Is your roof sagging? A sagging roof may not look attractive – but it’s worse than an eyesore. It could be hazardous for you and your family. It’s likely a sign the structural integrity of your home is at risk. Read on to discover how to fix a sagging roof yourself.
What Causes a Sagging Roof?
A sagging roof isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm. You should expect sagging over time – especially if your home is older. However, if you notice premature sagging, you might have one of the following problems.
Water Damage
Your roof protects you from the elements, meaning it battles against wind, rain, and hail all day, every day. Over time, the weather can cause a great deal of water damage to your roof.
Homeowners should pay careful attention to water, snow, and ice resting on their roofs. Imperfections in the roof surface and damaged shingles could lead to water damage, resulting in a curved or sagging roof.
Excess Weight
If your roof gets exposed to a lot of rain, snow, and ice, it might struggle with the weight. While your roof should withstand a specific maximum weight load, it could struggle with excess weight. Too much weight could lead to sagging or even total collapse.
Poor Installation and Materials
Your roof is only as strong as the materials used. If your roof materials are subpar or were poorly installed, they may sag prematurely. For instance, badly constructed roof joints and rafters, inadequate storm bracing, or a poorly designed gutter system might cause your roof to sag under its weight.
Age
Even if you used the best materials and hired expert roofers, no roof lasts forever. You should expect a well-built roof to last between 15 and 70 years. However, if your roof is nearing the end of its life, you may need a sagging roof repair.
Is a Sagging Roof Dangerous?
A sagging roof isn’t just unsightly; it is also potentially dangerous for your home and its inhabitants. Roofs are supposed to be straight. Therefore, a sagging roof structure signifies that the structural integrity is compromised. If you don’t get your sagging roof fixed, your roof may collapse.
It’s sensible to sort out roof sagging problems as soon as possible to avoid a costly roof replacement.
Tools and Materials
What will you need to complete your sagging roof repair?
- Flashlight
- Steel “L” channel
- Drill
- Chisel
- Lag bolts
- Measuring tape
- Bolts, nuts, and washers
How to Fix a Sagging Roof
If you don’t want to contact a roofing professional, you can repair your roof’s surface yourself. Follow our steps to fix a sagging roof.
1. Check the Beams
Firstly, you must check the state of the structural beams. If you have a termite problem, it’s best to contact a professional roofer. However, if your beams are in good shape, you can fix your sagging roof yourself.
2. Inspect the Roof
You must inspect the rest of the roof structure. First, look from the street. An outside view should quickly reveal any sagging. Second, take a flashlight to your attic space to examine the extent of the roof damage. Look for cracks, rotting, and breakage in the roof rafters and trusses.
3. Drill Holes
Once you’ve found the cause of the damage, you need to fix it. The hardest part is repairing the rafters or truss to its original place. The best way to approach this is to get a steel “L” channel and drill evenly spaced holes in the base and side.
4. Remove Chips and Splinters
Clear away any wood pieces or fragments that may have splintered from the truss or roof rafter. Broken trusses and wood splinters might get in the way when realigning the repaired rafter or truss.
Use a chisel or reciprocating saw to cut away the broken chips and splinters.
5. Mount to a Rafter
Find the damaged truss or rafter and mount the “L” channel with lag bolts. Then, place bolts and washers in the side holes on the “L” channel. Measure the gap between the “L” channel and the broken rafter. Using a lag bolt longer than the gap between the “L” channel and the rafter is a good idea.
6. Add Bolts
Finally, add two lag bolts to the bottom of the “L” channel and tighten them. Tighten the furthest bolt head first and move towards the front bolt, tightening until the truss or rafter fits close against the steel.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Sagging Roof?
The cost to fix a sagging roof depends on several factors. The extent of the damage and the type of issue will impact the costs. The price might rise significantly if there is structural damage to the beams. A sagging roof repair could cost between $750 and $2,000.
Although, a complete roof replacement will cost a lot more. However, it will be worth it in the long run. Don’t put off repairing or replacing your sagging roof out of price fears.
How Do I Keep My Roof From Sagging?
You should look after your roof and perform regular health checks to avoid costly repairs. While we can’t avoid all damage, there are a few steps you can take to prevent your roof from sagging prematurely.
Usually, a sagging roof means you have insufficient internal roof framing or undersized rafters with excess weight. With a weak roof, surface rain, snow, ice, and wind add excessive stress. Therefore, the best way to avoid a sagging roof is to ensure the entire roof is installed correctly. Hire a trustworthy company and use quality materials.
Fixing a Sagging Roof
If you notice your roof sagging, it’s best to sort it out as soon as possible. A sagging roof will only worsen over time as added weight and stress make the problem more expensive. While fixing a sagging roof might cost a lot, it’s worth it in the long run.