Sagging roof ridge line

micjuslin

So I recently bought an older home (built in 1946) here in Modesto, CA which has a detached garage.

I've been living in the home for about 6 months now and I have started to repair some of the shoddy work done by the previous owners (PO's). I would consider myself to be moderately handy and my dad is an old time DIYer so he usually helps me.

The garage is a perfect example of the PO's "craftmanship". It appears that the PO's took all of the supporting structure from the interior of the garage roofs, such as any rafter or collar ties, out completely and covered the entire roof in cut pieces of cedar fence board for a faux rustic look.

A. It looks like sh#t! B.

The roof has started a slow sag to the eventually land of collapse (it will be a while before that happens, hopefully). Anyways I'm a musician so I have plans on using this garage as a small rehearsal space for my band and I don't feel comfortable leaving expensive equipment in a garage with a sagging roof.
My plan is to use four floor jacks to slowly raise the ridge line back into proper position and use a pony clamp to pinch in the walls slightly (they have started to bow slightly).

Once the ridge line is straight I plan on using 2x4's (or 2x6's) for lower rafter ties and upper collar ties. I'm also thinking about adding a perpendicular 2x4 to tie the collar to rafter ties together. Does this sound at all feasible? Am I total backwards? I have a contractor coming out today but I quite sure I cannot afford his repairs. Let me know, I need some help here people!

rossfingal

Hi!
"micjuslin"

You're talking about something that has structural, ramifications.
Does this garage have ceiling joists?
We've done things like this (as far as I understand your situation).
Is there somebody you know who has a decent, grasp of structural/framing
situations?
You could post some pictures!

rossfingal

oh'mike

We need to know how the roof is designed--hip or gable---

Typically the walls must be pulled in as the roof ridge is pushed up---sometimes the drawing in if the walls is all that it takes----steel cable and come-alongs---

__________________
New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

micjuslin

Thanks for reading my post. The roof is a gable style roof and no it doesn't have any joists. Basically there is nothing supporting the roof. I'll upload some photos tonight. Thanks again.

oh'mike

If it's sagging --get some temporary cables to tie the walls together--at least you don't have a snow load to hurry the collapse.

__________________
New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

titanoman

Hey. Say high to McHenry Ave. and 9th St. for me!

OldNBroken

As others have said, no need to jack up the roof. Sucking in the walls to plumb should do it for you. Once you repair the trusses you should be able to release the cables.

rossfingal

Doesn't sound like "trusses" -
Sounds like the previous owner removed the collar-ties and any, ceiling
joists - nothing to tie the walls together!

rossfingal

roofguy

There are alot of factors when trying to jack a roof up. If you pull the walls back to level you have to hope that the rafter stay nailed to the wall plates. so fasten them with using rafter to the wall plate structural ties. i would use hurricaine ties. then use collars ties rafter to rafter to keep everything supported. chances are after all said in done you are not going to take the sag out. there are to many factors against you. most likely your just going to stop it from getting worse and make it safer.

good luck hope this helps.

Zariab0y

Think about putting the rafter ties in place (not securing them) before pulling the walls back in. One thing I learned in reinforcing the cracked and sagging rafter ties in my garage is that they were in place before the roof was installed. Wrestling the same dimension lumber into the 24" OC gap without cutting it an inch or two shorter is practically impossible without possible damaging the wall or the roof.