Charlie R

Hello All; And thank each of you for your replies to my question. As Wayne stated, this certainly became an interesting read. I never stated what I do in these cases so in all fairness here goes - I put it in my report that the trusses were cut, that it's usually against what truss manufacturers say you can do, and it is against the rules of the current IRC. If the installation appears to be a good one with proper support then I say I don't see anything wrong BUT I recommend that the client contact a local truss manufacturer and have them either inspect or recommend a local structural engineer or contractor familiar with truss repairs to inspect and repair if need. Obviously, if I see something wrong, I make the same recommendation but stating that it looks like a questionable installation. The reason I do it this way is most truss firms know someone who can do a quick inspect and design that the client, if they are handy, can follow and do for themselves if they choose. The ones I have followed up on charged 200.00 for the inspect and design and the clients did it themselves. Wayne kind of got to the reason I posted this - as home inspectors, each inspection we do we go through a home, doing mental checklists and memory scans and we see things and we think "OK", we see things that we think "Odd, but OK" and we see things that we think "Nope, that ain't right." But we also see things we have been told are wrong, such as the cut truss chords, but that we also know usually result in no damage. There are may things that fall into this category but what does each inspector do when you see these things? Verbally mention them versus writing it in the report as a notation versus writing it up with a recommendation? Just interesting to see how each inspector crafts their report and why. Again, thanks for all your input. Stay safe. Charlie

Hi Chad; My question is not about if the trusses should be cut or not. My question is, if other inspectors do note this condition do they note it as a simple FYI or do the they scream "OMG, get a structural engineering firm ASAP!" I just don't want the thread to become an argument about trusses, I'm asking how other inspectors word their report on this particular issue. I apologize if I wasn't clear. Thanks, Charlie

I am curious how different inspectors state the issue and suggested repair when the inspector finds an attic pull-down stairs installed in a manner that had the installer cut through the bottom of the roof trusses (typically two truss bottoms cut) instead of installing the stairs between two trusses. Obviously, I'm talking of an amateur installation with no additional truss reinforcements. Do you make a big deal of it or just a mention? Do you recommend repair by a qualified person or tell the client to hire a structural engineer to inspect? Just curious what others do as some of the local inspectors I have talked with here (Maryland) are on both ends of the scale with this issue. Thanks, Charlie

The class action suit in New Jersey found FPE guilty and New Jersey residents had until 2005 to file a claim. You can read it here - http://www.inspectapedia.com/fpe/FPEnotice12-05.htm Charlie

Thanks for the link, I'll look into that one. Charlie

Thanks, I'll go check them out. Charlie

Hello; Just curious, I'm getting ready to buy a new laptop, but if the netbooks work, maybe I'll go that way. Anyone using a Netbook with Inspector Pro or Home Gauge? Thanks, Charlie