Overnotched Rafter

[hspinnler]

Since I could not load my 769KB image since the limit is 100KB, please visualize a 2"x12" gable rafter overnotched at least 2/3 of the way through where the toe of the rafter extends like a 2"x4" to form the eave. Basically, about 3.5" resting on top plate of wall and a wide-open, nuttin' but air kind of notch. House is 8 years old so no corrections to be made now. How would you write up the repair? Scab on board extending to end and then up to 2' above notch? Thanks.

[Bruce A. King]

Recommend repair or correction by experienced, licensed general contractor.

Don't engineer the repair. I know how it is, I want to do that all the time and have to remind myself not to for legal reasons.

[Steve McIntire]

2X12 rafter overnotched at whatever location. Recommend repairs by licensed framing contractor. Then off to the next inspection.

[hspinnler]

Thanks for simplifying the answer. Like you Bruce, I am inclined to give a remedy. This reduces the likelihood of having to stop and answer questions about found defects after the inspection. I appreciate the reply from you fellow members. I see that a non-member on the next thread got alot more responses for his question about basements. I kind of resent that since this board should enable an inspector to receive help from other inspectors. I won't hesitate to jump in to assist you next time.

[Erby Crofutt]

Hank,

Sounds like you need Microsoft Powertoys Image Resizer.

When you have high speed, large pictures aren't a problem, but for the dial up guys it takes forever to download them, especially frustrating if the pictures are put into the post instead of posted as an external link.

Here's some help for you about large pictures. It also uses up less of your hard disk space.

I resize 100 or so pictures from an inspection in about a minute. I resize Message Board Pictures to the 640x480 size or about 50 K.

The instructions below say it better than I can.

Click Here for some instructions on how it works.

Click Here and look for the 11th download on the right side - Imageresizer.exe.

Short & sweet,

I open windows explorer,
find the folder with the pictures I want to resize,
select (or highlight) all the pictures I want resized (one or a hundred),
right click,
select "Resize Image" off the pop up menu,
choose picture size I want,
Click "Advanced" tab and select to resize originals,
Hit enter

Seconds later all the pictures are resized to the size I selected.

You can fit fourteen of the resized pictures in the same space your one 789 KB picture would take.

And the quality is acceptable for the message board.

for example. Fungus Amungus

Good luck, please keep sharing.

[hspinnler]

Thanks Erby. I'll check it out. Was there a change between this board and the old board regarding posting photos? I did not get the chance to post as an external link. I'm using the same 5.0 megapixel camera I was using before, except now I can't post a pic. I'll try to get up to speed. Right now I'm still trying to figure out where the bubble in my new level is supposed to be positioned.

[cradan]

Erby's right, Hank. Go grab the Powertoy for free. Almost as good as sliced bread, once you've worked with it, regardless of what size the images are when they slide out of your camera. You'll wonder how you got along without it.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by hspinnler

Thanks Erby. I'll check it out. Was there a change between this board and the old board regarding posting photos? I did not get the chance to post as an external link. I'm using the same 5.0 megapixel camera I was using before, except now I can't post a pic. I'll try to get up to speed. Right now I'm still trying to figure out where the bubble in my new level is supposed to be positioned.

I will forever be indebted to Erby for pointing me to the Power Toys resizer. Best piece of free software I've ever used.

There was a change between the old board and the new one regarding posting photos. Too many people were posting 1 MB photos and using up server storage space. 1 MB photos simply aren't necessary. I don't even take those types of pictures at the site. I set my cameras for 1.0 megapixels and get extremely clear pictures on every camera I've used, regardless of manufacturer. Even then, though, the pictures are 250 KB or so. With Resizer, I get them down to 25 KB without losing any clarity.

Now if your intent is to print a photo at photo quality, or an 8½x11 pictures, then you'll probably still need that 5.0 megapixel setting. Otherwise, it's just not necessary for the 2x3 pictures that we use here and in our reports.

[Jason A. Sieg, CMI]

I use IrfanView, it's a free software also. It will let me resize, resample, change the format (jpg, mpg, tif, etc.), reduce the # of colors used and many other things.

I use a Sony DVD403 camcorder/camera. It saves stills on DVD in jpg format that play back on your home DVD player as a slideshow. 3.0 mega-pixel stills with no grainieness on my 32" TV. I don't see any reason for anything better than that. They look as good as any 35mm photo or even 2¼" format film photo I have ever seen and my father was a pro. photographer. He descovered one of the Ms. Clairol (spelling) girls in the mid '70's. She never even placed in a city beauty contest but my parrents thought she should have won. (None of the winners ever made it big.) Durring the creation of her portfolio (we did it for free, we get the rights to the photos) is when I started to learn to be a lighting expert. From that point on I was in charge of setting up lighting for everything we did, indoors or out.

I don't know what came over me? I couldn't stop myself. I blaim Russel, and not having any margrita mix in my bar.



I blaim the teenagers in my house.

[hspinnler]

Erby, I downloaded the previously oversized pic and resized it to a small 33.3 KB image. I don't suppose you can see it yet?

[Kevin P. Williams]

Glad to see you figured out how to resize

was that the only big notch or where all of them that way ?

[hspinnler]

Yes Kevin, all of the rafters for the bonus room over the garage were framed that way. It is more common to see 2"x6" rafters. My guess is that the rafters were oversized in order to be notched to form the eave as well as give a little more clearance for air circulation in the attic.

[Larry D. Kage]

I don't see the problem with that rafter cut.

It would be no different (except minus the tail) than a cut for a building with no overhang. Not that I advocate no overhangs.

The 3 1/2" tail is enough to support what appears to be a small (12"?) overhang and the seat cut does not appear overnotched, IMHO.

There are times when someone wants to match an existing fascia/overhang size but also wants to have a rafter cavity that will take more insulation.

Coming from a framing background, I would not be happy if my framers did the job like that, but as to it being a problem from a structural perspective, I don't think it is.
It may be amateur, but the fascia appear to be properly supported, and that would be my only concern.

[hspinnler]

Thanks Larry. So, should I forget about the 25% notch limit when you have an oversized rafter with a standard 2"x4" section used only as the tail? And finally no problem with the heel resting on the top plate?