First-time homeowner says inspector called basement support post 'fine,' then engineer says fix it

Buying a first home often comes with a crash course in the difference between something that "looks OK" and something that actually is OK. 

That showed up clearly in a thread on the r/Home subreddit, where a first-time homeowner said an inspector had waved off a basement beam-and-post in a 1941 house, only for an engineer in the comments to say it was still worth fixing.

Here's what to know

In the Reddit post, a homeowner asked for feedback on a basement beam and post arrangement in a 1941 house, writing that they had "recently purchased my first home with my girlfriend."

"I was originally concerned with this beam (there's another one of the same time beside it but it's centered), but the inspector said it was fine," they shared alongside a photo of the beam in question.

One commenter who identified themselves as an engineer disagreed. 

"Not ideal," they said. "Clearly hasn't fallen down yet so I wouldn't panic, and it has probably always been like that since the house was built, but you should try to fix it."

More background

Other commenters were more direct about the issue. 

"The post should be centered on the beam and it should be plumb," one wrote. 

Commenters focused on the apparent alignment of the support post, and others did question how old the beam really was. Some said it was likely from the last decade, due to context clues like its materials or the nearby heat duct.

There was consensus that the original poster or someone else should fix the situation.

What can be done?

In the thread, some commenters described that remedy as a quick adjustment. 

"Do you own a level and a crescent wrench?" a user asked. "This is a fairly simple fix, just brace it temporarily with a 2x4, loosen the jackpost by the nut at the top, and center it on the beam.  It's like 15 minutes worth of work."

A different user offered a similar idea for fixing it.

"I would rent or borrow a post, crank it up beside it so you can temporarily let the load off and recenter and plumb," they advised. "Tighten back up."

Not everyone thought the original poster should make it a DIY project. The engineer-commenter noted that inexperience can turn a small correction into a much bigger problem.

"If you are not experienced with structural repairs, best to leave this for a professional," they wrote. "It could potentially be an easy fix, but you could also easily screw it up and create a potentially large structural issue or failure."

Where can I learn more?

For homeowners trying to tell the difference between a harmless quirk and a real repair issue, it often leans toward the latter after further examination and consultation.

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