Improper Framing on Gambrel Roof Dormer - Help

9 years ago

I am under contract to purchase a home. To be clear, this issue isn't one that I think will stop me from buying the home but I do want to be able to come up with a game plan to fix it once I close.

In short, it appears an owner two owners ago wanted to install dormers in garage's gambrel roof in order to put in some windows. His sons installed a half-pipe to skateboard in the upstairs of the garage (the half-pipe is still there) and my guess is that they needed more daylight.

In installing the dormers, they chopped off the roof truss. They did not install headers above the windows. They scabbed in a 2x6 to give the appearance of continuing the framing of the roof put it does not provide support.

All of the roof trusses are 2x6 with 2x8s sistered. There is a 2x6 tie that goes from the front to the back of the garage on each rafter.

You can see in the photo, it is more clear on the right dormer, that the roof has a bit of a smile to it.

What do I do?

If it makes a difference, here are a few other points:
1. The three left bays of the garage have a cement floor, the right bay (a wall separates this from the rest of the garage) has a dirt floor. Block foundation around the whole garage.

2. There are wood beams, (2) 2x8s, holding up a beam that provides support to the 2nd floor floor joists between the 1st and 2nd, and 2nd and third garage doors. The wall that separates the three cement bays from the dirt floor bay is directly below the 2nd dormer.

Thanks for any help.

Comments (4)

JeremyDL
Original Author
9 years ago
Here is the cut off rafter.
snoonyb
9 years ago
Interesting.

These appear to be a site constructed and assembled truss.
I would install another gusset on the other side of the undisturbed truss, fill the space between with a block, and hang a single or double 2X6 to carry both the existing and rafter extensions.
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User
9 years ago
I would spend a huge amount of time searching for the other (inevitable) DIY kludges that aren't as evident as this. And in looking down at the local permit office for proof that this (and the other kludges) weren't permitted. (Obviously!) Then I'd be using all of that info for a big price reducton if I were brave enough to tackle the unknowns.
renovator8
9 years ago
What you show are bents of rafters connected by gusset plates so that wind loads are transferred to the floor plate through bending stresses in the rafters. A truss would use chords in triangular configurations so the wind forces would be transferred to the floor plate through tension and compression forces in the members. The bents are less stable and rely greatly on the size of the rafters so deleting one of the bents can put unacceptable bending stress on the rafters of the adjacent bents.

At each side of the dormer the bents should probably be doubled and a horizontal header installed between them or vertical posts could be installed to take the loads directly to the floor if it is strong enough.

I doubt this structure would be allowed today so altering it may have created a problem that could be expensive to repair.

You should ask the owners to hire an engineer and repair the damage to the structure and provide evidence that the repair is acceptable to the local building department before you buy the house. The records of previous permits should be available for your review at the building department.

This post was edited by Renovator8 on Sun, Jul 20, 14 at 23:44