What Causes Roof Sagging, and What Can You Do About It

Your residential roofing system is supposed to keep its structural integrity for as long as your home is standing. So, if you notice some sagging, this is a serious red flag that needs your immediate attention. While not all sagging roofs are in immediate danger of collapsing, sagging does mean you’ve got to do something now before the structure gets any weaker.

What Causes Roof Sagging?

There are four major causes behind a sagging roof:

• Water damage – Your roof is built to withstand water from precipitation, be it rain, snow, hail or sleet. If there are gaps or cracks, the tiniest crevice is an opportunity for moisture to enter. If your home is located in an area with freezing temperatures, any moisture that finds its way into a crack will freeze and expand, exacerbating the crack. As soon as enough moisture has infiltrated your roofing structure, it can start weakening it. Rot and corrosion can take place, and, before long, your roof might begin to sag.
• Age – Roofing materials get old, and, when they get too old, they might not be able to hold their position as well as they did in the past. Your roof shouldn’t start sagging if it’s fairly new. This is why you hire a professional to perform roof maintenance. However, if asphalt shingles have reached the end of their lifespans, and you don’t replace them, they might begin to sag. 
• Too much weight – Professional roofing contractors know well how to compute the weight of the roof over your home and take into account the average weight of snow that falls over your area. This is why roofing installation is not a DIY job. If your roof is unable to hold the weight of snow and ice, it can sag. In a worst-case scenario, the roof might collapse.
• Inadequate support – Your roof is a system of joints and rafters supporting the main roofing structure. The roof joints form the base of the roof, and that’s also where you see your ceiling. The rafters run diagonally from the ridge to the edges. If these are not enough or if they are improperly installed, the issue can lead to the roof sagging.

What Should You Do?

In most cases of sagging, roof repair is still possible, but you have to call a professional contractor to do it. Never attempt to repair a sagging roof yourself. It’s dangerous, and your repair might not even be effective.

Depending on the situation, your contractors might install angled braces to add support to the rafters. Or they can fortify the walls with chains. They are likely to use jack posts to help raise the sagging before they can install any kind of additional bracing. It might sound simple, but this is complicated work. If done right, this will correct the sagging, but if done incorrectly, the issue will remain or get worse, so it’s important to call a professional to do the job.

At any rate, your roofer should advise you regarding what they can do, whether it’s repairing your roof or – as is the case with old roofs – replacing it completely.

Get in touch with the trusted professional roofers at Crown Roofing LTD . Call us today at (604) 370-6288, or tell us about your project here. We can help you in Surrey and in Vancouver.