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Are birdsmouths allowed anymore

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#41 ·
JLC has an article on this subject this month. The alternatives are a pain. Fastener schedules, engineered bracket specs...not to mention the the structural hurdles. Birdsmouths are the best way to tie in and ensure structural integrity.
 
#43 ·
I carry a code book in my truck. When ever I have an inspector say that is not allowed or it is against code and I know I am right I hand him the book and ask him to show me. Most of the time I am proven right and he has to pass me. Now that sets the tone for the rest of the project. For that reason I pick and choose my battles carefully. After all he has the final say.
 
#45 ·
Golden view said:
Back to OP, how could you get by without one? What's the rafter to bear on, a single point of edge contact? THAT should fail an inspection.
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The OP made and only has 1 post and has since disappeared so I doubt we have the whole story. It simply does not sound right at all. There are millions of stick built roofs in the US with tens of millions of birds mouths that are working just fine. Just don't over notch if you are going to have a lot off rafter tail and all should be fine.
 
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#46 ·
TNTSERVICES said:
I was told the burden of disproof is on my shoulders.
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This is how it works:

1) The inspector should give you the code section if you ask for it.
2) If you don't agree, discuss it like professionals.
3) If you still don't agree you have the right to an appeal
4) If the appeals board does not agree with the inspector then you were right.

We rarely get appeals but never lost one because we never let it get that far without trying to hash it out civil like.

We all make mistakes and we should learn from them. I have said it before and will say it again. If I am wrong, prove me wrong and I will be happy to back down and admit you were right and I was wrong. If you challenge the code official in a professional manner, someone will learn something so it is a positive thing. Code officials should never hold a grudge.
 
#47 ·
jar546 said:
This is how it works:

1) The inspector should give you the code section if you ask for it.
2) If you don't agree, discuss it like professionals.
3) If you still don't agree you have the right to an appeal
4) If the appeals board does not agree with the inspector then you were right.

We rarely get appeals but never lost one because we never let it get that far without trying to hash it out civil like.

We all make mistakes and we should learn from them. I have said it before and will say it again. If I am wrong, prove me wrong and I will be happy to back down and admit you were right and I was wrong. If you challenge the code official in a professional manner, someone will learn something so it is a positive thing. Code officials should never hold a grudge.
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That may be how it should work, but it's not how it does work. And now with these contracted inspectors, forget about it.
 
#51 ·
loneframer said:
I don't overcut mine because 95% or better are exterior stairs built from pressure treated lumber and are almost always visible from the underside. Other than appearance and trying to avoid a moisture/dirt trap, I see no harm in overcutting stairs either.
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I have seen many triangles for stairs break off due to being over cut. A home builder I framed some houses for had a router template that all the framing crews shared between us for cutting the stringers.

When I cut stairs I cut them with a circ saw and finish the cuts with a jigsaw. A birdsmouth I usually just overcut with the circ saw as it's a small notch.
 
#52 ·
mrcharles said:
I have seen many triangles for stairs break off due to being over cut. A home builder I framed some houses for had a router template that all the framing crews shared between us for cutting the stringers. When I cut stairs I cut them with a circ saw and finish the cuts with a jigsaw. A birdsmouth I usually just overcut with the circ saw as it's a small notch.
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If you actually look at a stringer closely you'll see that the grain runs in a way that can be broken easily.

Even with your method I could still snap off any one of the stringer teeth with my bare hands. 2x conventional lumber stringers are fragile until completed as a system.
 
#53 ·
mrcharles said:
I have seen many triangles for stairs break off due to being over cut. A home builder I framed some houses for had a router template that all the framing crews shared between us for cutting the stringers. When I cut stairs I cut them with a circ saw and finish the cuts with a jigsaw. A birdsmouth I usually just overcut with the circ saw as it's a small notch.
Click to expand...
Over cutting is more about making the remaining "beam depth" insufficient than keeping the "teeth" in place.
 
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