I recently bought a house and I've noticed that the two beams on the back porch are not secured to the floor at all. One of the beams moves quite a bit, which has me concerned. From what I can tell, these beams don't appear to be load bearing since they're cut in an L-shape around the main beam that runs across. They're held in place by shims and only secured with a single flimsy bracket. I plan to check in with my home inspector tomorrow for a professional opinion.
3 Answers
A 4x6 post is pretty substantial and likely serves a purpose. Check the roofline—does it look low? Are the gutters buckled? If so, that could mean it needs to be secured better, though it's hard to assess without seeing the whole setup.
The post is on a base, but it seems like the concrete may have sunk, which is why shims are being used. Keep an eye on it, as the base should ideally be solidly connected to the slab.
What’s concerning me is that the post base isn't actually connected to the concrete slab. There’s no hole or anything, which makes me think it should have been bolted down if it were load-bearing.
That post definitely looks like it plays an important role. If it's loose at the bottom, it could indicate it’s rotting. Make sure to get it checked out soon!
If it's load-bearing, wouldn’t it typically be secured to the concrete foundation?
There aren't any gutters on that side of the house, and the roofline appears straight. I just had a new roof installed when I bought it, so it shouldn't be sagging.