One of the many issues you may run into when maintaining your roof is sagging. In order to remedy this, it’s important to identify the underlying cause. In this post, professional roofer Residential Concerns talks about roof sagging, possible reasons behind it and the best ways to fix it.
Why Does Your Roof Sag?
Typically residential roofing systems sag when they’re forced to bear excessive weight. This could be due to snow and ice, wind pressure, and sheathing and/or roofing materials (ex. excessive layering of shingles). Other causes may include improper design, construction or modifications to the roof, age or environmental factors, damage to structural elements or failure of other supporting systems, like the walls and house foundation.
Types of Roof Sagging
There are several types of sagging, each caused by different things. Drooping ridges in the middle is usually caused by undersized rafters and/or problems with internal bracing. Sagging on one whole side or plane can also be caused by undersized rafters. A roof that dips in between rafters or trusses may be the result of sheathing that is too thin for the span; simply replacing the old sheathing with better materials will fix this.
How Do You Fix a Sagging Roof?
There are different ways to fix a traditional rafter-style roof frame depending on the problem and its severity. You could bolster and reinforce the framing internally, but it may be best to tear off the old sheathing and install larger rafters while the roofing is exposed if the roofing materials need replacement anyway. Truss-frame roofs can be remedied with the aforementioned methods, but addressing widespread sagging related to the framing is best discussed after a thorough roof inspection. Alterations to the original construction of any roof type should be looked at carefully by an experienced professional.
The best way to avoid these costly problems and future headaches for any roof is proper roof inspection and maintenance. Residential Concerns is your ideal partner for all your projects. Give us a call at (770) 304-1311 or fill out our contact form to get started.