What are these brackets I found while starting Demo in a condo?

Question

Started demo in a condo and ran into these metal brackets under the carpet at the front end of the unit. I have a couple of questions:

Does anyone know about the purpose for these?

What are potential reasons for this crack in the corner?

How can I properly install LVT with these to consider?

Appreciate any input. Thanks.

Jim K. · Answer

@Eric Perez

I'm going to with @Michael Gessner's answer and also @Terrell Garren's fix. This is some prefab construction built circa 1960, if I'm not mistaken First, I would go with a plastic six-mil vapor barrier. Then lay over flexible plywood underlayment, usually called luan. Cut around the brackets, then fill in and level with a floor patching compound.

Or I'd do a tile floor with an isolation membrane -- I don't like that crack in the corner much, either.

Michael Gessner · Answer

@Eric Perez that's what I was thinking, however that's not requires here in the northeast, I wonder if the condo is prefab and maybe they used these brackets to anchor the exterior walls to the foundation rather then bolts. Either way unfortunately I dont think you can remove them. In terms of lvl flooring, you'll have to build up around them and allow your floor to feather into the height of them

Collin Maas · Answer

I think it might be worth your while to open the wall up at one of the brackets and see how high they go up and how they are terminated. Is the wall steel stud or wood frame? looks like the wall is sitting on a concrete slab. Thinking you maybe able to attach the wall to the floor using a different application and remove the brackets. I might try removing some of the gyp at the base of the wall and trying to run a tapcon through the base plate. Its going to be at a pretty flat angle to keep the wall board removal to a minimum. Also might be able to do it with something powder actuated. If you keep it low enough you may be able to cover the hole with the base trim.

Mike Reynolds · Answer

@Jim K. is correct. It is a pre-fab house and they come that way with drywall on them and that is the only way to fasten them to the floor.

Pat L. · Answer

My guess would be something like a drywall/wall finish cladding bracket. I've seen something similar used back in Australia to secure drywall to cement block walls. Are they on 16inch centers???

Eric Perez · Answer

@Michael Gessner

I’m in CT. I was given an opinion that they may be earthquake brackets though that’s not too common an occurrence up in the northeast

Michael Gessner · Answer

@Eric Perez where is the property located ?

Terrell Garren · Answer

I've used Luan as a layer to mask imperfections in a subfloor. You might have to cut around the brackets and fill in with floor leveler if you can still feel the brackets under the Luan.

Def: Luan is a type of hardboard plywood that commonly serves as an underlayment for different types of flooring, including resilient vinyl floors. When installed properly, luan underlayment creates a flat, smooth and durable surface to which flooring materials can be attached.

Terrell Garren · Answer

@Jim K. will probably know.

Eric Perez · Answer

@Sai T.

Haha, I apologize. They were quick pictures and didn’t think I was going to ask others.

They are on the floor and appear to go up the drywall, although unsure how high. You can see tack strips from the carpet removed to help orient yourself.

The condos were built in 1986

What are these brackets I found while starting Demo in a condo?

What are these brackets I found while starting Demo in a condo?

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