Historic Cotton Gin Framing Evaluation
The Historic Cotton Gin project consists of two 9,100-square-foot buildings that originally housed an 18th-century cotton gin. Renovated in the early 2000s, one building was converted into a restaurant, while the other became a multi-tenant office space. After the restaurant was vacated, prospective tenants expressed concerns about the sloping and uneven floors. The flooring primarily consists of wood framing over crawl spaces, with one area featuring a concrete floor over a crawl space and another with a concrete slab-on-grade.
United Consulting inspected the interior to identify load-bearing locations impacting the attic and roof, assessed the supporting framing members, and evaluated their adequacy. Our team also examined the crawl spaces, visually assessing the floor system and noting member sizes, spacing, and lumber condition. Where necessary, we probed framing members for rot and insect damage, uncovering evidence of a previous termite infestation in the restaurant building. Following our comprehensive assessment, we prepared a report with recommendations to reinforce deficient structural members. The City of Norcross utilized United Consulting’s findings to address structural concerns and assure prospective tenants of the floor system’s safety.
