A Lurid Tale of Cutting and Hacking, sounds like the description of a low budget horror movie or just another day in the life of a Connecticut home inspector.

Power tools have sure made construction easier and more efficient...if used correctly. Because they can be almost effortless to use, simply switch them on and go at it, this leaves ample opportunity for the tool user to do some interpretive construction design.

Stop and think about it; Back in the days when all someone had was a handsaw or drill, the individual wasn't inspired to do much more than the task immediately at hand. After all who would want to expend all that extra energy cutting large sections out of boards without some serious fore thought put into the job. Sure this slowed down the construction process, but it usually got the job done right.

There's always a trade off.

With the advent of power tools all that extra physical effort became unnecessary. Not to mention fore thought. Now a carpenter or homeowner could look at some lumber, form a general idea, go grab a power saw and start cutting. This is not to say the old ways of thinking and planning were abandoned, but had become less of a concern for some.

I believe that power tools have perhaps opened up a whole new construction design era.

Take this fine job of, if-it-don't-fit-I-can-make-it-fit, example of classic new age power tool use.

The homeowner was saddled with this very old garage which originally had hinged, swinging doors. Wanting new over head doors he either found a company to install them or perhaps his handy Uncle Bob. Truth is no one will probably ever know who did the deed.

This is one side of a two bay garage. That's the garage door track running along the ceiling. Unfortunately the installation of the tracks was being impeded by several roof rafters. Back in the day this problem would have called for some serious thinking to occur, but in the new age of power tools this is nothing more than a small annoyance.

What's that you say? The structure has been seriously compromised. Oh ye of little construction knowledge there are still plenty of intact rafters left to hold up the roof.

Seriously, this cutting and hacking has left the structure in a very bad way. The combination of numerous cut rafters and very old, rotted wall framing makes this garage an accident waiting to happen.

When getting the job done becomes easier the lazy can prosper.

James Quarello
2010 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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