Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Looks like them thar openins need a header.
Blaine
PS Is it just the picture, or is that sill plate over the door opening sagging, and is it PT lumber? 
Originally Posted By: psabados This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Let me try on the first pic
I'm assuming thats a garage at the top of the steps
Header at doorway missing. No fire rated door. No handrails on stairs. Possibly no light in the stairwell. Wall switch J-box installed, power circuit not in protective conduit. Sill plate does not look like it pressure treated.
Why did they drill the floor joists and run the three circuits through them.
I'd also move some insulation and verify that the sill plate is bolted
Originally Posted By: dbush This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Cheryl, those joists are actually manufactured “I” joists. They are made with knockouts in the middle of the wood so you can run the wires through them. They are predrilled and a small tap of the hammer “should” knock them out, hence the name. Large taps of the hammer get a larger hole, such as you have on the right hand side.
Originally Posted By: jpope This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Cheryl,
Actually, these types of joists can be penetrated quite a bit before their integrity is compromised. As long as the penetrations are within the web, the standard rules for hole sizes and locations don't apply.
I see the lack of a header as being the biggest issue. I'm sure there's more.
-- Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
Originally Posted By: Nick Gromicko This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I see nothing missing.
Some area's may require the light bulb to have a cover, the ROMEX running down the wall to be in conduit, or a handrail on the stairs. But I don't see a header problem from these pics.
Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
All,
I can see a handrail on the stairs, and there is a cover over the steps, so the light at the base, in the picture should suffice. I my area, if that sill plate isn't pressure treated lumber, that would be a big deal. Also, some sort of header would have to be installed for the joist ends. The picture makes the top of the window look like it is sagging too.
Originally Posted By: Nick Gromicko This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Does it have to be treated in your area if it has sill sealer? I can see a piece of the blue foam hanging down between the sill and the foundation on the right side of the door in pic #1. I agree it should be treated regardless.
Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
It is required here in FL and in northern VA to be PT regardless of the sill sealer. A bug man in NVA told me that a hefty squad of carpenter ants will tear through that blue foam like a hot knife through butter, but it was the local county building inspector who splained it to me.
Originally Posted By: jpope This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
In California (and I believe most of the U.S.) any lumber in contact with concrete or earth must be treated. “Contact” being the key word. Split that hair any way you want.
Originally Posted By: Nick Gromicko This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Yes, Jeff. The original purpose of sill sealer was to get around that requirement and avoid the expense of a Wolmanized sill (like in these pics). But I know many builders use both. Sill sealer works pretty well for rot because it adds an air space between the wood and concrete, but it doesn’t do much for termites.
Originally Posted By: jpope This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I’ve seen a “sill plate gasket” and “termite shield” used in several applications, but I don’t think either can take the place of a Wolmanized (or comparable) sill plate.
I'll look a little deeper into it before I say this to be absolute 
-- Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
