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Mr. and Mrs. Tatum <br />March 16, 1995 <br />Page 5 <br />1. formal Aaina of an Adobe Residence <br />We observed many cracks, typically of hairline width, that we consider normal aging <br />of an adobe structure. We saw cracks that have been painted or plastered over in the <br />past. Thus, normal aging is taking place at the residence. <br />In our opinion, however, the severe cracks in the easterly, two-story portion of the <br />residence, and possibly some of the other fresher cracks located elsewhere, are not the <br />result of normal aging. In our opinion these are due to settlement or other of <br />foundation movement. <br />2. Water Leakaoe <br />It has been suggested that leakage through cracks in the roof, and/or the drainage <br />scuppers has allowed water to penetrate and weaken the adobe. This has happened <br />locally at the upper east end of the south wall. However, in our opinion most of the <br />cracks in the structure are not the result of water leakage. <br />3. Old Cottonwood Trees <br />Two large cottonwood trees have been removed at the northeast corner of the <br />residence. The three to four foot diameter stumps have not been removed, nor have <br />the roots. It has been suggested that the remaining roots may be rotting, creating a <br />void or weak zone in the ground under the residence. <br />In our opinion, rotting of the old tree roots could not explain the greater part of the <br />damage observed at the residence, even if it were occurring. The cottonwoods likely <br />extended their roots into the water-bearing zone within the gravel terrace. In our <br />opinion the roots could only affect immediately adjacent parts of the residence, and the <br />roots would most likely have tended to lift the residence while the trees were growing. <br />In our opinion the distress observed near the northeast corner of the residence is <br />unlikely to have been caused by growing or rotting roots. <br />4. Hioh Water Table <br />Previous investigators have observed the standing water in the basement sump and <br />have suggested that groundwater may have produced a softening or weakening of the <br />ground, resulting in settlement. Groundwater would have been present and fluctuated <br />naturally since the time the building was constructed. We saw no indication of recent <br />groundwater conditions different from those which have always existed. Therefore, <br />the natural occurrence and fluctuations of the groundwater cannot explain the recent <br />movements at the structure. <br />f:lpropct~125018-01 .ftr <br />