Garage Roof Trusses Sagging

If your ceiling drywall is sagging between joists sometimes called pillowing it s probably on the top floor and attached to the roof trusses.

Garage roof trusses sagging.

Usually trusses are put 24 inches apart. If so i bet the installers used 1 2 in. Half inch drywall can sag if it s hung under roof trusses that are spaced every 24 in. Drywall instead of 5 8 in.

However it is important to fix the rafters before doing any other work to the roof. If you have traditional site built roof framing your storage capacity depends on the design of the framing. This repair will keep the trusses from sagging. However a bigger problem is nailing the new web member to the ridge peak of the truss and there will be 2 members nailed in this location.

Finally make sure stored items are securely locked in place. If the framing is sound and problems are not found elsewhere but the roof still sags the problem might have originated because of poor installation of the plywood sheathing or shingles. Even ceiling cracks can be caused by damaged trusses or downward pressures. One good thing about wood construction is that failures occur slowly and with a crack or split in the wood.

When the framing of the roof is put together quite frequently two of the ceiling rafters will be fixed together as this will create a much longer span. You may find that several are in need of straightening and that some of the sheathing must be replaced. Sagging rafters may be the result of having framed the roof with lumber of dimensions smaller than current building standards such as using 2x4s or 2x6 s or there may be damage to the framing from insects or rot. The first step is to find out how many rafters are sagging and if anything else is damaged.

A sagging roof line may original from the ceiling s horizontal rafters. When all the trusses are installed and the first row of decking is on this brace is removed. Are doors sticking or jambs out of square. As demonstrated by the dent in my pickup s hood vibrations from the garage door opener can cause items to shimmy around and eventually crash down onto your car or you.

To hold them up until the decking of the roof is placed on top a 12 foot 1 inch by 4 inch piece of lumber is used. Then slowly allow the trusses down. So you should start by inspecting the roof from the under side or attic.