Structural frame
In the inspection of the common areas, emphasis is placed on structural problems that may point to general instability of the structure, or to local failures.
Findings such as cracks are analyzed by their shape, width and location, and sometimes they point to instability that could cause a failure in the future. For example, a diagonal crack is a crack that needs attention. A thin thermal expansion crack, on the other hand, may be purely cosmetic.
Local failures show up, for example, as rusted steel that makes the concrete crack and, at an advanced stage, break. A situation like this has to be dealt with soon. More about this on the page corrosion (rust).
Masonry
Block walls can have various defects, for example:
- The concrete tie beam at a height of 2 meters, required by the standard, is missing.
- Broken blocks were installed, which cause cracking.
- The wall was not built straight.
- The mesh between the block wall and the concrete column is missing, or the toothing ("shtrabot") is missing, so a crack forms between the blocks and the concrete.
You can read about the types of cracks and what each type tells you on the page cracks, plaster and paint.
The engineers of Arad Bedek Bayit, led by building engineer Ron Arad, whom courts appoint as their own expert on construction defects. The company has been inspecting apartments and buildings since 2001. Engineer Ron Arad · More about the company