Questions from a homebuyer and retailer were raised during a home inspection when framing in the attic was found to be cut and no longer capable of bearing any load. We climbed the ladder to enter the attic of this home in Farmington, Utah, and quickly realized the concern was valid. Much of the original framing had been cut into pieces and was now completely unable to serve its structural purpose.
The homeowner explained that when he purchased the house, he hired a contractor to add a living space and extend the roof. He showed us pictures documenting how the contractor built a new roof directly on top of the old one. New framing had been installed, and the original framing was no longer needed. Rather than removing all of the old framing, the contractor simply cut off the ends to make it clear that it was no longer load-bearing.
We also observed evidence of toenailing used to secure the new framing to the main beam located at the apex of the new roof. We explained that metal brackets should be installed at those connections to enhance safety and ensure structural integrity. While the cut framing may have appeared alarming at first glance, we were able to confirm that the home was safe and structurally sound.