No Sill Plate

[John Evans]

Home built in 1961, no sill plates, except at the garage foundation. Any thoughts as to why sill plates were not placed and the consequences?

[Larry D. Kage]

I've seen it a few times and noted it but I'm sure nothing was done but we don't have the earth movement that some areas have.

I have no idea why someone would omit the sill plate. It seems like more work to leave it out and have to shim each joist.

[Richard A. Hetzel]

One runs into this kind of construction every so often. How is the framing anchored to the foundation? Some don't even have anchors, and just depend on the weight of the house to keep in on the foundation. Not much one can do about it now; it's built.

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Not there because it was probably not required..... I have seen many homes w/o sill plates....unless there is a moisture issue then there is nothing to worry about.
I suspect the shims were after the fact....

[Brian C. Hoagland]

Originally Posted by jhaynes

Not there because it was probably not required..... I have seen many homes w/o sill plates....unless there is a moisture issue then there is nothing to worry about.
I suspect the shims were after the fact....

Needs anchoring, needs separation from contact with cement. But those are just code requirements.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by jevans

Home built in 1961, no sill plates, except at the garage foundation. Any thoughts as to why sill plates were not placed and the consequences?


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Hi John,

Could you see any type of Fasteners installed anywhere?

Other than being a framing nightmare and fastening concern as well, really not a big issue being that old.

[John Evans]

No obvious anchors. I realize there is no reasonable repair, and after all of this time the house is not moving. This construction method is one that I do not recall observing on past inspections. I thought the local inspectors would have noted the missing sill plates when the construction plans were submitted or during the permit inspections. Why would a builder attempt to level each joist with slate shims instead of placing the sill plates? This is why I like my job, you never know what will be discovered!

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by bhoagland

Needs anchoring, needs separation from contact with cement. But those are just code requirements.

3 year old addition, built with a permit. No separation from masonry. What frigging good is a permit these days?

[Stephen W. Stanczyk]

I find a large number of homes from the 60's with the subfloor directly on the foundation. No sill plate. Large beams supporting 2x6 T&G and the ends of the 2x6 rest directly on the foundation. Some have tar paper separate, some don't. Actually nice to inspect since there aren't any joists to scrape your back on.

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Originally Posted by bhoagland

Needs anchoring, needs separation from contact with cement. But those are just code requirements.

We are not code officials.................which is why RE boards are going ballistic over those who write it up because of that.

That fact that the house has not gone anywhere without anchors speaks for itself................if God wants to blow the thing over.....anchors are not going to hold it down. lol

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I have seen many basements that were built in the 1960's, and never seen any with no box sill plate.
Renovated many buildings with my Father as a kid and never saw no box sill plate.
I have no idea what would prompt someone to not install it, considering all the extra labor that it creates building the darn thing.

That third picture really bothers me though for the fact that the masonry and brick too good to be 48 years old. The testure and smoothness of the CMU face back 40 years ago when I worked in a block manufacturing plant, did not look that good.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Originally Posted by jhaynes

We are not code officials.................which is why RE boards are going ballistic over those who write it up because of that.

That fact that the house has not gone anywhere without anchors speaks for itself................if God wants to blow the thing over.....anchors are not going to hold it down. lol

You still need to mention it, to cover your butt because you can bet some building contractor will go under and say the home inspector Missed this. And who really cares what the RE boards say. They Do not pay your insurance and would turn on you in a second.Of course on the other hand if you happen to cozy up to them i guess it would matter upsetting the poor agent. I thought it was our job to inform the client not keep RE agents happy. I have written this up and will continue on. Just because the home has been there for many years it does not mean it was built right. God has nothing to do with it, a dumb *ss builder did.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by wwilson3

You still need to mention it, to cover your butt because you can bet some building contractor will go under and say the home inspector Missed this. And who really cares what the RE boards say. They Do not pay your insurance and would turn on you in a second.Of course on the other hand if you happen to cozy up to them i guess it would matter upsetting the poor agent. I thought it was our job to inform the client not keep RE agents happy. I have written this up and will continue on. Just because the home has been there for many years it does not mean it was built right. God has nothing to do with it, a dumb *ss builder did.

I agree Wayne, no matter how comfortable I am with some of these buildings as far as longevity above and beyond what they have undergone already, I always will make note that it does not meet today's standard.
Like everybody else, we need to CYA.
I will stay home before a Real Estate agent tells me how he wants his reports. That is unethical in my book.
Note what you see and be honest about it and usually it never comes back to haunt you.

And Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Same to you Marcel I am cooking the turkey in the Am LOL so if you see on the news of a mass food poisoning event watch for my name lol. I stuff it full of butter and lay bacon over the top , i can feel the old veins closing now.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by wwilson3

Same to you Marcel I am cooking the turkey in the Am LOL so if you see on the news of a mass food poisoning event watch for my name lol. I stuff it full of butter and lay bacon over the top , i can feel the old veins closing now.

I can imagine, but it is good, and have a good one.