Would you write this up?

[James R. Szczesny]

I called out one cut truss today also. Trusses are engineered specifically for an aplication. One cut truss could be a risk. Completely agree with calling out a SE on one cut truss.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Where did Sean go? Come back Sean!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Nothing a good Contractor can't fix Joe.

I would note it in my reports, but recommend a Contractor experienced in truss repairs to repair properly.

I have repaired many trussess on Commercial Jobs with the direction of the engineer. It is all about CYA, the contractor, architect don't want the liability, so the engineer excepts it with a price tag.

For residential such as this, hell, it was probably approved like that when built.

CUTTING BOTTOM CHORD - WITH INTERIOR BEARING WALLS

If a bearing wall is available for each segment of the bottom chord, that was cut, each segment can usually be supported on a wall.

However, some reinforcement of the truss may be required, such as installing a new 2x4 or 2x6 against the bottom chord.
New web members may also be required, with adequate connections made with plywood gussets and either nails or wood screws and construction adhesive.

[Sean Fogarty]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Nothing a good Contractor can't fix Joe.

I would note it in my reports, but recommend a Contractor experienced in truss repairs to repair properly.

I have repaired many trussess on Commercial Jobs with the direction of the engineer. It is all about CYA, the contractor, architect don't want the liability, so the engineer excepts it with a price tag.

For residential such as this, hell, it was probably approved like that when built.

CUTTING BOTTOM CHORD - WITH INTERIOR BEARING WALLS

If a bearing wall is available for each segment of the bottom chord, that was cut, each segment can usually be supported on a wall.

However, some reinforcement of the truss may be required, such as installing a new 2x4 or 2x6 against the bottom chord.
New web members may also be required, with adequate connections made with plywood gussets and either nails or wood screws and construction adhesive.

:mrgr een:

[Sean Fogarty]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

Where did Sean go? Come back Sean!

Joe, I never said I would not write it up, and I am fully aware that any truss is an engineered. Cutting one would by all standards warrent the repair engineered.

My point is that if your personally (Joe) were buying this house, and 1 truss was cut in a garage, would you spend $400 buck of your own money to have it evaluated and have an engineered repair made?

If you say yes your full of crap. If you have enough building knowledge (or any good framer for that matter) then you should be able to make the repair that should suffice. I have never seen a garage roof fail from one cut truss that has been repaired. If you have then send me some pictures and I will shut up. If that were my home and they wanted to walk because of this then I would tell them to go pack sand. I also understand that all buyers don't comprehend this, and telling them they need a stuctural engineer is going to scare anyone.. Letting them know the resoning behind the call and then expaining to them that the roof will not fall down is a better way to do business.

For the record. I am fully aware that i should recommend a SE to evaluate!!!!!!!!!!

But in past situations the buyers don't seem to be concerned especially when there are interior walls that help with load. Every situation is different and every buyer and seller are different.

3 and 4 cut trusses then you could have an issue.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

See anything wrong?

Attachment 42738

Nicely done Joe.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by sfogarty

My point is that if your personally (Joe) were buying this house, and 1 truss was cut in a garage, would you spend $400 buck of your own money to have it evaluated and have an engineered repair made?

Your point is taken.

I think what others are trying to explain to you is that...as an inspector...what the client does (or does not do) with the information that you provide is none of your business. For you to anticipate, in advance, what he may or may not think is the best thing to do, as you compose a description of a defect, will hasten you toward your next new career.

[Tim Spargo]

FWIW, the fix would easily exceed 4 c-notes here... Eng. letter $250+, Framing repair $6-900 (site eval, leg-work to eng and the actual repair) D/Wall repair $3-500 for a small area, paint etc. And... if there is movement, the costs can skyrocket in a finished home. I recently ran across one of these and could see the corners @ ceiling/wall showing signs of stress on either side of the hallway where the chord had been altered. I knew the PE or contractor coming behind would be picking up this as well. I think that deal was over but the cryin'. Not everyone will react this way, when properly explained. Some... not so simple.

The load and forces on a truss are much different than a cut/stack. With enough alteration, it's possible to have failure on truss system even with a considerable number of partitions under them.

Having said that, I agree the "fix" is easy in many cases. The problem is, the home is transferring hands, our clients may not want any liability that has the attachment of "Structural Defect" along with it. I don't care how "minor" a repair is to a foundation or a structural aspect... they *can easily say* "I would not have bought the home had I knew"

IMO, the first pic is a significant # of chords clipped. As different patterns of trusses can have compression or tension on them ( reasonable expl. here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss#Design_of_members) It's my job to point out that an engineered framing member has been incorrectly altered. I may also point out that in my locality, the Truss Engineer of Record may design a "fix" or alternatively a SE will have to do so.

Whether it's one or 3 chords cut, it's a defect.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by sfogarty

My point is that if your personally (Joe) were buying this house, and 1 truss was cut in a garage, would you spend $400 buck of your own money to have it evaluated and have an engineered repair made?

No. I would demand that the seller do that.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

And so would I Joe. It is an obvious defect and the responsibility of the seller to repair or compensate the buyer to do so.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

I've had to repair cut trusses with the repair designed by a SE and what they had me do seemed like severe overkill. I don't know whether it actually was overkill, but I'm not an engineer. I don't really trust contractors I haven't worked with. I'd recommend an engineer.

The cost is not my concern when it's a structural issue unless it's very straightforward. The owner shouldn't have done it, shouldn't have hired a contractor who did it, or when they bought the home, their inspector should have caught it, or they should have hired an inspector.