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PN: 94-129 <br />March 24, 1994 <br />Page 3 <br />DR~-FT <br />The adobe structure is very old. The exterior finishing with stucco is common in some areas <br />but this does not allow the structure to breath and relieve itself of unwanted moisture to <br />maintain stable conditions. The cracking of the stucco allows moisture to penetrate into the <br />adobe that causes this moisture to freeze and thaw. This causes minor stresses that over time <br />add up to result in slow deterioration of the structural materials. <br />The existing conditions appear to be the result of the east wall settling and the east foundation <br />possible rotating resulting in the east wall to rotate outward. Since the main load carrying <br />elements are the logs and these span in the east-west direction in the den area, the load transfer <br />still is maintained. Moisture intrusion from the roof leaks both at the chimney, decking and <br />scuppers have contributed to this distress. Additional conditions such as the rotting of the tree <br />root system, poor drainage, boiler system water loss, and routine maintenance should be further <br />investigated. <br />Due to the lack of spanning capabilities for the foundation materials and the adobe construction, <br />the existing conditions should be stabilized in the present position. Additional exploratory work <br />should be made on the soils and foundation conditions along the east and portion of the south <br />and north foundation walls. Before any attempt to expose these foundations, the east wall <br />should be laterally shored to prevent further outward movemenc. <br />Until these conditions are known a complete design repair scope could not be prepared. <br />It is the opinion of this engineer that the distress is localized to the east portion and the major <br />contributing factors are the lack of maintenance, poor drainage and general aging. <br />