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I Was Framed!

By James Quarello

Home Inspector with JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC HOI 394

January 21, 2011 12:48 AM

I was framed!, screams the allegedly innocent criminal as he is sentenced to hard time in every hokey crime drama. In my job as a Connecticut home inspector I'm interested in framing, not some innocent sap, the kind that makes up a home or building.

Garage wall framing Looking at an obviously reframed and sheathed garage on a recent inspection, I had to take offense. The carpentry was criminal.

Looking at the wall framing notice that the wall studs do not line up under the rafters. Also the door frame lacks a header. What may be hard to detect in the picture is the top plate (the framing along the top of the wall) is bowing. In the upper picture the plate is doubled as it should be, but on the opposite wall the carpenter used only one board.

We have had a lot of snow in Connecticut in the last few weeks and every roof has over a foot of the white stuff on top. This roof was no exception. I do not believe the walls will collapse, but all that snow isn't helping.

This garage is yet another case of what is almost guaranteed to be a homeowner job...without permits...without inspection. Can you see the bow?

The good news is that the repair shouldn't be a huge job. The right and lawful way to go about the fixing the framing would be to contact the town building department. An inspector would provide the necessary information on what is required to make it right.

My judgment; the carpenter who rebuilt this garage should have to do some community service to the homebuyer.

James Quarello
Connecticut Licensed Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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Bill Saunders, Realtor®

Meyers Realty - Hot Springs, AR

www.BillSellsHotSprings.com

Hi James,

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the original "carpenter" would be forced to make it right, at HIS expense?

all the best...

Jan 21, 2011 12:52 AM

Kathy Denworth

BHHS Keys Real Estate - Islamorada, FL

Realtor in the Florida Keys, Islamorada, Key Largo

James, with all the training they have at Home Depot, you would think that if someone planned a project like this, you would think they would learn how to do it right.

Jan 21, 2011 12:54 AM

Diane Osowiecki

Diane O and Friends - Benchmark Realty - Franklin, TN

Greater Nashville Real Estate

Let the original framer pay for it but don't let the person near a hammer again.

Jan 21, 2011 12:56 AM

Joe Kenny

Realty Executive Midwest - Darien, IL

Better Than Your Average Joe

James "to do some community service to the homebuyer" don't you mean for the homebuyer? The home buyer was already screwed once.

Jan 21, 2011 01:54 AM

Jacquie Cliff

Champions Real Estate Services - Lynnwood, WA - Lynnwood, WA

- Real Estate and Short Sale Expert

This is the sort of thing my husband grumbles at all the time when we are out looking at project houses.

Jan 21, 2011 02:00 AM

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT

Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

James, just goes to show that with a pickup truck, a hammer and a wheel barrel, anybody can be a contractor. It also looks like the sheathing doesn't go all the way to the top in the last photo.

Jan 21, 2011 02:06 AM

Jeremy Wrenn

Winslow Homes - Youngsville, NC

VP of Finance, Winslow Homes

Lovely. Another fine job but a very conscientious carpenter.

There are some of us out there that do it right, but obviously not everyone does!

Jan 21, 2011 02:10 AM

Richard Strahm

American Foursquare Realty - Lansdale, PA

Lansdale and North Penn Real Estate

WHY do do-it-yourselfers do it? To save money. But many times, in the long run, it costs so much more to un-do the mistakes are have it re-done right!

Jan 21, 2011 02:13 AM

Dale Ganfield

Leland, NC

Hi James, never a dull moment, never an end to what one may find on an inspection. Keeps our jobs interesting.

Jan 21, 2011 02:48 AM

Team Honeycutt

Allen Tate - Concord, NC

It is amazing to me the stuff you see on a daily basis. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

shelton

Jan 21, 2011 03:08 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

The carpenter who messed this up should be beaten with the tools he used to do that job! OK, maybe that's a bit harsh. But he should be required to pay for correcting the mistakes he made.

Jan 21, 2011 03:38 AM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

Jim, that "carpenter" likely WAS the homeowner :)

Jan 21, 2011 03:57 AM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Why would a "carpenter" not understand that even though it is a garage 16" work best?

And Charlie is probably right...

Jan 22, 2011 12:12 AM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

Bill, It would.

Kathy, I'm not sure HD gives that kind of training.

Diane, Good idea!

Joe, lol, good point.

Jacquie, I bet he does.

Ed, It went all the way to the ground, into the ground. And was wet. And rotting.

Jeremy, I would suspect this was homeowner, not contractor.

Jan 22, 2011 01:14 AM

Richard, Yep.

Dale, I call it job security :)

Shelton, My blogging pleasure :)

Craig, You're a little fiesty this morning :) A beating? Perhaps with a wet noodle. Paying for correction sounds more appropriate.

Charlie, No doubt.

Jay, Why? 24 saves $.

Jan 22, 2011 01:18 AM

Dagny Eason

Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT

Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Amazing that things like that can slip by..... Hopefully the roof doesn't give out with the weight of all of the snow that we have here in CT

Jan 23, 2011 02:02 PM

Reuben Saltzman

Structure Tech Home Inspections - Minneapolis, MN

Delivering the Unbiased Truth.

If they had only used another top plate at the other wall...

Jan 23, 2011 02:24 PM

Dagny, It should hold until spring unless we get dumped on with another big snow, then I'm not so certain.

Reuben, And more 2x4s

Jan 24, 2011 10:53 PM

I Was Framed!

Comments(18)

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