Wobbling Roof - How do you assess/fix it (UK) Surveyors/Engineers?

Question

Live in an 8 year old house, the roof is quite tall (3 storey property).

Built 2004, noticed bump in the roof, NHBC came out, inspected it and "fixed it". Unfortunatelty their contractors cut through 4 roof trusses without engineers being on site. Of Course they have all failed.

Also, In addition to this - when we have high winds the loft room (thats how it was built) completely shakes (I believe its the roof) and I can see a visible tremmor of things on my desk - each time there is a gust of wind.

The questions I urgently need to know:

1. How do they test to see why the loft room is shaking under windy conditions

2. Is there a set procedure for testing the structural integrity of a room ?

Oh forgot to mention, the roof has not been strapped to one of the walls.

I have been told that if the roof is moving, its likely to be that the anchors of the roof have not been tied into the wall below the roof but not sure if this is true.

Answer 1

This rather complex. A bump in the roof would suggest something amiss on either side of the bump. Roof trusses are so designed to do the job they were designed for (twenty years probably) and should never be cut through - this would invalidate the guarantee. The NHBC gives a guarantee of 10 years and because you have complained within that time they must put it right, no matter how long it takes. Because the trusses have been cut through the manufacturer cannot be held to account, which is of no concern to you. You say the roof has been strapped to one of the walls. Not knowing the design of the roof I can't be sure but I would suspect that Bat Straps (they should be spaced at certain distances along the wall) are in place to ensure rigidity. I don't know if there is enough of them. The fact that there is visible evidence of undue movement when the wind blows would suggest bad design. The architect who designed the house will automatically have insurance in place to cover him in such circumstances. Don't let anybody off the hook. You have paid top dollar and you need to be assured that when you move you will not loose out because of someones negligibility. You are not expected to know about construction but don't let anyone brow-beat you because they know more. If you don't get complete satisfaction consult a building surveyor (if you know one) or a structural engineer (but he costs money). I wish I knew where you lived and if you lived local I could advise. Remember, the building trade stinks (my terminolgy) but you do have the NHBC and they can't run away. Good luck.

Answer 2

shame you didn't post a pic no way can anyone properly answer without seeing the roofs construction... But keep this in mind it's totally normal for roofs to have some movement in VERY HIGH WINDS it's a timber roof ... ... Modern cheap pre fabricated roofs rely on pathetically week timber and cutting one peace could make it very unsafe if not properly repaired but again I haven't a clue what your construction is or what was done



Answer to your question is pay a surveyor to do a independent report on it...if it's damming then you have all you need to take things further through a lawyer



I used to live in a 3 story house that had loft rooms... Even though the roof had a huge 12 x 8 "A" frame, 4 massive pearlings and 2 foot solid slate walls the whole house would still feel like it was moving in very strong gusts of winds .... in the loft rooms you could really feel the wind hitting the roof... The house was 100 year+ old though

Answer 3

The problem you have is a structural problem , the best person to assess the problems that you have and to design a solution is a structural engineer , his report would provide you with details if you brought any case against another party . A local engineer would also know a local quality contractor who could carry out the work to rectify the work under his supervision.

The question is which structural engineer to employ , and its here that experience is more important than cost. The best person to use is the consulting engineer that the local council use . If you call the council and ask for building control , you will be put through to one of the local building inspectors , he will know the councils engineer , as he is there expert . Its this engineer that checks all the local works that are built in your area , and he could represent you if you take the problem to court. Best of luck

Answer 4

You need the advice of a Chartered Surveyor who will be able to assess exactly what is wrong with the roof. People on here do not have that expertise and in any case can't see the roof and therefore have no idea what is wrong. When looking for a Chartered Surveyor I would ask as local estate agent who they would recommend, make sure they are properly qualified look for the letters RICS after their name. Do not be afraid to ask the surveyor what qualifications and experience they have.

Answer 5

Check whether there is any sign of timber beginning to decay. For example, is there any sign of excessive cracking or 'softness'? Timber may appear sound from the outside but, if you are not sure, poke it with a screwdriver to see if it is soft underneath (to do this you may need to look underneath the deck and at where timber meets or runs across other timber).

Check the tightness of bolted connections on the safety barrier, and ensure they are securely connected to the deck structure. The barrier should not wobbleCheck the tightness of all other bolted connections to ensure nuts are secure. These will be between diagonal braces and timber poles or posts, where timber posts and beams are bolted together, or where timber beams are bolted to a concrete anchor point.Check that galvanised steel bolts and other metal connections are not corroding.Where the deck is constructed with a steel frame, the framework needs to be protected from corrosion. Spots of rust should be thoroughly cleaned and a protective coating applied. If the rust is extensive, you may need to obtain professional advice, for example from a chartered structural engineerWhere movement of a car deck is noticeable or seems excessive, or if there is noticeable rotting or corrosion of structural timbers or steelwork, you should close off the deck and not allow it to be used. Immediately get professional advice about what you should do.

Answer 6

I have no longer observed this Sid; nevertheless, I feel you to be honest, sincere, and forthright. That mentioned, the one logical conclusion that one would reach to give an explanation for this anomaly would the skillful motion of your whanker, inflicting vibrational waves in the localized time/area continuum.