Hey everyone! I need some quick advice about a situation with my contractor who's currently redoing the bathrooms in a house I inherited from 1963. He offered to check the property for any urgent repairs since I won't be doing a standard pre-inspection. He mentioned that there are some concerns, particularly with the connections between the posts and beams in the basement, stressing that they might cause the floor to cave in during an earthquake. He proposed a solution that involves a lot of work for $2500, but I'm unsure if it's really necessary. I've done a bit of research and am not convinced that his solution will help much. Any thoughts on this? Would love any advice you have. Thanks!
5 Answers
I say go for it if you trust him. It’s a good price and if he’s been doing well on the bathrooms, why not? Better safe than sorry!
Honestly, sounds like a high-pressure tactic. The basement posts probably aren’t a huge risk. Can you share a full pic of the porch? Also, the materials aren't too expensive if you decide to tackle this later.
Those changes might not fully protect your home, but they could prevent more serious issues in the future, especially in an earthquake. Just make sure he gets necessary permits and follows engineering guidelines, or it could affect your home's value later.
I think it's a good idea to get a structural engineer to check everything out first. They’ll make sure the repairs meet safety standards, which will protect you in the long run.
I’d love to go this route too, but I feel pressured by the contractor’s timeline and the price. I really don’t want to rush into a decision.
Honestly, $2500 sounds like a decent price for the work he's proposing. But if you're feeling unsure, ask him about the cost if you need more time to think it over. It’s wise to get clarity on whether all those beams truly need fixing.
That's true, but the real question is if all those 10-12 beams are actually at risk. I'm not an expert, but they look stable enough and it seems like you could DIY some of the support with brackets.
Here are the best photos I have for now since I’m not living at the property: [Photos](https://imgur.com/a/hqhgHMn)