An exterior wall inspection can evaluate the current structural condition of a home. Our residential structural engineer was contacted to visit a property in the Philadelphia, PA 19147 area. The front exterior wall of this two-story masonry and wood-framed row home was thoroughly examined. This beautiful home was constructed circa 1920 and is supported on a perimeter stone masonry foundation system with a basement.
The exterior wall inspection discovered outward buckling. Significant bowing of the brick façade was present between the first-floor and second-floor windows. Furthermore, evidence of the buckling was viewed at the first-floor and second-floor windows. The window headers and sills were not plumb.
In addition to the outward buckling, stair-step cracking could be seen below the left second-floor window. This is evidence that the front exterior brick façade has experienced outward buckling. In this case, the outward buckling condition is caused by a lack of lateral attachment between the brick façade wall and the framing at each floor.
Repairing an Exterior Wall After an Inspection
Penn Valley Engineering recommended repairing and strengthening the front exterior façade wall. To perform this repair, wall-ties (also known as tie-bolts or star-bolts) should be installed along the floor framing at the second-floor level. This will help prevent further buckling.
Additionally, all exterior cracks should be re-pointed or re-sealed to prevent water penetration into the wall cavity. These repairs should be performed at the same time for complete structural stability and safety.
Because of the challenges and difficulties of retrofit construction and or repair, we strongly recommended, since it is required, that all corrective efforts be properly designed and detailed. This includes construction document blueprints, and if required, work being monitored and supervised by our professional engineer licensed by the State of Pennsylvania.
Engineering and Repair Plans
PVE offers engineering and repair plans (blueprints) for projects such as were discovered in this exterior wall inspection. Usually, this service does not include any redesign, however, we offer those types of design services too!
As always, we stress to our clients to have repairs be completed by an experienced and knowledgeable State Licensed contractor, with all necessary permits, approvals, and inspections.
This type of structural failure is common with this age and type of construction. However, having an exterior wall inspection performed by one of our engineers is the best way to know how serious the issue may be and how best to repair the structural failure.
Hiring Penn Valley Engineering to perform a home inspection will help protect your investment. If you have concerns about your home or office’s structural integrity, contact Penn Valley Engineering. We want you to be safe, protect your investment and have peace of mind. If you are in our service area, we have a structural engineer near you. Give us a call at one of our offices:
- (856) 872-3537 SOUTH JERSEY
- (215) 821-7686 PHILADELPHIA
- (321) 394-8026 CENTRAL FLORIDA
“I would highly recommend Penn Valley Engineering. Brad and Greg were great to work with, were clear communicators, and helped me resolve my structural concerns quickly and professionally.”
– George, reviewing structural engineering in Pennington, New Jersey