I know this is not in accordance with current standards or construction practices ,but is this how they built them back then ??
I was going to write it up as not in accordance with current standards ? Any suggestions ?
Would greatly appreciate some input on these old Modular’s
Thank you!!
Did you observe any anomalies in the roof structure?
If not, being older and having stood the test of time, just report what you stated below.
EDIT: The bolded above is what I was referring to. ^^^^^
Thanks Larry ! No I did not… Will do. 
That was my first question.
Yes, that is how many early modular and “site-built” trusses were done back in the day.
These are not inherently a concern.
Inspect for any ‘issues’, especially at the plywood gussets, and report what you observed, if anything.
No offence to Larry, but you would do well to ignore “old school” comments like this.
There is no actual “Test” taken by these components.
EVERYTHING fails. We just don’t always have an indication or evidence of WHEN it will fail.
Do you really want to tell your client everything was okey-dokey because it ‘Passed the Test of Time’ and it FAILS following a storm event the following week??
Yeah… didn’t think so.
No offense taken.
Yep, everything fails including new stuff that is not built well.
I don’t consider that “Old School”.
About 13-14 years ago, we had a snow storm that dumped 30" of wet heavy snow upon us and our buildings.
It caved many roofs but not ours that had “stood the test of time” having been built, I thought, less than adequately by a “homeowner” from a kit with additional changes made along the way to accommodate a garage addition that I could not see the roof framing of.
It broke off many trees and continued to do so while I was out snow blowing with my 4x4 Kubota tractor.
I was happy after seeing what COULD have happened.
That was a TEST.
I just noted that they are NOT in accordance with current standards but no defects were noted “At the Time Of Inspection “!!
NOT in accordance with current standards…
Thank you all for suggestions and information on these . I’ve seen them before and figured it was just how they used to build them and didn’t see any defects in structure so I didn’t comment at all !
But this time i figured I’d check with you guys first . The job is for one of my best real estate agents that her husband father owned the house but recently passed away and is going to divided up amongst the children!
Of course he wants to buy them out so asked me to list everything I find !
Oops that’s what I meant “ Not “
Don’t do it.
Why not ? It’s the truth?
Agree!
Perhaps when built, but definitely not todays standards!
Personally, I think those gussets are on the ‘skimpy’ side!
Common back then?
Yes.
Could have been done better?
Absolutely!
That would (should) be how you preform all inspections…
Remind her of this when you do inspections for her listing or buyer…LOL!
Yes the others I’ve seen were plywood or osb gussets ! These look skimpy is right !!
I do ! Trust me my inspections sometimes take 5 hours wihen doing Septic,Water testing and Radon testing!
General inspections usually take about 3-4 hours because I inspect everything! I go on Roods and pull electrical panels! Here in PA most don’t !
but as I mentioned before the other older Modular’s I didn’t comment on gussets not be in accordance with current standards!
Please direct me to where it states in any Home Inspection Standard that everything we inspect must be to current standard.
Also, I’m curious as to where you got your structural engineering degree…
Ouch !! Well it usually is required for especially safety hazards like Railings , stairs , and many other areas of the home! And many of the homes in my area are older and have those issues!
But as far as being a structural engineer to determine this issue I don’t think that ! Because I can tell modern trusses from old outdated ones and it doesn’t require a degree to know that ! Just common sense! Metal gussets are obvious!
Besides people do create their own wood gussets sometimes and that is sometimes obvious so the school I went to that trained me in ASHI’s standards said to look out for those kinds!
I mean I don’t have to be a veterinarian to know the difference between a Beagle n a German shepherd! Or dog from a cat !! Haha
Sorry I couldn’t resist that one!! Haha
But No maybe I don’t Have To comment at all- but the client left before I had a chance to explain some of these findings! So just wanted to make him aware!
Good point though!!Duly Noted!
Looking at the design of the trusses, thinking with 2x6 or 2x8 rafters and two 2x6 king posts, as well as purlin-style struts, the roof probably does just fine under a heavy-snow load. But, that is only a one-dimensional compression test. What happens when the same roof is put under a heavy wind load? How well are those gussets going to perform under extreme tension and/or torsion loads with what looks like only a handful of nails holding them together? This roof may have never witnessed high winds (thinking 90 mph+) in its lifetime. So, no, the roof might NOT have been tested by time – it could have just been lucky. If I owned this house, I would want those plywood gussets evaluated by an engineer or roofing specialist and if he or she recommended replacing or augmenting those wood gussets with metal gang nails and hurricane ties, I would do it.
You’re right…up here we don’t get that type of wind and I don’t know where they OP is from, either…nor, how old the home is and how long it endured the local conditions.
I tell my clients that safety is not grand-fathered; the standard for safety is always the most current, which is generally the hard-earned product of people hurt, lives lost, and structures damaged.
