Lower rear wall out of plumb

[Ron Bishop]

This structure had a horizontal crack along the lower wall all the way around. The lower portion of the rear wall was way out of plumb. Crawlspace access was not available. This is a stucco house built in 1959.

Any thoughts?

[Rick Hurst]

Ron,

Movement from a quake possibly?

rick

[Ron Bishop]

that is a good possibility

[Rick Hurst]

Ron,

Looks like your area not only has a history of quakes, but you have volcanic activity too.

Get out of there man. ;)

rick

Global Volcanism Program | Shasta | Monthly Reports (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1203-01-&volpage=var)

[Gunnar Alquist]

Ron,

I see that a fair amount in areas near me with adobe, clay or expansive soils. Particularly homes built from the late '50s through the late '60s. Around here, the footings are generally not very deep and the foundation can rotate, leaving the horizontal cracks along the top of the stemwall and the stemwall out of plumb. I usually find interior floors that are out of level, doors that don't close properly, cracks in walls and ceilings, etc.


Then again, if you don't have expansive soils in your area, it might be a new volcano like Rick said.