Hey all,

new to the neighborhood, just bought a house on Wharton St. we live in old city right now and are doing work on the house before we move in. however to our surprise after removing some plaster found a hidden closet on the second floor front bedroom. in the back of the closet is a crack that runs from floor to ceiling on the party wall.

It doesn't appear on any other floor, or if it does has been covered well. I can put my hand into the crack and touch my neighbors insulation. so it's pretty deep (all the way through). I was going to use the old starb bolt trick to fasten the front of the house to the floor joists, but the guys i highered to do it were afraid. and recommended i get a structural engineer to look at it.

So i was wondering if anyone has had similar problems and how was it resolved, also ballpark, money wise?

thanks in advance!

I also recommend getting an engineer b4 star bolts - may run you $500. Good Luck.

I'm curious about how new the plaster was that was covering the closet.

I would definitely get a structural engineer to look at it.

__________________
Freixenet, Moët. Doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s not Great Western. -- Henri David

Get a stuctural Engineer to look at it (aka someone with a PE - thats Professional Engineer certification)

Dan Banks is "out" for a while

Kevin Coady was helpful on the phone
215-233-9299

thanks for the contact, currently i'm talking to 2 different structural engineers for opinions.

As for the closet, it was original, only 10 inches deep and framed with lath and plaster. The door area was "recently" dry-walled over with gyp board. how recently is hard to tell my guess is sometime in the last 5-10 years. The problem is that the people who owned the house before us only lived there about 4 years. My guess is that they never even knew the crack was there.

Ignorance is bliss i guess.......until the f***ing front of your house falls off.

So I talked to a structural engineer and I def. need the starbolts and a mason to repair the crack. So anyone know a good a mason?


thanks in advance!

NO - but post up when ya find one...

http://www.wmproudrestoration.com/

These guys are working on a house down the street from me.
Appears to be quality work.
Not that I know squat about quality masonary.

That is a scary story about the crack.

sounds scary, looks worse!

0_0

Glad I'm in an apartment...

Good luck with that.