Roof Structures

Problems with wet rot and woodworm

We use lots of sketches and photos in our building surveys

1stAssociated.co.uk can provide help and advice with regard to building surveys, structural surveys, independent valuations, property surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects report, home buyers reports or any other property matters. We use lots of sketches and photos in our reports as the feedback we have from our clients is that the sketches and photos help them understand the reports. We, of course, like to meet you at the property during the survey and we are more than happy to talk to you about the reports. Please free phone 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat with one of our surveyors.

The roof structure or framework must be built in a manner which is able to give adequate strength to carry its own weight together with that of the roof covering and any superimposed loads such as snow, wind, foot traffic etc. During our surveys we come across many different types of roof structures.

Pitched Roofs – where do we start? Crucks Frame House The original Crucks frame house was little more than a roof as two timbers were leant against each other. From the photo you can see how the house was practically an upturned V. Back in the days when we used local materials known as vernacular architecture we would have cleared the area and peg fixed the roof structure and walls together. We are sure we once read that the timbers were actually weighted to make them bend in such a manner but we can't recall where we saw this statement made, it simply may be urban rumour, but it is something that we have come across during our time as a surveyor.

We don't come across many Crucks timber frame buildings however we do come across quite a lot of timber frame buildings that have peg fixings.

Pegged roof structure	Checking to see if the timber is soft

Georgian Roof Structures Georgian Roof Structures often have butterfly roofs. We believe this is because they didn't know how to span larger distances. The central valley gutter can cause all sorts of problems.
	Hidden Front Georgian roof behind parapet walls

Butterfly Roof

Butterfly roof	Rear of Georgian Roof showing a Butterfly roof structure configuration

Dampness in Butterfly roof	Butterfly roof	Butterfly roof structure take support from wall plate

This is the area where problems occur and dampness gets into the structure.

Valley gutter to a butterfly roof structure	Butterfly roof cross section

Mansard Roof Mansard roofs typically have problems with regards to the drainage to the front and rear but this does depend upon the detail. Please see the sketches of a typical mansard roof and typical problems that can occur to the parapet wall.
	Mansard roof just visible

Mansard roof	Parapet wall to mansard roof

The reason we put them in this section is that Mansard roofs are often added to Georgian properties where utilising the roof space and effectively giving a free extra storey to your building.

Victorian Roofs

It is true to say that all roofs up to this era had been hand cut and many, many Victorian roofs look like the hand cut sketch or the A frame sketch. On larger roofs the Victorians did use different methods which we won't go into here.

One of the main problems we come across with roof structures on Victorian properties is where the original slate has been replaced with heavier concrete tiles. This weight is difficult for the common rafters and the purlin to support. This can cause distortion in the roof structure. We have come across cases where the walls have been pushed outwards because of this.
	Roof spread pushes walls out

Purlin defined

Horizontal timbers which help give support to the common rafters which form the pitch of the roof.

Common rafters

Timbers which form the pitch of the roof.

Hand Cut Roof

A cut timber roof is purpose made and hand built on site. Over the years there have been many different types of hand cut roofs starting from the old original traditional timber frame roofs which were cut and put together without any nails or metal fixings which were there to be viewed and really were a work of art. You are more likely to have in your property, if it is pre-war, a cut timber roof that has been purpose made for the property which could look like either of our two sketches.

Hand cut roof

A Frame Cut Timber Roof
	A frame hand cut roof

War Years and Post War Years

Whilst these also did occur in earlier eras a hipped roof is very much in our mind something that is post war.

Hipped Roofs

The problem with the design of the hipped roof is that the roof sits on itself rather than onto a wall. Due to the construction of hipped roofs, they are prone to slipping or to dropping which can, in extreme cases, push the walls out.

Hipped roof	Hipped roof

Problems with hipped roofs

Split in an additional support given to a hipped roof.	Further additional supports on a hipped roof splitting

Close Boarding

Older style hipped roofs are sometimes close boarded which generally makes them a very strong roof however we do come across many cases where there is no close boarding. Close boarding however is a rarity and most hipped roofs don't have the luxury of close boarding.

Close boarded roof	Close boarded roof	Damp in close boarding of roof structure

Coupled Roof

Older roofs have what is known as coupled roofs, this is where the ridge is fixed with a peg.

Timber roof structure

Dating the age of the property the way the roof structure is finished

Whilst many roofs have been re-roofed over the years, (by this we mean not just the roof covering of slates or peg tiles or thatch, but the actual roof timbers themselves) in a modern property we will see a modern breathable protective underlayer (see photos below). The older roofs also have a breathable protective underlayer, this is known as blinding, this is where lime mortar is used to bed/seal the roof covering.

Blinding

Protective Underlayers From the 1940s onwards felts were used underneath tiles/slates to stop wind damage and water penetration, these in more recent years have been replaced with plastic equivalents. These are commonly known as underfelts but now the name is not really appropriate, as felt is not the only material used.
	Protective underlayer

Protective underlayer	Protective underlayer

Non-traditional construction roofs

This is where a structural frame was erected and the walls were then hung off it. The structural frames can be metal, concrete or wood. Prior to purchasing a non-traditional construction property it is critical that it has a building survey to ensure there is no major deterioration to the structural frame. Many mortgage companies will not lend on this type of property unless a structural survey is carried out.

Non-traditional construction metal frame house	Metal frame roof structure. Essential that vents are extracted to outside air to ensure rusting does not occur.	Rusting to a lightweight metal frame or damage or deterioration to the metal frame of a non-traditional house

Modern roof structures

Modern roofs are often known as engineered roofs. This is because the timber within them is minimal.

	Peg fixing on relatively modern timber

Peg fixing

Peg fixing	Peg fixing	Back of peg tile, although most of the pegs are missing and many have been replaced by nails that have now rusted, known as nail sickness

You may also find the following articles of interest:

Changing quick weather causing Spring house problems!

Leaking Dormer Roof

Modern timber frame properties and their common problems

Not so common pitches roofs

Problems with roof timbers

Blackened roof timbers The photographs show blackened timbers which occurred when the property had no first floor and fires/smoke went up into the roof.
	Old roof with blackened roof timbers from when there was an open fire

Damp in roof structures

This can affect any age of roof structure and often comes about due to lack of maintenance, poor detailing or more frequently today we are coming across problems which are caused by lack of knowledge and people not wanting to spend money on this area.

Wind and watertight

It is essential that roof timbers are kept as dry as possible and adequately ventilated to reduce the chances of dampness which creates an ideal environment for woodworm. Therefore any defective roof coverings should be repaired as soon as possible.
	Wind driven rain

Woodworm

Woodworm can be difficult to identify as a lot is hidden by such things as insulation and the configuration of the roof. Frass is t he chewed up sawdust that the beetle leaves behind. A light coloured dust and a light coloured hole indicates this is relatively recent. If it is a darker coloured frass, or darker coloured hole, it means it is older and the woodworm may have gone. If left untreated woodworm can cause structural problems . Often timbers will need to be replaced/strengthened in the property.

There is a section of the timber with woodworm that we could pull away,

Timbers with serious woodworm	Woodworm in timber and frass on top of knife	Woodworm in roof

Woodworm treatment

We are not a great lover of chemicals and would much prefer to use woodworm traps in the form of Anode Traps which is sticky backed paper that catches the live woodworm but in some cases chemical treatment may be the only way to get some form of guarantee to enable the future sale of a property. We have often found that woodworm treatment can cause more damage than good and also often it is required to evacuate the premises.

Ventilation

Drying out the roof by stopping the dampness getting in will mean the environment is not as good for the woodworm; you can do this via adding ventilation. Properties should have adequate ventilation and should not be insulated disproportionately to the ventilation as this can cause condensation and provide a damp environment for woodworm.

Mould in the roof	Vented airspace to roof

The weight of roof tiles can affect the roof structure

The roof structure needs to give adequate strength to carry its own weight together with that of the roof covering. Some roof coverings are heavier than others, i.e. concrete is heavier than slate. Of the tiles shown below the main culprits for adding too much weight to a roof are the concrete tiles. Other roof coverings are much lighter, particularly the natural slate and the man made slate.

Heavy concrete tiles	Roman tile	Pantiles

Clay tiles	Slate roof	Man made slates that were lifting on an undulating roof

Additional Support in Roofs

I Beam support When things go wrong with roof structures we have come across additions such as I beams that have been added or purlins which help give support to the common rafters forming the pitch of the roof. They also take some weight off the outer walls which is particularly important if they are moving.
	Roof structure with I beams

Independent Surveyors

If you want an independent expert opinion from an independent building surveyor then please phone us on 0800 298 5424 to have a free of charge friendly chat with one of our surveyors. We are happy to do valuations, building surveys, structural surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects reports, home buyers reports or unique building surveys.

We feel our surveys are quite unique, as they are written to your level of knowledge. The surveys include photos and sketches and definitions. The survey will also include an action required section and an estimate of costs in the executive summary. We are more than happy to meet you at the property whilst carrying out the survey to discuss any specific issues you may have or have a general chat about what we have found at the end of the survey.

Commercial Property

If you are looking for commercial property, whether it is freehold or leasehold, we would recommend a survey as this will prevent dilapidations claims in the long run. You may wish to look at our Dilapidations Website at www.DilapsHelp.com and for Disputes go to our Disputes Help site www.DisputesHelp.com , both of which we have been advised are very helpful!

We hope you found the article of use and if you have any experiences that you feel should be added to this article that would benefit others, or you feel that some of the information that we have put is wrong then please do not hesitate to contact us (we are only human).

The contents of the web site are for general information only and is not intended to be relied upon for specific or general decisions. Appropriate independent professional advice should be paid for before making such a decision.

All rights are reserved the contents of the web site is not to be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or part without the express written permission of www.1stAssociated.co.uk.