Sill Plate question.

[lkfoss]

I am having a house built and I routinely check the construction. A friend who is a general contrator went with me and noticed something I didn't.

On a eight foot section exterior wall that is 6" wide, the studs are 2x6s, the top plate is 2x6; however, the sill plate is a 2x4. Furthermore, it is not secured with the emeded bolts because they fall just past the 2x4. I can't think of any reason why this would be done this way. I chalk it up to poor construction.

To complicate issues, we are a week away from sheetrock.

I contend that this effects how the load is carried to the foundation and should be fixed.

Should this be fixed and how?

[doyle]

So the 2x4 at the bottom is offset to one side causing a 2" gap on one side of the wall? Sounds to me like they ran out of 2x6's. The house framing will have to be inspected before drywall. I would hope the inspector would catch that and make them fix it before signing off.

I wouldn't think this would affect the structural integrity of the house, even if it does look crappy. Maybe they could just drill new anchor bolts through the 2x4 bottom plate.

[Rich]

I guess my question is - Why in the **** would someone do that? It just doesn't make any sense to me. I mean who says that it's ok? The superintendent, a foreman, definately not the homeowner, not industry standard.

[Tom R]

I would 'point' it out to the inspector. They should at least 'set' epoxied anchors through the 2 X 4, and I'd also make them 'rip' some 'actual' 1 1/2" X 2" filler pieces for the 'gaps'. You'll need these 'down the road' for siding (if the gaps are exterior), otherwise the 'future' subs will be nailing into mid-air. And needless to say, watch him like a 'hawk'.