Roof Sagging Due To Improper Wall Support

Non foundational reasons for a sagging roof two or more roofs on one structure spell trouble.

Roof sagging due to improper wall support.

Roofs sag due to lack of structural support for their load which refers to anything they are expected to bear. It includes snow and ice the roofing materials and the sheathing and even the wind. Should the bottom cord of one or more trusses be sagging or damaged it may be reflected in a sagging ceiling or if the roof is over loaded to heavy then the downward pressure may cause the sagging. The home may not be designed to support the weight of this extra roofing material and it will sag.

Weight related sagging can also be caused by design flaws that leave the roof unable to support its own weight. We include sketches of collar ties rafter ties and structural ridge beams as well as illustrations of collapsing and collapsed structures where these roof rafter ties were lost or omitted. Without the proper support of rafter ties or a structural ridge a typical gable or sloped roof will sag downwards while pushing the building walls outwards towards a catastrophe. Failures of other supporting systems including the walls and house foundation.

Improper roof design or construction structural damage to the roof wall and foundation failure and environmental factors like strong winds or heavy snowfall are some of the issues that can lead to sagging. A ridge that droops in the middle forming that unintentional western design feature likely is due to undersized rafters and or missing or inadequate internal bracing rafter or collar ties. A roof rake can help you deal with lighter snowfall. Sagging ceiling could be an indication of framing issues some of which could be related to the roof.

Additionally if your roofer has used material that is much heavier than your previous roof it can sag for the same reason. This happens when proper structural support was not installed to carry the weight that the removed wall was holding. Warning signs that a load bearing wall has been removed. Keep your attic well insulated and ventilated to prevent ice dams which can cause roof leaks.

If a wall is removed between two rooms or even moved to enlarge a room then the ceiling may sag.