Roof beams

[jadel]

My property has a large crack in one of the beams of the A Frame. We have been advised to place a brace on which has been done but one company has told us that replacement may be our only option. Any ideas on Cost? Would it be possible to have another beam running alongside the cracked one to help structure?

[Maude]

The term A frame is not understood. What are you talking about - the roof?

[sddsddean]

If you mean your roof truss, I would have thought you should be able to get away with splicing the rafter. How old is you house? Have you got gangnail trusses?(Look at where the ends of the bits of timber come together. Is there a rectangular metal plate about 12" x 8" with holes in at the joints). Also, need to know if the crack is running the length of the rafter. If you splice it, you can either use a timber at least the same size as the existing, or use a metal plate, but both these depend on the extent of the crack. Please try and describe it a bit better.

[jadel]

Yes this is in the roof. The property is over 200 years old! Parts of the roof are extremely old and in the past has had death watch beetle & woodworm. I now have insurance from Rentokil - they found it all to be dead. I don't know about the gangnail trusses - I'll have a look. The crack does run down part of the length of the rafter. It's difficult to describt - easier on photo. Thanks for your replies - v.useful

[sddsddean]

If its 200 years old, it won't be a gangnail truss. Is your property listed? If so, you will need planning permission (just thought I'd mention this 'cos of the age). I would have thought you could still splice a timber on to it, but due to the age of the timber, it could be tricky. You need to find a really good carpenter who knows what they are talking about. (Just thought, try phoning the National Trust, they may be able to help track one down, as it is an old building.) Otherwise, you could just try looking in Yellow Pages, or even try your local timber yard (not Travis Perkins or Jewsons or whatever, a proper timber yard). They will know who the good carpenters are in the area.

[Maude]

Before doing anything at all it is very important that both the covering and the structure of your roof is thoroughly inspected to ascertain why the rafter has become distressed and the consequences. A split in a rafter weakens it considerably and leads to widespread other defects adversely affecting the repose of your roof. The inspection should be by a Chartered Surveyor, whose report will also prescribe the remedy. Under no circumstances should you employ a carpenter of any sort to interfere with or cut into the defective rafter. That is silly and dangerous advice. You have installed some form of temporary support which should be enough for the moment. Your next step must be the inspection by a Chartered Surveyor.