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the curb is not present and there is considerable water slaining on the lower portions of <br />the wall. This can be see in Photograph No. 1 and Photograph No. 3 as well as <br />Photograph No. 5. There may be a change in the foundation construction in this area <br />of the house and there certainly is bad drainage with evidence of considerable moisture <br />in the wall at that location. From what can be seen without excavation, it appears the <br />structure was built using traditional methods and the foundation probably consists of <br />rocks placed on the native soil with the adobe brick placed on the rock with mud mortar <br />used to connect the two materials together. Most of the problem appears to be localized <br />at the southeast corner and is very likely caused by degeneration of the adobe <br />construction by the intake of moi ure. The movement at the- n~~east corner of the <br />structure may have been caused by removal of a very large cottonwood just to the north <br />and east of the fireplace. There is a large diameter stump in this location. The time of <br />removal of this tree is unknown, however, while the tree was alive and while it grew to the <br />large diameter, it consumed considerable water. VYttect-the_t[ee_w~s removed it is likely <br />the moisture of these soils increased and as the moisture increases the compressibility <br />increases. The outward rotation at this location may be a reflection of removal of the <br />large water consuming tree. <br />Corrective Procedures <br />In order to fix the southeast corner we believe it will be necessary to excavate and <br />expose the foundation for 10 to 15 feet on each side of the southeast corner. This should <br />probably be attempted a short section at a time in order to not disturb the existing <br />foundation excessively. We believe the existing foundation will be exposed as dry laid <br />masonry directly supporting the adobe wall. The best fix will probably consist of a new <br />underpinning type foundation which extends through any surficial clays and dowh to the <br />gravels which are believed to exist at fairly shallow depths below the surface. The <br />process will be tedious because of the fragile nature of the adobe wall, however, <br />underpinning of this corner will probably stop the movements at that location. After <br />determining the nature of construction it will be possible to develop a well defined repair <br />scheme. <br />The large crack at the northeast corner of the fireplace may represent the <br />maximum movement associated with change in the moisture conditions in the soil. At <br />that particular crack it may be satisfactory to repair the crack with a crack filler and sealer <br />followed by repair of the stucco. <br />Leakage from the hot water heat system should be addressed. Water from any <br />source is likely to induce damage to the adobe bricks which make up the primary <br />structural element. Once water penetrates the bricks it is difficult for the moisture to <br />evaporate because of the cement stucco that was applied at some point in the past. <br />While in the residence we observed water leakage from at least two radiators standing <br />on the flooring. Given the nature of the construction it is likely this water could find its <br />way into the primary building element, the adobe brick. The same comments are true for <br />any leakage that can enter the structure because of roofing leaks or leakage around the <br />scuppers. Once the moisture enters the adobe bricks, the bricks have a tendency to <br />soften and they can be further damaged by freeze-thaw cycling. <br />4 <br />