Damaged Roof Beam

[Viking jim]

Hi Guys,

I've been lurking for a little while and felt it was time to stop ignoring the following.

I recently moved into a property, bungalow with a loft conversion & somehow missed the damaged beam/remedial work done to it in the remaining loft space. I have no idea how I missed it!

The images should be a lot clearer than my ramblings.

I just want to know whether the work appears to be adequate & that the roof isn't going to fall down anytime soon

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance

James

 

[^woody^]

Those splits are indicative of the timber shrinking from drying too quickly. They wont normally affect the performance of the purlin, and tend to not go on splitting for ever. It looks like a new purlin, and its a common thing if so. No good in a longboat, but OK for a roof

Same issue with the bolted joint, where the timber has twisted from drying. Its a bit of a crap repair, but if the movement has stopped, then it will do.

Presumably the roof is OK externally?

For monitoring, you could run a string line along the bottom edge of the purlin, on a nail or screw at each end and keep the string just off the purlin and tight. You will then be able to see any future bending of the purlin compared to the line.

On the joint, some measurements at the same place, or mark the edge of one of the sides with some black felt to check that the twist is not ongoing.

Check it over the next four seasons to see how its going

 

[Viking jim]

Hi Woody, thanks for the reply.

That's reassuring to hear.

Externally the roof appears to be fine.

I'll follow your advice & see how it goes. It would have been nice to know when the work had been done but I guess we have to make these sorts of mistakes to learn from them

Thanks again

 

[datarebal]

there is no mistake really. the issue has been dealt with by others..