Thread: Is this just sap?

House built in 1958 with rafters. This looks like sap to me but thought I would call for second opinions.
sap.jpg

Is this just sap?

Yes.

Yes just sap. You can also tell the "slope of grain" by this leakage. I'd have to look it up but I think it's like 1-in10 or something. If you measure 10 inches down the board, the grain cannot be off more then 1 inch in a # 1 grade. In an older house (ex. 1958), chances are, the rafters would have split by now but in new construction I usually pay more attention. I know as inspectors, this goes beyond the scope but Inspections are an never ending learning process.

Another "Yes". Not a problem and in a few million years, might even be droplets of amber. Did you see any mosquitoes entombed in a drop? Just wonderin'.

I'm curious, is this grade stamped lumber? I am not an expert in lumber grading, but the wood probably qualifies as #3 or stud grade, which makes very poor rafter material.

The laws may have changed a little but it used to be for rafters, each piece had to be stamped #1, and only about 10 or 20 % was allowed to be #2 grade in the system as a whole. When I look at framing lumber I look for the slope of the grain first and then large knots, spike knots and knot clusters. A bunch of small little knots is good, it actually strenghtens the piece but any knots taking up 1/4 of the piece or more are starting to affect the piece. In the picture Tom put up, the rafters look in good condition. I'd move on to the next component......