Attic Inspection

[Michael R. Boyett]

Actually this thread had to do with scuttle hole access clearances. Greg's 10:58 am post took it in another direction, i.e. the truss loading issue. What am I missing?

[Arne Larsen]

Originally Posted by rbritton

Hi to all,
I called this out to the buyers of the home and they said that the previous inspector of the seller DID NOT see a problem with the cables blocking the entrance to the attic. They said he was about 6 ft. and 150 lbs. and had no problem getting into the attic. As stated, I did call this out and did not inspect the attic. What is your opinion on the entrance being blocked and not inspecting it.


Russell Britton
Britton Home Inspection

You are covered Russell. You did not inspect it and stated your valid reasons for not doing so - which is exactly what you should have done.

The issue is not whether someone else managed to squeeze past the cables and lived to tell the tale - you felt it was unsafe to do so and stated as much. Where you would be in error would have been if you did not inspect the attic, but report that you did - which you did not do - so no harm no foul.

In any situation like this I take good photos and include them in my report.

Arne Larsen
West Coast Home Inspections Ltd.
Abbotsford, BC

[Bruce M. Graham]

Michael,
my bad should be starting with #9 sorry.
regardless, Russell made a good call.

[Greg Fretwell]

That is the way everyone installs air handlers in Florida. I can't get anyone interested in the implications of fire protection (dampers etc) They point out the wall between the garage and house is not fire rated in a type 3R (IRC).
The only time it has to be fire rated is if there is dwelling space above the garage.
As for the truss loading, they usually require a horizontal member catching 4 or 5 truss chords on the all thread hangers (generally two 2x4x8s) but it may not actually happen

[Bruce M. Graham]

And with the pull down stairs there is never a firewall in the attic seperating the rest of the house from the garage.