Broken roof joist mystery

[Harry Bloomfield]

Looking at it again the beam coming up is perfectly square the the walls. The attached point in the apex is not in line. I hope that makes sense as I can’t get a good enough photo to show it so have done a quick and crude drawing.

I see what you are getting at.

So that begs another question - Why did they change the spacing for just that one timber?

The metal jointer looks as if it has been torn apart by a sideways force against the timber in one of your earlier photos.

 

[NicKarla]

I know, it is a bit of a mystery as to what is going on. Could the slightly odd/off spacing be due to the velux window on the other side?

The metal is torn but I can’t see how it would have been torn from a force after installation as the lower beam is true to the wall. I can only think that they forced it when installing it to allow it to join up to the top of the roof.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I know, it is a bit of a mystery as to what is going on. Could the slightly odd/off spacing be due to the velux window on the other side?

The metal is torn but I can’t see how it would have been torn from a force after installation as the lower beam is true to the wall. I can only think that they forced it when installing it to allow it to join up to the top of the roof.

It makes no sense in regards to the Velux on the other side of the roof. Could you take a photo of the roof from the outside, looking at the side the odd timber is on and perhaps mark on the photo roughly where it is?

I agree the metal must have been torn before installation.

 

[NicKarla]

This is where the beam lies. To me it makes a bit more sense why they have had to put it in wonkily.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

This is where the beam lies. To me it makes a bit more sense why they have had to put it in wonkily.

Thanks and yes - I didn't realise it was on the same side as the Velux. Still seems an odd way of doing it though and I would want to brace it.

They could have simply moved the whole structure over to accommodate the Velux, rather than weakening it by breaking the metal joint. The velux cannot have been an after thought, because the first timber up from the eaves is square.

 

[NicKarla]

Yeah, it is an odd one and agree about bracing it.

 

[NicKarla]

A bit of a sag going on far end the other side of the second velux

Oh, no. I didn’t notice that at all. While it does look slightly exaggerated it is noticeable. I looked up in the loft at that area and it is constructed differently, probably because of the lack of roof on the other side (see my previous post).
I’m hoping that the ‘sag’ is due to the different way it was built, as per my picture, and what I am seeing is the settling difference between the 2...although that may all be wishful thinking.

 

[datarebal]

Strange trusses.. has timber been removed ?

 

[NicKarla]

Not that I can see.

I’m guessing there is some reason that haven’t had in vertical supports so I was thinking about adding 45 degree supports against the wall and each other such as this. Any thoughts as to whether this would be a good idea?

 

[NicKarla]

Thought I would give a quick update.

I have had a reputable construction/roofing company have a look. Their report is pretty much what has been said here. It’s been badly made but the bottom line is it’s not going anywhere now.

The ‘broken’ joint was a bodge when they built the house as they mismeasured the velux window but doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. The sagging part is, in his opinion, settlement due to the poorly constructed end. Again, he’s happy that where it is now is where it’s staying.

He has suggested that if I did nothing it would be fine but for piece of mind I could brace the timbers which is what I will do. I have some c24 4x2 which will span between the quite nicely.