Christopher:
Thanks, that was exactly my point. Basically what the new law is stating (as explained to me by one of the inspectors) is that they will take a yard stick and hold it up to a beam or post parallel to the checks. They will then measure the width of the checks along that line. If any one check exceeds 1/2" in width, then that would be considered a structural defect and the homeowner could request a replacement beam/post as a remedy. This would apply for ten years from the date of construction. The inspector was unsure about the depth of the checks (more critical in my opinion). It appears that the law was written in haste and according to the 2003 IRC rules and did not take into account solid wall construction or timber frames. The pat answer that I'm given is "That is a business decision that you will have to make!", when quizzed about any timber frame exceptions. In other words, if the current homeowner wants any beams or posts replaced that have checks in them, they could force the builder to do just that. Not wanting to sound like an alarmist here, but this is a concern of mine.
