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August 7, 2009
Uneven House
I have come across a 3 family which I am interested in but it is very uneven and has settled quite a bit. I am going to bring an engineer to check it but what are the chances of it being ok?
Comments
Frame or brick/stone??
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 7, 2009 9:50 AM
if uneven you mean floors sag - it is usually joists have bent from weight of walls over the years.
An engineer report is good idea to assess severity. And
then the question of what if anything to do about it.
If can live with it... sometimes just add additional supports so gets no worse. Or can do other things to level floors. Or gut and put in new stronger joists.
Posted by: Petebklyn at August 7, 2009 10:18 AM
My last apartment, before buying my house, was in a house on the park block of 14th Street, in the South Slope. That house leaned a LOT. It's still standing nearly 35 years after I moved.
Still, an engineer couldn't hurt.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at August 7, 2009 10:54 AM
If the settling in the floors is relatively minor, this can be easily repaired by sistering on new joists. If the bearing walls are leaning and/or the foundation is compromised - this can quickly become much more complicated. "Straightening" the house can require specialists in jacking up a structure. This work has to be done carefully, as the risk of damaging the building further or affecting neighboring buildings can be high. Anything can be done, but proceed with caution.
Good luck.
Posted by: stoopliving at August 7, 2009 7:15 PM
It's a frame and I will bring an engineer. Thank you guys for your input.
Posted by: Williams at August 9, 2009 7:31 PM
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