Roof Support Wood Beams Separated. Problem?

Comments(7)

• 
  Lufos21st March, 2004

  There are several solutions. But I need more information. Please describe just what you see.
  
  Thanks Lucius I await your post.

• 
  gammaray21st March, 2004

  On attic several of the vertical supports for the rafters had separated about 1 inch. It is a semi-attached and this happened on the shared wall.

• 
  gammaray23rd March, 2004

  Thanks, Lufos, for your reply.
  
  Inspection report just came back, read "structural problem in attic where the vertical studs supporting the main ridge beam along the main bearing wall are found to be separating or pulling away."
  
  Is this costly to fix?

• 
  snoonan23rd March, 2004

  Check with your local building inspector. It could just be a matter of installling shims between the bearing wall and the rafters. That would be the inexpensive fix. Your building inspector might want you to find out why it seperated and if it is a situation of the foundation settling that could be expensive if you have to underpin the foundation to stop the settlement. Need more information. Are the walls cracked in the lower levels? Is there any cracks in the basement walls (if it has a basement) If it';s craw space can you get access? If so you need to get in there and see if the foundation walls are cracked. If the settlement has stopped you should be able to get away with just shimming the rafters/trusses.

• 
  gammaray25th March, 2004

  Thanks so much, Snoonon for your generous advice.
  
  This house has a walk-in. It does not have a basement and foundations showed no cracks. Looks like it's going to be an inexpensive fix.
  
  The deal goes on... unless there's more to this.

• 
  snoonan25th March, 2004

  gammaray, Make sure you checked the interior walls for cracks! If there are cracks get back to me.

• 
  gammaray5th April, 2004

  Thanks fellow TCI members, especially Snoonan.
  
  I couldn't find any major cracks outside. And inside is finished. What should I do?