted to install a sump pump and instead undermined his foundation.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#87

We see many illegal retaining walls during inspections. These types of blocks are often used as "retaining walls". That is not what they are intended for. There is no mortar holding these in place they attach to each other using an interlocking system.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#88

Who else likes the corner pieces of a brownie better?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#89

The decomposition process of wood is vital, turning fallen logs into soil. It's a process you want far away from your home. Wood rot can lead to structural problems including deteriorated support posts, beams and joists.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#90

Spalling can often be a warning sign of more extensive structural damage extending into the building. This is a serious issue and should be addressed soon.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#91

Structural integrity > pipe route.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#92

Never underestimate the power of tree roots.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#93

Aw, just missed it!

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#94

If it crumbles off this easy with a couple of wiggles, imagine an earthquake.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#95

Hmm, just a couple of inches off.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#96

Steel building components inside and outside beachfront homes rust much faster than steel components in homes farther inland.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#97

Decks located near the ocean are susceptible to the harsh saltwater environment. This can take a toll on the wood and steel connections.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#98

Cracks that run along the walls inside your home can be frightening. The most common cause for such cracks is due to foundation settlement. Luckily for the homeowner, these cracks were due to framing issues and their foundation was in great shape.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#99

We visited a home that had begun construction on an illegal retaining wall. We've seen what happens when you take the cheapest and less experienced route when it comes to retaining walls. The rebar going straight into the dirt does it for me.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#100

The unattended leak has soaked the floor joists, girder, and the pier which, has caused wood rot from the constant moisture.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#101

So close yet so far. I can see some rust which indicates water intrusion/leak. The girder on the right side isn't looking all too well. It is showing signs of wood rot.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#102

This retaining wall is just about ready to come down. I don't think it will last through another rainstorm.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#103

Not sure why this grade beam wasn’t finished. Usually, you would not see the rebar as it would be fully submerged in concrete. This rebar is doing nothing for the structural integrity of the home.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#104

We didn’t have enough space to move around this crawlspace as we would like, but we didn’t need to look further. Every post and pier is leaning a different way.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#105

Here we have a rotting girder. This will need to be replaced soon.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#106

As you can see, it has been previously strapped. However, with so many cracks around the entirety of the wall, it doesn't really do anything to help.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#107

Corroded pipes are a natural and mostly unavoidable process that can cause considerable damage over time if not repaired.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#108

This masonry foundation wall is missing quite a bit of mortar. A common sign of damage in brick foundations is when you see missing mortar joints between the bricks. You can test this with a small knife. If the mortar is loose, crumbling, or falls out easily with digging, it requires repair or restoration.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#109

At least they put some shoring up. This wall is doing nothing structurally for the home and needs to be replaced immediately.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#110

A post and pier foundation consists of concrete piers that are set into the ground to carry the weight of the home. Since the foundation does not sit directly on the ground, it creates a space underneath the home. Post and pier foundations are more susceptible to developing sagging and creaking floors. As you can see, this home has a severely undermined pier. As it continues to fail, the beam sitting on top will dip down, causing parts of the home to sag. The entire pier is almost completely exposed.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#111

Peek-a-boo!

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#112

A car rammed into the side of a bar and took out a supporting column. By the look of it, it was already on its way out. This has been begging to be upgraded.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#113

At most a garden wall should be 4ft. tall anything higher than that you need permits and engineering. Garden walls are not meant to hold the pressure of heavy, packed earth.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#114

The stuff of nightmares.

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#115

I think the “L” stands for “load bearing.”

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#116

This post needs a fifteen-minute break. -Post is splitting in half -Post is sinking into the pier -Pier's aggregate is exposed 10/10 would not recommend.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#117

That internal brick foundation wall needs work, but let's focus on the water. We do not want to see that in a crawlspace.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#118

This URFP is not installed correctly. Usually, you would want to see the bolts installed on the front edge of the mudsill, not the top.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#119

What is happening here?

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#120

This huge house is sitting entirely on a crumbling foundation. You can see sections of the foundation missing.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#121

The splinters have splinters.

Image credits: AlphaStructural

#122

Not sure what is dripping from this mudsill but it doesn't look good.

Image credits: AlphaStructural