Honestly, if you’re seeing car jacks or bricks holding up anything structural, that’s a big “nope” for earthquake safety. I’d check if the foundation’s actually bolted to the frame—sometimes old houses just sit there, which is wild. Ever peeked in the crawlspace? That’s where the real story is.
Ever peeked in the crawlspace? That’s where the real story is.
Crawlspaces are like time capsules for old houses—sometimes you find stuff you wish you hadn’t. I’ve seen everything from ancient soda cans to, yeah, bricks and random wood shims holding up beams. If you spot car jacks or bricks under anything load-bearing, that’s a red flag for sure. Those are just temporary fixes, not meant for actual support, especially if the ground starts shaking.
Checking for bolts is huge. If you can see the sill plate (the wood that sits right on top of the foundation), look for big anchor bolts every few feet. Sometimes they’re hidden behind insulation or old cobwebs, but they should be there. If you just see wood sitting on concrete with nothing tying it down, that’s a problem. I’ve had to retrofit a couple places like that—honestly, it’s not as scary as it sounds, but it’s definitely not a DIY weekend project unless you’re really comfortable with tools.
One thing I’d add: even if the house is bolted, check for cripple walls (those short wood walls between the foundation and the floor). If they’re not braced with plywood or some kind of shear panel, they can collapse in a quake. I learned that the hard way after seeing a neighbor’s place get wrecked in a small quake a few years back. They had bolts, but the walls just folded.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, sometimes local building departments have guides or even free inspections. Worth a shot before you start tearing into anything. And yeah, crawlspaces are gross, but they tell you everything you need to know about how your house is really put together.
If you spot car jacks or bricks under anything load-bearing, that’s a red flag for sure.
Definitely second this. I once found an actual stack of old encyclopedias propping up a beam—no joke. Crawlspaces are wild. One thing I’d add is to check for water damage while you’re down there. Even if everything looks “proper,” rot can sneak up on you and undermine all those bolts and bracing. And yeah, “gross” doesn’t even begin to cover it... bring knee pads and a mask if you value your sanity.
I’ll never forget the time I crawled under a fixer-upper and found a 2x4 wedged between the footing and the beam—like someone thought playing Jenga with the foundation was a good idea. Water damage is sneaky, for sure, but honestly, I’d rather deal with that than with “creative” DIY supports. If you see anything that looks improvised, it’s usually a sign there’s more going on. Crawlspaces really are their own little horror movie set...
Spotting those “creative” supports is half the battle—seriously, you’re not wrong about crawlspaces being a horror show sometimes. I always tell folks: if you see anything that looks like it came from a scrap pile, it’s worth getting a pro to check it out. Water damage is sneaky, but at least you can usually see the signs. Those makeshift fixes, though... they’re like a warning flag for bigger issues. Don’t let it discourage you—every weird thing you find is one step closer to making the place safe and solid.