Cracks or Bulging on Walls and Ceiling
Over time, small cracks can evolve into something more problematic. Large cracks paired with a sagging ceiling or cracks above doorways in a step pattern are a sign there is in fact a more serious problem.
Structural damage is defined as any damage that compromises or affects the core integrity of your home. This includes the foundation, walls, roof and load-bearing walls. When structural damage occurs, the structure itself may be no longer able to support the house.
Signs of distress
“Cracking, spalling and exposed reinforcing steel are tell-tale signs that the structure may be unable to safely support the loads being applied as a result of corrosion deterioration.”
A major defect is a damage or inconsistency in any of the major components or a major element of a building. It is likely to render a facility unusable for its intended purpose, and can even cause destruction or collapse of all or some part of the building.
Structural issues often show up on the home's exterior walls. Look for cracked mortar, cracked bricks, and bulging walls. Some cracks are minor, while others are signs of a foundation problem. The more cracks you see, the more likely it is that the foundation is shifting.
Subsidence, settlement, heave, sway, bouncy floors, bulging walls, cracks, expansion and contraction are all forms of structural movement. Such movement occurs all the time, and usually its magnitude is so small it passes unnoticed.
Hairline cracks in walls, drywall, the ceiling and roof are tell-tale signs that your home may have structural issues. And while structural problems are never good, many are easy to fix and repair.
First, look for any cracks in the foundation or walls. These cracks can indicate settlement, foundation issues, or other problems with the house's structure. Second, check the eaves and roofline for signs of sagging or unevenness. This can indicate trouble with the trusses or framing of the house.
One of the most common signals that your home could have serious underlying issues is when your doors and windows don't open or close smoothly. If your doors and windows are sticking, don't properly lock, or are separating from the wall, you need to inspect your home for additional indications of a structural problem.
Sagging roof and roof leaks
Roofs that sag indicate structural problems caused by the loss of load-bearing walls, prolonged overloading, or misalignment of framing timbers. Roof leaks can be costly to repair since they can cause a lot of damage to internal components.
If a wall runs at a perpendicular angle to the joists, it is load-bearing. Any wall that doesn't support another wall is most likely not a load-bearing wall. If a wall provides direct support to the structure of a house, it's a structural wall that you should not remove.
Yes, but it is not that straightforward and it is a very slow. It is unlikely that your will home completely collapse all at once. Foundation issues are a slow moving problem but just remember just because the problem does not seem to warrant immediate action that it's not a serious structural issue.
10) Structural Foundation Crack
Sure sign of a structural deficiency are horizontal cracks, and cracks wider than a 1/4 inch. Structural foundation cracks are normally the result of movement, whether it's caused by temperature changes, soil pressure or soil shrinkage.
A bulging floor or doors or windows that no longer sit level in their frames can also point to structural issues with your home. Door and window openings are vulnerable parts of your wall and are often the areas where cracks and other problems first become apparent.
Civil/Structural Failures
Regardless of the size or cause of the loss, the services of a qualified civil and/or structural forensic engineer is more often than not required to determine the extent and limits of property damage.
In some cases, even adding or removing load-bearing walls requires the help of a structural engineer to determine its impact on the overall house structure. An expert should be called for inspection before finalizing the decision.
Any cracks that are on an exterior wall should always be investigated as it may be a sign of structural issues. They can also be an entry point for water which will cause damp problems further down the line.
Connection failure is by far the most common type of failure in a steel structure. The connection is typically the first component to fail if the force of the load is more than anticipated.
Conclusion. Compressive, tensile, bending and buckling are the basic types of structural failure for construction elements. These are caused due to faults in design and construction.