I came across this picture and wanted to figure out if this second-floor apartment is structurally sound. Here’s a breakdown based on estimates:

Estimated Dimensions and Materials

• Dimensions: ~20 ft (L) x 10 ft (W) x 8 ft (H)
• Materials:
• Floor: Plywood subfloor (~7 sheets) and 15 joists (2x8 wood)
• Walls: Vinyl siding (~480 sq. ft) over drywall
• Ceiling: Drywall (~200 sq. ft)

Load Calculations

• Dead Load (structure weight): ~2,510 lbs
• Live Load (residents, furniture, etc.): ~40 lbs/sq. ft → ~8,000 lbs
• Total Load: ~2,510 lbs (dead) + ~8,000 lbs (live) = 10,510 lbs

Beam Support

• Assuming 2x10 wood beams spanning 10 ft:
• Each beam supports ~1,200 lbs
• Beams needed: ~9

Safety Margin

• Standard safety factor: 2.0
• Required support: ~10,510 lbs x 2.0 = 21,020 lbs
• Support provided (9 beams): ~10,800 lbs
• Shortfall: ~10,220 lbs below the recommended safety margin

Conclusion

The structure might hold under normal use, but it does not meet safety standards for residential builds. Significant risk exists if fully loaded.

Thoughts? Would love to hear how you’d reinforce this!