ridge board / beam cracked

8 years ago

I recently bought a house and just noticed that above my garage the roof has a sag to it. I looked in the attic and noticed the ridge board was severely cracked. It looks like someone tried to sister two boards on either side but not sure how bad the crack was before they did that and if its getting any worse.

I am very upset my home inspector did not see this..

I had a friend of the family over who is a roofer and he took a look. He said its not a load baring board and he would just put some collar ties butted up against the ridge board to support any more sagging.

Does this sound ok? I was thinking of actually calling a structural engineer but everyone is like.. OMG they will cost an arm and a leg.. dont get involved with them..

any ideas.

Featured Answer

Joe T.

8 years ago

... a structural engineer but everyone is like.. OMG they will cost an arm and a leg.

And not calling one may cost a torso, a head, or worse. You really don't want to screw around with what sounds like failing structure. Replacing or properly repairing the ridge beam is probably going to be cheaper than finding a sound 20' vertical support beam.

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Comments (6)

worthy
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
A ridge board and a ridge beam are two different things--the first is non-structural, the second is structural.
Tru-Joist Technical Support

From your description, it sounds like you are dealing with a structural ridge beam. (Otherwise how could someone sister boards on either side?)

Either pay for a structural engineer. Or seek a real carpenter, not the neighbourhood handyman.
klem1
8 years ago
"He said its not a load baring board "

If that were the case,why did it break and sag?????? You don't need a structural engineer before having a framing carpenter look at it.
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christians1
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks. yeah the other side of the board does not even have a support.. so just the rafters are holding it up.

I cant answer what cracked it but correct.. i guess there is some structure support to it or it would have never cracked..

I guess collar ties will not hurt anything?

Or I wonder a 4x4 or one of those jack supports would be better? although it is probably 20' up from my garage floor to the ridge board. Any thoughts on a what to use for a 20' vertical support beam?

Thanks.
toxcrusadr
8 years ago
A good carpenter can probably sort this out, you don't necessarily need an engineer. You don't need an orthopedic surgeon for a sprained ankle, for example. JMHO, being neither carpenter nor engineer.
klem1
8 years ago
I agree tox,and doing nothing isn't the worst thing one could do,trying to jack it up and put a 20' support under it is if you must ask how it's done.