Sagging Ridge Line On Roof

A sagging roof line may original from the ceiling s horizontal rafters.

Sagging ridge line on roof.

When properly designed the loads in a rafter roof design transfer the loads down as well but when the ridge beam is undersized it will sag causing the rafters to exert lateral pressure on the perimeter walls. Ridge beam or ridge board sagging or damaged roofs may sag because a ridge beam or ridge board is cracked or damaged. When the framing of the roof is put together quite frequently two of the ceiling rafters will be fixed together as this will create a much longer span. Think of your roof as a triangle.

Check the ceiling for sagging by attaching a string on one end of the beam and run it along the bottom edge of the beam. This may have been caused by any number of factors. So you should start by inspecting the roof from the under side or attic. As the roof ridge sagged downwards red line and arrow the centers of the front and rear walls of this little house bulged outwards telegraphing that movement into the outwards lean of the front porch as the front walls of the home also pushed the porch roof outwards blue line and arrow.

The first step is to the basement first. When the roof framing is assembled two ceiling rafters are often joined together to create a longer span. Sagging rafters may be the result of having framed the roof with lumber of dimensions smaller than current building standards such as using 2x4s or 2x6 s or there may be damage to the framing from insects or rot. Sagging ridge originally we were going to replace the ridge and fix the blown out walls customer finally realized it wasn t going to happen his way he is a retired engineer so we ripped off the roof and started over.

If the line does not continually follow the bottom of the beam and the bottom of the beam is below the line the beam is sagging. When the roof joints and rafters are improperly constructed this can lead to a sagging roof later on. And then there is the puzzle of the vaulted ceiling. Typically they are lapped and then toe nailed together in its center so that the correct length can be achieved.

Sagging roof lines can originate with the horizontal ceiling rafters.