Surveyors report - Roof structure Issue

[Sonic70]

Hi All,

Hope I am posting this in the correct section. My nephew has just had a survey done on a 1970s/80s house he is purchasing, the house is of brick and block construction with a pitched roof of concrete roof tiles. In the report the following has been mentioned by the surveyor:

'In common with many houses of this age the trusses are not properly secured to the walls and there is no diagonal bracing between the trusses. This makes the roof and gable wall more susceptible to movement during high winds. There is no sign of movement but end straps and diagonal bracing should be introduced soon after purchase as a precaution against future damage.'

I would like to know if the end straps and diagonal bracing are really required as the roof has been up at least 40 years.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Maybe. Maybe not.

Retro-fitting gable end straps

My 20yo trussed roof doesn't have any straps on the end-of-terrace end. Is it worth fitting them? The obvious answer is that if it's still standing after 20 years then probably not but I wonder what the not-obvious answers are. From a bit of googling it looks like they're supposed to installed...

www.diynot.com

And no, I never bothered.

 

[stevie888]

Highly unlikely to be an issue after all these years (and weather) so essentially CYA by surveyor.

Does mortgage ride on this?

Easy enough to stick in a couple of lines of 1x4

 

[Sonic70]

Thanks both of you. I also thought CYA which seems standard for these reports.

 

[Sonic70]

At moment the mortgage people have yet to comment on report.

 

[mrrusty]

Since both are remedied for next to b all and a bit of time with a hammer and some nails, I wouldn't fret either way. I agree CYA

 

[cdbe]

They normally fail after 41 years!

Seriously, weather (allegedly) getting worse and the mortar on the gable getting worn and possibly loosing adhesion over the years. Once that gable masonry cracks you have a world of trouble. And for a few hours work he'll have a tick in the box when he comes to sell.

 

[Sonic70]

The mortgage people have not made any mention of the roof work needing to be done as part of the offer. My nephew tells me he doesn't want to argue with seller about it and so will just get it done himself when he has the cash.

 

[foxhole]

Up to you if you repair , but a roof does not get stronger with age .