If your home's exterior walls appeared bowed or pushed out, check your home for roof spreading immediately. Roof spreading occurs when the support structures in a roofing system move out of place. A spreading roof can cause significant problems for your home over time. Learn more about roof spreading and why you should check your roof for it below.
What's Roof Spreading?
Roof spreading occurs when the load on the top of your roof becomes too great or heavy for the support structures below it. Your roof holds two types of loads: live loads and dead loads. Live loads describe things you place on your roof temporarily during the year, such as holiday fixtures and lights. Dead loads consist of things you must leave on your roof permanently, such as shingles, metal anchors, and gutters.
The weight created by both types of loads above can gradually push the trusses and rafters of your roof downward. The downward action can eventually bow out the walls of your home and weaken it. You might not notice the spreading in your roof until you view your home from the outside. The exterior walls may appear uneven with the rest of your home. The center of your roof may also appear dipped or sunken inward.
Roof spreading isn't something you should ignore. A spreading roof can place extensive weight on your home's foundation. If you call a roofing contractor right away, you can prevent your spreading roof from damaging your home.
How Do You Repair a Spreading Roof?
A roofing contractor can do several things to address the spreading in your roof, including:
- replacing the trusses in your roof
- redesigning the style of your roof
- install collar ties and beams in your roof
A contractor may replace the trusses and/or rafters in your home if they contain rot, termite damage, or something else that weakens them. A roofing contractor may only need to replace the damaged trusses and rafters in your roof to secure your home.
If the original design of your roof was unsuitable for your home, a contractor may suggest you remove the roof and choose a design or style that fits your home better. A roofer may use different materials for your new roof to strengthen it, such as stronger trusses or better shingles.
If none of the options above appeal to you, a roofer can install or place collar ties and beams in your roof. Ties and beams create additional support in your roof so that it stops spreading. A contractor can discuss the pros and cons of adding collar ties and beams to your roof when they visit your home.
Learn more about roof spreading and how to stop it by contacting a roofing contractor from a company like Tri-County Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc today.
