Hi
I recently decided to investigate some cracks in the plaster upstairs in my house and discovered a rather alarming problem.
It appears my roof has spread causing the hipped side ( the side which runs parallel to the purlins) to push the top of the wall out.
This has happened along a stretch of around 5m 7 courses down from the timber that's holding the rafters. All the birds mouths appear attached to the wall plate ( not sure that's the right term for it) but the plate has slipped half off the inner skin and moved the inner skin out by around 10mm.
Having looked in my neighbours loft he has purlins that run at 90 to the main ones tied into the original roof ones, unfortunately the previous owner of my house removed these to do a half a**ed loft conversion some 15 years ago and has boarded the entire area which I think is the only thing now retaining that bit of roof.
My question is, I have enough room to lower the ceilings a fair bit so would adding some purlins at 90 to the originals underneath tied into the rafters along with putting noggins between be good enough to retain the now slowly moving roof.
This side of the house has the stair case running up the damaged wall so I was wondering if some lateral restraint could be added over the stair well to another wall to essentially box it all in and make it one solid lump rather that the flexible mess I currently have. I can afford to loose 50/60mm off the width so maybe something running full height of the wall then insulated and plasterboarded
I know a structural engineer needs to be consulted I just want to get an idea of a plan before booking People in and making a t*t of myself.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Ted
I recently decided to investigate some cracks in the plaster upstairs in my house and discovered a rather alarming problem.
It appears my roof has spread causing the hipped side ( the side which runs parallel to the purlins) to push the top of the wall out.
This has happened along a stretch of around 5m 7 courses down from the timber that's holding the rafters. All the birds mouths appear attached to the wall plate ( not sure that's the right term for it) but the plate has slipped half off the inner skin and moved the inner skin out by around 10mm.
Having looked in my neighbours loft he has purlins that run at 90 to the main ones tied into the original roof ones, unfortunately the previous owner of my house removed these to do a half a**ed loft conversion some 15 years ago and has boarded the entire area which I think is the only thing now retaining that bit of roof.
My question is, I have enough room to lower the ceilings a fair bit so would adding some purlins at 90 to the originals underneath tied into the rafters along with putting noggins between be good enough to retain the now slowly moving roof.
This side of the house has the stair case running up the damaged wall so I was wondering if some lateral restraint could be added over the stair well to another wall to essentially box it all in and make it one solid lump rather that the flexible mess I currently have. I can afford to loose 50/60mm off the width so maybe something running full height of the wall then insulated and plasterboarded
I know a structural engineer needs to be consulted I just want to get an idea of a plan before booking People in and making a t*t of myself.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Ted
