Yes. Many in my 20 yrs exper as GC Sup’t and PM for some of the biggest contractors in the US.
George, you are missing the point:
For gosh sakes, it is an old house and it probably isn’t worth a whole lot.
This is NOT new construction.
If it was new const., most truss co’s send their own carps out with the letter and make the field repair.
Don’t blow this simple little house out of proportion.
I’m not trying to blow anything out of proportion or argue with you either. I know in my heart that modifications require an engineer’s letter and will pass that information on to my client. You should follow your own heart. What the client does or does not do with that information is up to them. Have a great day!
I recognize conditions quite well. I was a framer myself for many years and I agree that the customer is paying me to perform a visual inspection of the property he/she is interested in purchasing.
Referring to a specialist does not mean at all that I cannot do my job. On the contrary, I did my job. I found that prefab trusses were altered and by doing so, it voided any warranties and these need to be addressed by the specialist/manufacturer.
If the house tomorrow falls apart after I wrote up: Altered trusses were noted in the attic. They were in good condition at the time of the inspection etc…blablabla, then I am assuming the responsibility for the repair, thus making me a “specialist” in that field. Guess who will come after me if this happens?
Adding to this, it is impossible from one photo to determine whether the repair was made properly. As I mentioned in my post #5 it is one of the cleaner fixes, but there is no way to determine if these braces were installed on a load bearing wall.
If they are not on a load bearing wall, then the fix will start sagging again.
If they are not on a load bearing wall, which then becomes a load bearing wall, the foundation will most likely not be designed for that effect.
If they are on a load bearing wall, then how do you determine the foundation was properly designed for the extra load it would receive?
You simply cannot.
These are the reasons why I would refer any altered prefab trusses to a specialist. This is not being an alarmist, it is just stating the facts and let the buyer make his own decision.
Pete,
Your the one missing the point…many of us have construction experience… I myself am a licensed GC (residential and commerical) and have been building homes since 1978…that’s actual hands on knowledge
including building some very complex roof system yet with that said I am not foolish enough to state in a court of law that my credentials allows me to make an engineering call as to the alteration of any truss.
Do I personally think the roof is fine…yes…but a personal and professional opinion are two separate animals.
As to the truss company being out of business…maybe however there are numerous truss companies that have and are still around for over 60 years…not sure the age of the home but it would be foolish of any inspector to either not do their homework in finding out that info or simply pass the call off to a structural engineer who would do the calculations and provide documentation…relying on a home inspectors word as a generalist on this matter is foolish.
I can see it in court now…
Mr. Campbell, how many year of experience in residential construction do you have? Answer: 20 plus.
So you being a seasoned tradesman know that any alterations of trusses require an engineer to approve same? Answer: yes sir…however in this case…
Sir, a simple yes or no will suffice, we will get to this case in just a minute.
Mr. Campbell do you have an engineering degree? Answer: No Sir
Yet you testified as a person with 20 years of experience that any alteration of a truss requires one? Answer: Yes sir.
And yet you took it upon yourself to advise my client in your report that the trusses were in satisfactory condition even though you earlier testified that you know from 20 years of experience that any trusses that are altered should be inspected by an engineer, please tell me where on your report did you inform my client about the need for an engineer?
Answer: I didn’t put it in my report because my personal opinion based upon my experience felt that it was not needed.
Did you not testify earlier that your 20 plus years of experience show that any alteration of a truss requires an engineer evaluation? Answer: Yes sir
So basically you took it upon yourself without being a licensed engineer to make a call that you really don’t have the credentials for? Answer: uhhhh…that’s not what …uh…for god sakes, its a small house, its not worth that much. (at this point you can hear a pin drop).
Sir, my client spent their life savings for that home and additionally paid you to inspect it and if need be provide them with information so that they can make an informed decision as to weather or not go forward…and you are now telling us that its a small house and not worth that much… I have nothing further from this **defendant **your honor.
That’s what can happen…what ever an inspector puts in his report he / she better be able to back those finding up in a court of law if need be.
regards
Jeff
The existing trusses were not altered. Altering trusses in this sense means cutting into them or doing something to affect the gussets holding them together. An addition was made here but the initial integrity of the trusses were not altered.
It has been mentioned altering the trusses would affect the warranty of them. What warranty? The house is obviously quite old, look at the aged material on trusses versus the lumber used for the newer vertical bracing. As someone mentioned, that truss engineer died years ago (and left no warranties behind). 
Question is, whether the roof frame system was functioning as intended at the time of inspection or not? I don’t need to recommend an engineer for that. I could and would make my own deterimination.
Engineer expense not required, that’s why I’m there.
Thank you, Joe! Finally another guy with practical common sense besides Greg and I.
Jeff Haynes: Do not leave your house the next time there’s a full moon since you are afraid of your own shadow! And keep unnecessarily calling for your customers to get their answers from someone else. Your competition thanks you every time!
Pete, Thanx and that court scenerio and all by Jeff H is ridiculous :roll:.
Will and George from Texas (as I am), altering trusses voids warranty as you say. What Warranty? the house in pic from aged frame materials looks at least 50 years old. Are ya’ll under the impression that there is a lifetime warranty on trusses? This is not an alteration of trusses.
Think about it, on a new home trusses are installed and engineer specs require certain diagonal and latteral braces. If Framers add more bracing than called for is that an alteration or modification? Framers add temperary bracing that doesn’t get removed, they add rat runs (flat bracing across top of bottom chords, are those unacceptable modifications or alterations? No! They didn’t affect, change, alter, modify the integrity of the original truss design.
Will, I know you do alot of new home inspections as I do. So, trusses are engineered and if alterations are made- cutting into truss, affecting gusset attachment than it would be prudent to ask for evaluation from builders truss supplier for engineers evaluation and certification and or repair requirements on new home inspections. We are talking diffferent situations here.
I view additions to a Framing Truss (drilling, bolting and additional framing) as similar to modifications involving removal of the truss components.
Why were components added and/or removed?
As an engineered system, field modification is not required.
If field modification is made or felt necessitated, an engineering review would be recommended to the Buyer as they will subsequently be a Seller in the Future.
If not addressed now, it will have to be later…
Your mileage may vary…
Another guy who just does not get it!
PPL, this is a very OLD USED HOUSE!!!
STOP worrying about CYA so much and START marketing more, you folks!
Marketing is the key
[RIGHT]
Mileage?
Joseph,
Time does not negate engineering design principles as you suggest,
The system needs to now be re-evaluated by an architect and/or engineer…
If you are neither, you should not pass judgment and/or decision on a system designed 60 years ago with modifications made over the last 20…
Again,
your mileage may vary…
Joseph, I am neither one, but I am well capable of anylyzing the situation started here at this post with my credentials which I don’t need to brag about. You must not think highly of yourself if you think you need to recommend an Architect :roll: or Engineer for this minimal framing situation. Let your client spend money for - not just an engineer but an architecht as you state. What architect is gonna go out on a house 50 or 60 years old he didn’t design? 
OK 2K!
Are we playing games with this mileage thing (your mileage may vary) that I am asking twice about now?
Joseph, go ahead and recommend an engineer for everything on a roof frame. I don’t need to.
Sorry,
I did not realize that you were an RA and/or PE…
and capable of evaluating older roof truss systems with modifications present…
If your E&O affords you that Liability, then continue what you are doing…
again
mileage may vary…
I recommend accordingly.
I do not factor cost / expense…
Client will choose to pay now or later when they sell (if they purchase the home).
The truss connector plate and the cuts of the webbing of this Fink Truss indicate to me some age.
The added supports/hangers, or whatever they are do not compromise the truss function and is therefore not compromised.
What is compromised is the capacity of the original truss system if these addittional supports are supporting addittional loads. The load capacity is unknown to all of us.
The bolted section is weakening the top member of the truss as was installed.
From the picture, we do not know what the function is and if it can not be verified in the field by the poster, it should be deferred to a reputable contractor to decide whether or not a SE is required.
This picture does not show the whole picture and we can make speculations for the next 30 days and solve nothing.
If one does not know what he is looking at, deferr it to someone who does, meaning a Building Contractor first and get it off your back.
Write what you observe and move on once the liability is on someone else if you are not sure of what you are looking at.
Something like this, you can only make an evaluation by seeing the whole picture which is not available to any of us.
Joseph in PA, keep recommending accordingly.
I’ll take care of my clients.
As I said…
I have been there and done that…
Your mileage may vary…
(Check with your E&O Provider with regard to your opinions)…
No, but I have a degree in Homebuilding '81, with a concentration in engineering and architecture. Will that shut you up with your direspect ?
Mileage may vary -that statement over and over again is intelligent loser:roll:
Along with many Homebuilder’s that build defective housing…
If that satisfies your E&O provider…
your mileage may vary…