How To Raise Sagging Roof Ridge - Building Repair Ideas

[@darrengunnell7255]

Thanks for your video. I raised my ridge 3 inches and reinforced with 2x8's as well as collar ties and 4x4 support posts. Walls came back to plumb during the process. Great feeling when post jacks were taken off pressure and not one creak was heard. Thanks

[@gregvancom]

You're welcome and I would love to see a picture of your finished project. You can get our email address at our website.

[@michaeldudley7332]

Thanks for the video. I have a 1905 home that the walls are bowing out and this will help me put it back together.

[@uncle_bsr2965]

Really appreciate this video! It confirms some of my ideas for an issue we’re about to tackle with a storage shed that has a sagging roof 👍🏽 All of the framing was done using 2x4 including the ridge.

[@gregvancom]

Glad you liked it and bummer about the sagging roof.

[@mardellgriffin7276]

Thank you for being clear and concise. You helped me understand how to do this repair! Congratulations, you taught one today.

[@gregvancom]

Awesome.

[@keith3425]

Great video clearly illustrating lots of options! Great response to questions. I have 100 year old garage with sagging roof. This is very helpful

[@gregvancom]

Right on!

[@j.wilson641]

Very thorough, exactly what I was looking for!

[@gregvancom]

Glad it helped and I always enjoy comments like yours, thanks for posting.

[@davydacounsellor]

Hi from Ireland, thanks for the information, we have an old stone house, believe the wall plate has collapsed a bit, there are no stringers in the loft, the chain idea might work, also there's a wall running through the center of house, has pushed a couple of states up, I the client can't afford to strip the roof, but I reckon they'll have to pull the roof of at some stage, thanks again for the tips.

[@brainwashingdetergent4322]

Talk about raising the roof!!! The roof, the roof, the roof is on 🔥

[@sam111880]

Nice video, another way to find the problem area's would be to also take a level and find where the walls are most out of plumb then you know where the majority of force you want to counter act is going to. Also looking if there is uneven space between the dovetails of each rafter can give signs of where force has shifted the rafters a little.

[@gregvancom]

Good idea and thanks for the comments.

[@thetarotreadingroom1412]

This is an excellent video. Very helpful! Thank you.

[@gregvancom]

Thanks for the nice comment and I'm glad you like the video.

[@bookbeing]

I agree!!😁

[@lamarolson6746]

I love ur videos converted my rafters after watching one bout to fix someone else’s Now thanks

[@gregvancom]

Awesome and thanks for letting us know it worked.

[@joerice7710]

Great Video. This will help with a sagging 1930 garage roof i'm planning to work.

[@gregvancom]

Sounds good and I would love to see some before and after pictures and you can get our email address at our website.

[@HAWAYP]

Hi, Thank you for your valuable lectures. I have the same escenario in my garage. Can I just install an LVL under the sagging beam and live with the sagging. The sagging is about 1.5 inches. I will appreciate your input. Thanks

[@jamiecaldwell1491]

do you think that you could achieve the same result by pulling the outside walls together using heavy duty ratchet straps? if the outside walls are plumb do yuo think that it would reposition the roof rafters and ridge?

[@TheBigggeee]

This is fantastic. Thank you so much!

[@gregvancom]

You're very welcome!

[@Richard-io8wk]

Excellent video, I have a roof sag exactly how your video shows, with just rafters and collar ties a foot down from ridge board where rafters are seated on 2' half walls, only difference is I have a basement. What is your opinion of hanging joist ties with joist hangers inside of half walls, then bracing to support rafters after straightening? Will this add pressure forcing walls out or will the joist carry the load to top of half walls where rafters are seated on?

[@hankyknot]

I'm just about to tackle this issue, thanks for such an instructional video. Given the fact that we all seem to be facing this issue with older homes, would it be safe to assume that the best way to get an accurate width would be from the bottom plate on one of the ends, and then adjust the tops of the side walls until they are the same width?

[@gregvancom]

Yes, that would be an excellent place to start.

[@johnkopec9435]

Very thorough video. The only change I would make is to put the bottle jack on top of the posts rather than at the bottom. They are much more stable that way.

[@gregvancom]

I haven't had very good luck with that method, but definitely do it if it works better for you

[@jeebolard]

I have a steel beam in my garage, it's an I beam, about 5.5" x 9.5", the ridge span is 23 ft., the garage is about 30 ft. deep. Would that beam be strong enough to jack up the ridge from?

[@dhomant]

Hello, I have a 35 foot width to span. Where do I get 35 foot long boards? I'm not sure that is possible. My 20 foot butted to my 16 foot are pulling apart. I could use your chain and buckle method to pull the walls true but I do not think I can find 35 foot rafter ties. How do you decide if the walls are straight?a level?

[@gslavik]

Instead of chain and turnbuckle, would wire cable and a come along work?

[@gregvancom]

I would think so.

[@sam111880]

I like this cable pull back method seen these turn buckle things before but never really used them. Pump jacks in the middle are usually used when uninstalling load bearing walls or other things that need to support wait before installation of new. Similar to jacking a car and installing the lowering.

[@NewProvidenceUF]

This is a great video! I recently purchased a single story ~1000sqft masonry home with a nearly 2-3ft sag from ridgeline. One of the exterior load bearing walls is bulging out. What would you recommend as plan of action to repair (if at all possible)??

[@gregvancom]

I would love to see a picture of that and you will probably need to replace the ridge and other damaged roof framing components.

[@AvocaSingleTrack]

I've seen this when people build a garage and don't use ceiling joists ...guy built one and it almost collapsed. Used 3 come alongs to pull it in, while jacking up in the ridge board. Then installed ceiling joists plus collar ties. A ridge board isn't really meant to carry the roof load, it's mainly under compression. The ridge could be pre planned with a big LVL .

[@johnmadlos1969]

I am in need of assistance. I bought my first house last month. I have this problem with my double detached garage. The roof is sagging and the walls are bowing out. The garage had too much weight placed on the rafter ties. The rafter ties are 2x4. I have removed all the weight now. I have examined that all of the rafter ties on one side have detached. I also have 2x6 attached to the rafter ties to the roof vertically. There are 2 post attaching from the cement floor to one of the rafter ties in the middle of the garage. The previous owner removed 1 of 2 post in the middle of the garage. Im guessing they dont want to deal with that when driving in. Do i still need to put back the middle post once I get the rafter ties and colar ties? No leaks, or water damage as the roof/shingles was replaced back in 2020. All I know is get 20 ton jack question is what supplies do I need to buy at my local department store? like Menards which do you recommend turn buckle or Come-Along Cable Puller? what size of chain? what is the name of the plate to attach to the wall? whats the name/size of the post and how tall for the jack is there a specific name of the 2x6 wood? pine? construction lumber? If im going with 2x6 for rafter ties what length to get? and i keep hearing like 4 foot on center what does that mean? is that when you connect them together? Do i need a collar tie? Do i need a nail gun to nail them in or can I manually hammer them? Anything im missing? I feel like I can do this repair, I just need the correct materials/names of them to buy them. Thank you

[@iamthealgorithm3190]

If you can't even figure out what material you need on your own you aren't doing it on your own

[@rathermelc]

I want to repair my rafters but im worried my steel roof will leak once i start moving stuff around???

[@jamiekaylor6800]

what type of chain is recommended along with the turnbuckle?

[@gregvancom]

It will depend on the damage and size of building. I can't really help with that, because any chain I suggest could be to small or to large.

[@xocindyxoperezxo]

I put an offer on a house with a sagging garage roof. Should I just avoid that house completely? I'm sure it will come up on the inspection but to what extent cpuld this issue be fixed and will I have roofing problems with the rest of the house? suggestions greatly appreciated

[@gregvancom]

I can't tell you whether or not to purchase the home, but if you're going to get an awesome deal on the house, then you might be able to afford to make the necessary repairs in the future.

[@milcotto4153]

I know about a cabin where the roof ridge is sagging, the load bearing exterior walls are about to fall out and the two exterior walls that are not load bearing are about to cave in. It seems like the former owners removed all the load bearing structure in the attic when they made a bedroom up there. And the ceiling joists between the ground floor and the attic are undersized. A similiar cabin in the area already had the entire roof cave in, it smashed into the livingroom. The exterior walls are still standing. These are older, small cabins probably from the thirties or forties, and they were often very cheaply built. Some people even built them with scapwood. They took what they had. Most people didn't have much money back in those days.

[@gregvancom]

Yeah you have to take some of that into consideration. I've met plenty of people who get mad at something until you shed some light on what could have been going on.

[@JackRainfield]

Excellent video! I have two confounding details making me wonder: 1. A new plywood shingle base has been attached after sagging has occurred. Will that make it more difficult to straighten the ridge? This was only done to one side of roof. There is a 1/4 inch spacing between all the plywood pieces. Shingles haven't been installed yet either, it has a tarp over it right now. 2. One of the walls that is bowed is a double garage door opening. Will this wall be more susceptible to damage from the pressure of the chains pulling inward? The garage ceiling has a drywall ceiling which I think I will need to remove. At least in part but maybe entirely. I am thinking of using the ridge jacking method in combination with the chains. Also I'm guessing it could be necessary to leave a support beam in the center of the ridge for permanent stability. Being a double car garage I guess it wouldn't be too much of a problem as far as parking goes. We never park in there anyway. The ridge is 24 ft long and it only appears to have a 2 or 3 inch sag in the middle. I'm not even sure if that is bad enough to worry about. It was built in the fifties and has had many heavy snow seasons with no problems.

[@gregvancom]

Definitely some good questions. I wouldn't waste my time with this method if additional materials like plywood have been installed and yes, there could be considerable amounts of stress that could lead to damage when trying to reshape building materials like lumber. Keep in mind that this home repair method won't work all the time.

[@jerrdog5568]

.my garage is sagging. It's block construction. The top block according to a level is about a 1/2inch out from the blocks below. I don't see evidence of cracks or anything like that. The roof is pretty droopy in the middle. Is this likely my problem? I know it's not much to go on.

[@gioceja1992]

Is there a way I can send you photo you a house I’m DIY on my own. Similar concept, except, this one has a missing support beam and the center of the roof is sagging. Your technique is close to why I wanted to do with one exception, instead of using the cords for the wall, I need to use them to pull in the rafters that are blushing outward, making the roof sag.

[@gregvancom]

You can get our email address at our website.

[@julianmacdonald951]

My ridge beam is sagging , I only have the roof boarded in with boards , if i jacked the ridge up level and put plywood on the ceiling would it stay level?

[@gregvancom]

If it's strong enough to support the weight and fastened correctly then I would think so, but can't provide engineering advice to viewers about their projects so keep that in mind.

[@mickeyjones5444]

Thanks very informative but I have another problem I have no ridgeline on 20 by 12 do I have to put a ridgeline

[@gregvancom]

I've seen plenty of homes with out a ridge, but you can add blocking if you want to make it stronger like you would with roof trusses.

[@mickeyjones5444]

@@gregvancom Thank you

[@richardburton2465]

To pull in two walls angled outward a couple of inches, would it work to permanently install 1 inch steel rod(s) threaded/bolted securely at the ends instead of chains to keep the open ceiling look? Thanks for your thoughts and videos!

[@gregvancom]

I'm not sure what you're doing, but if you're just making a stronger wall to rafter connection, then probably not. Email me a picture or drawing or provide more details for another opinion.

[@richardburton2465]

@@gregvancom Hi Greg, thanks for your reply! To clarify, I have a 70 year old 2x6 rafter roof without any rafter ties that is sagging and a wall going out a couple of inches. I was thinking of adding a couple of steel rods as rafter ties on 4 foot centers to pull in and hold the wall plumb. These rods would go through the reinforced wall top plate to spread the outward gravity force over the length of the tilting wall so that the steel rods pull it in across the length and provide permanent correction to the old problem.

[@gregvancom]

@@richardburton2465 So basically you would be replacing chains with metal rods or bars. I think it might work just fine.

[@timselden8122]

I have a similar issue with my garage. 20x24. Both walls lean the same way though due to a sinking concrete slab that probably did not have a footing. I will need to pull the garage in one direction to correct the lean and somehow level the floor in about one quarter on the slab. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Love your videos. Very informative. THX

[@gregvancom]

Send me some pictures of your problem areas and I'll see what I can do.

[@CaptainStews]

@@gregvancom I am curious if a solution was made? I have the same issue.

[@trevor5290]

@@CaptainStews After pulling the walls into place, I would jack the floor up to level and shoot industrial expanding foam resin under the floor. Would most likely have to call in a professional for that though. They do exist.. most commonly for concrete slab driveway repairs.

[@MeltingRubberZ28]

@@CaptainStews use a nearby tree with a come along to pull it in the proper direction. Then do the rest of the stuff shown in this video

[@hankyknot]

At the end you talk about using a beam and having it beneath the top plates. We have to fix this issue with our studio that has 10 foot walls. We'd also like to add a room in part of the loft and are wondering if we can use something like 2x8s attached to each stud (2x4s 16"OC) 8ft up, supported at the wall end by a 2x4 jack stud and run a central beam the length of the room supported by posts every 8 feet?

[@gregvancom]

I cannot provide you with structural engineering advice, but if you send me a detailed drawing of what you're suggesting, then I can provide you with an educated opinion. You can get our email address at our website.

[@johnjbr]

What do you recommend for a sagging roof line that does not have a hip ridge?

[@gregvancom]

Feel free to send me a picture of what type of roof you're referring to and you can get our email address at the website for more information. Also it wouldn't be a bad idea to visit our website and check out some of the framing repairs for roofs.

[@ArchilochusOfParos]

Excellent video, thanks. Do you have any recommendation for the weight/gauge of chain to use?

[@gregvancom]

I don't know if I can provide you with an exact size, because you might need a stronger chain if it's a larger garage, longer span or if there's a lot of weight on the roof. However, I think you could start with this,"#2 Steel Straight Link Chain." Simply type this term it into your favorite search engine to see what it looks like, but keep in mind that I cannot guarantee it will work and it's only a suggestion.

[@patcochrane1021]

gregvancom h

[@JackRainfield]

It seems like the roof sheathing might prevent the roof and wall from returning to their original shape. Assuming it's been sheathed after the sagging has happened. Does the sheathing have to be removed or is it worth a try without removal?

[@gregvancom]

Good point and if the roof is sagging more than a few inches, then it might need to be rebuilt with new rafters and sheathing.

[@user-kk7eq8dt9f]

I have a wall pushing out do you have a video on that?

[@gregvancom]

Send me some pictures or provide me with more information and I will see what I can do. You can get our email address at our website.

[@5150racecar2]

Thank you for your informative videos! Sort of related, I'm in the midst of looking to vault the front half of my hip roof (20' x 20' area). I've seen people use steel cables attached on the lower part of the rafter, kind of like the chains you demonstrate here except they're a permanent fixture. What are your thoughts on doing this instead of installing a ridge beam? I'm definitely getting an engineer to look at this but I'd like to have some ideas before meeting with him, thanks.

[@gregvancom]

I think it would work just fine. The main point is to prevent the walls from spreading outward. Definitely contact an engineer for what you're thinking about doing.

[@dathoang6993]

i am about to buy a house that have the problem. but the seller lower $40K on the house. should i buy the house 220K? and how much will it cost me to fix it?

[@dankowalski1444]

How would I jack up the ridge if there is no ridge board/structural beam?

[@gregvancom]

I added your video suggestion to a list of videos to be made in the future. I don't think I have anything on that currently, but did just make a video that might be helpful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHrFnJydnaaWjJI

[@nateb3388]

This is an incredible video and will help solve a problem I've been trying to figure out how to conquer for years, however, I do have a little bit of a different situation. The trusses rest upon a very short Wall, approximately 12" to 18" and that sits upon concrete block that has shifted as well. Some areas are concave (on exterior), some have just cracked and are pushing out as much as an inch I some areas. Any feedback on how to repair this? Also, will this method damage any shingles, or the ridge cap?

[@gregvancom]

If the concrete block wall has moved, then it might need to be straightened and repaired. Yes, this method could damage roofing materials and framing components. Remember, this video is just a suggestion and will not work on every project. Feel free to send me some pictures of your damage and I will see if I can provide you with more ideas.

[@nateb3388]

gregvancom excellent, I appreciate your feedback, I will do that

[@gregvancom]

You bet and thanks for watching our videos.

[@russwollet8998]

My ridge is straight bit my fascia board is sagging. How do I get it to straighten? Replace the board? Or will it just sag again

[@gregvancom]

Send me some pictures of your problem and I'll see if I can help. You can get our email address at our website.

[@SKANK_HUNT49]

collar ties will help

[@1weirddoe571]

I'm afraid if I jack up roof in attic, even when I have support in living room, that when roof is flat again and living room support is pulled, then the roof will just push down on the "fix" boards and they will just in turn push the ceiling down. Then the sag will still be there? and now the ceiling with be sagging? So should cross members below rafters (RAFTER TIES I see in your next video) be used to push out the roof sag? Then nothing is linked to ceiling. So jack apart roof sag horizontally just below rafters? What do yo think?

[@gregvancom]

I think I know what you're talking about, simply adding an additional rafter tie (beam) below the existing rafter tie to carry the weight, but I don't know how big of a support beam would be required or how many or whether or not the building foundation to support the additional weight. If this doesn't make sense, then you could always send some pictures for more information. You can get our email address at the website.

[@1weirddoe571]

gregvancom, when I guess I'm thinking about putting up metal panels on the roof and where is sagging would be pretty sloppy looking. So I could shim the panels at the roof or much harder could be to do structural supporting like you're showing. I don't know what to do I may even just do shingles and push it up later . It seems like it's a balloon framing house 1914 but with normal studs I guess one floor just a big sloped roof with three Gables. Oh yeah I guess I'll send you a pictures thanks.

[@stevecasper2247]

I want to install an eye hook for a come-along to lift the front of my garden tractor. What would be the strongest part of my garage to do this?. It has a gable roof. Thank you. Steve Casper

[@gregvancom]

I wouldn't attach it to any part of the building, but when I used to pull motors out of cars, we had a 4 x 12 beam in the ceiling that was supported by the rafter ties and whenever we used it to pull motors, would simply install a post on either side under the beam for additional support. I will make a video and put a link here when it's done to give you a better idea what I'm talking about.

[@gregvancom]

Hope it helps kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4GoiHaejKp-hck

[@hoptag]

if there was a ceiling, wouldn't this method also raise the ceiling along with the roof?

[@gregvancom]

It depends upon the design of the framing, but it's definitely another thing to consider before making the repairs. Sometimes a ceiling might prevent the walls from coming back to their original position and if that's the case then they might need to be removed and reinstalled.

[@MrLJetton]

I have a scenario that is identical to your video structure, the shingles were installed on this roof while it was in the sagging position. I was debating doing what you have going on in the video but am afraid that if I do, the shingles/nails are going to be popping up in all sorts of locations and quite frankly, If I have the roof replaced again(was put on it 2016) I am also debating of tearing it and the roof "framing" completely off and starting with pre-formed trusses, which would be a much more hefty cost. what is your opinion?

[@gregvancom]

You bring up an excellent point and if I was you, I would install something that would prevent it from bowing or sagging any further, then try to do the repairs in the future when the roofing needs to be replaced. If you did use the repair examples in the video, you would just need to examine the roofing materials as pressure is applied to straighten out the building. You would of course stop if there were shingles and nails popping off.

[@adamcooley5594]

Great video. What size chain would you suggest?

[@gregvancom]

It would be difficult for me to provide you with a specific size. However, you could start with a 5/16 or 3/8, but I would only be guessing.

[@humanitytv7444]

Got the same problem

[@kevinmays5308]

I built a cathedral ceiling about a year ago and afraid its starting to sag already would using ridge ties in the middle of the rafters help?

[@gregvancom]

Does it have a ridge beam? like a 4 x 12 and not a 2 x 10.

[@kevinmays5308]

No just the 2x6 ridge. If it was starting to sag would it effect the drywall on the inside? bc it looks fine. What kind of beam do i need exactly i will be sure to put one in. Wish i had a way to send pics

[@kevinmays5308]

The room is 30ft x 30ft. With 7 ft walls and 5 ft peak ceiling. Only support the rafters have atm are color ties. Rafters are 2x6 15ft long

[@kevinmays5308]

Ik u might be asking yourself what idiot would do that lol but this is my first time building a home. Ive been going off trail and error. Thanks for the feed back

[@gregvancom]

Yes you will need rafter ties or ceiling joist and you're not the first one or the last to make this mistake. kzbin.info/www/bejne/emnNqXWcp7SYrtE this video might help.

[@olivermansfield8341]

Everything on my roof is warped, the perlins, Barton’s, rafters the lot

[@gregvancom]

Remove and replace might be the best option.

[@Coder-zx4nb]

Hydraulic jack to lift the roof. Duh! Why didn't I think of that

[@gregvancom]

Sometimes all we need is a little help.