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Speaking only for myself, directness is appreciated. Especially in a big $$ decision.
Nothing wrong with being direct when the occasion requires it. However we do need to keep in mind what Rickcin is making reference to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rickcin
You could be right as well as others who have commented but we all know how one photo of a tiny portion of the build might not be a true representation of the house is built regarding the overall workmanship.
What we have been shown are images in different stages of construction and very limited views of those. We can offer "How abouts" on individual items we see in the limited views but it would be at the OP's discretion whether they provide more information and/or pursue it. Trying to go anywhere past that point is a huge leap that is unsupported and can only scare the OP possibly unnecessarily more than help.
Nothing wrong with being direct when the occasion requires it. However we do need to keep in mind what Rickcin is making reference to.
What we have been shown are images in different stages of construction and very limited views of those. We can offer "How abouts" on individual items we see in the limited views but it would be at the OP's discretion whether they provide more information and/or pursue it. Trying to go anywhere past that point is a huge leap that is unsupported and can only scare the OP possibly unnecessarily more than help.
So, for the builder to fix this cosmetic issue would be a easy or is it a major repair ?
This is purely cosmetics. Likely the masons did not frame out wide enough for the 4x4 in the column and did not account for how wide the trim would be. It looks like the way the concrete was poured they didn't even make the porch as wide as the house itself, maybe saving about $40-80 worth of concrete.
Another possibility is that the builder could've instead wrapped the columns with a different trim, but they used whatever was on hand and/or cheap.
What did your home inspector tell you? You did hire one....didn't you? And I know that column looks spiffy, but that gap between the Azek and the concrete is going to get water into it, and while there's probably a pressure treated 4x4 in there, it'll rot over time regardless. Seal that gap with some silicone.
Showed the picture to my son, an architect specializing in home design. Ha assured me that this was not a structural concern, purely aesthetic.
Afterward we had a little chuckle.
3 1/2 years ago as we were finishing up our house (we had a general contractor, but we were watching things per our contract), I happened to stop in one evening to look around. The concrete installer had been there that day to form up the front porch slab and the garage apron. The pour was scheduled for the next day. I thought things looked a little "off" on the front porch. I got a step ladder and a plumb bob out and determined that the forms ended 4inches shy of the front corners of the porch beam in both directions and at both ends of the porch. If it had been poured that way, the 4 x 4 posts at each corner would not have even touched the concrete slab. I contacted my son, who contacted the GC to make him aware of the issue. We figured it was much easier to correct the problem by resetting the forms before pouring than to pour and then have to figure out how to adequately fix the issue.
The next day when we got to the house, we found that ALL the forms, for both slabs had been removed from the property and the concrete installer had informed the GC that if we were going to be that "picky", he could not work for us and he would not be returning.
The worst part was, the GC supported the concrete installer and things went downhill from there. In the end, GC sued us for breach of contract, we countersued, and after almost 2 years, we finally settled in mediation to be able to get clear title in order to be able to complete some things that the GC failed to do. (Long story)
I must say, reading some of the posts attempting to explain why or how this could have happened is painful, ignorance and guesswork at it best.
I don't think people are explaining "how/why this could have happened". I think they are just answering the question from the OP: does the column mis-allign need to be fixed?
I don't think people are explaining "how/why this could have happened". I think they are just answering the question from the OP: does the column mis-allign need to be fixed?
I understand and guess I need to be more tolerant since people are voicing their opinions/suggestions as to why this happened and all people have the right to comment regardless of their specific understanding.
The column placements boils down to a stupid mistake and the end columns should have been placed just a few inches towards the center of the house. Whoever located/installed them had not considered the base trim thickness and that is what overhangs the concrete slab.
Whoever located/installed them had not considered the base trim thickness and that is what overhangs the concrete slab.
I can pull hundreds of plans right now out of my files right now of houses that have porches and the porch dimensions are exactly the same as the framing box of the porch roof. Front elevations show columns directly on corners- and of course trim details. Those "details" will almost always fall under a CAD operators discretion to ignore.
3/4"-1" is not the end of the world, but it's an annoyance to people who see slight details overlooked. But, you certainly can't blame it on subcontractors that are "following the plan".
...and as a side note- I certainly wouldn't move the column over the 3/4-1" for the sake of the concrete porch- it'll look evening weirder from the street because the column isn't "aligned" properly.
I think for me, the reason why it is misaligned I guess is because that is where the support to the roof is most efficient. Moving it to align may move it away from the center of support. If my hunch is right, keep the column and if it is still bothering the OP, maybe look into aligning the base instead to the column.
I think for me, the reason why it is misaligned I guess is because that is where the support to the roof is most efficient. Moving it to align may move it away from the center of support. If my hunch is right, keep the column and if it is still bothering the OP, maybe look into aligning the base instead to the column.
Not true, there has to be a Continueous beam along the front porch columns that picks up half of the roof load. The columns are spaced structurally to take the dead and live loads. Moving any one or two of the columns several inches wound definitely not change anything structurally.
To move the columns after all of the finish work has been completed, as it is would be crazy. If it’ really a visual problem that bothers the owner, the base trim could be removed and replaced with a thinner material.
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