Saw this today. These 2x4s in the garage are only being held together by nails or screws. How would you write this up
If I were there and seeing what you say you are seeing I would write …
The rafters in the garage appeared structurally deficient. Recommend further blah blah blah.
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Those are Rafters, not Trusses. What’s the issue?
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I think I would simply recommend that they not store anything on them nor suspend anything from them.
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Like JJ said; rafter and collar tie.
Was there any outward bow of the wall at the top plate? Did the ridge line have a dip or was it good? Were the rafters attached to the sidewall top plate with three 8D nails toenailed, or with hurricane clips? To resist outward thrust, how were the collar ties attached to the sidewall top plate? Was there evidence of movement of the sidewall at the collar ties?
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And don’t use it to pull engines out of your race car. 
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For the record… this should be the same narrative even if they were Trusses also!
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@msenty Deflection could be seen on the roof at the ridge, right below this area. No movement at the sidewall. And I did not get a look at the sidewall top plate. Seeing the deflection made me a little more nervous about the garage rafters.
Eric, what size are those ceiling joists - they seem undersized ? No matter what size they are they shouldn’t have splices in them as they do unless they are on a wall or beam. Are joixts serving as proper rafter ties?. Someone here mentioned just writing it up as inadequate rafters. There’s a lot more than that. Looks like they are bracing the roof onto the (ceiling frame) joists which shouldn’t be done. Roof bracing should be off a wall or beam. Someone asked if collar ties are attached to wall-top plates- collar ties don’t attach to wall-top plates, they are in the upper 3rd of roof - attached between rafters under ridge. This roof frame doesn’t appear to have any collar ties as needed. Some of framing appears undersized. See roof frame and bracing info at: Collar Ties, Rafter Ties, Purlins & Bracing | JWK Inspections (jwkhomeinspections.com)
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Stick built roofs with a low pitch typically develop a noticeable sag over time. By the looks of it whoever attempted to fix it didn’t have the knowledge or skills needed to fix the problem. The white paint just adds to the WTF were they trying to do.
I would say the roof was visibly sagging and the roof framing/repairs appear substandard. Recommend a professional framing contractor assess the need for repairs.
As a structural engineer I could write up the structural issues and recommend a repair solution. But that could cost more than just replacing the roof framing with trusses.
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Morning, Eric. Hope to find you well.
Lots of impute here on the garage roof framing.
The Rafter and ceiling joists look typical to what I encounter during rural inspections. Typical Roof Frame Rafters. Plywood sheathing and ceiling joists.
The ceiling joists have been been strapped. And there are occasional vertical structs under the ridge board and rafters.
You mentioned nothing about ballooning outer frame.
Its not a house. Pick out a deficiency or two and move on.
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Love the example Larry. There are ceiling joists, kinda…
Ballooning outer frames are important to note. When the frame is straight and the ridge deflects in the middle can occur over time.
I had an engineers report on one such situation on a rural home I inspected. Saddle in the ridge. It covered my back.
Typical 1960’s construction in my opinion.
This may be where he mentioned it:
No movement at the sidewall.
There were 2 2x4s that attached in the middle and stretched across the entire garage - which was probably 15-20 feet?
Your right, no collar ties were present.
@jkeresztury Thanks Joe, appreciate your insight.
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. Fire door had a significant crack in the door jamb, so I called that out.
Spot on. 60s property here
Was the garage attached to the home at one of the gable ends?
The gable ends look like they may have openings to the attic.
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