I'm currently under contract for a multifamily house built back in 1900, and I've come across some concerning details about the support beam. The beam has been notched and filled in with nailed 2x6s, despite the presence of a vertical support nearby. I've attached some pictures to illustrate what I'm talking about. Interestingly, I found out that the steel posts installed are actually a patented SmartJack system meant to stabilize structural members permanently, installed by a well-known contractor in my area in 2022. Should I be worried about the structural integrity of this setup? I would appreciate any insights or advice! Thanks!
1 Answer
You definitely want to take a closer look at those 2x6s. Are they actually supporting anything or just slapped together? If they aren't anchored down properly, they won't do much for stability. Honestly, I wouldn't let this stop me from buying the house; you could probably fix it pretty easily with some guidance from an engineer.
Yeah, getting a longer board to sister across there sounds like a quick fix. Just make sure you really know what you're doing!