We have removed a catwalk and installed two dormers, all designed & dimensioned by a structural engineer and built by a reputable construction company (not the cheapest). The house has a gable roof from the 1920s. Since the construction was completed this summer, we have heard a couple of loud noises but weren't sure if we imagined them.
Now the beams have moved, and several screws have been pulled out and plate holes deformed, both against the roof trusses and the joists.
1. How concerned should I be technically?
2. How concerned should I be financially?
3. What responsibility does the construction company have?
4. What responsibility does the engineer have?
5. Does it matter if the engineer is hired by the construction company?
6. Can you seek help from the insurance company?
7. In what order should we do things? The current plan is:
* contact the construction company to inspect
* contact our own inspector? What type of inspector?
* the insurance company?
We removed a catslide roof and installed two dormer windows, all designed & engineered by a structural engineer and built by a well-renowned construction company (not the cheapest). House with a gable roof from the 1920s. Since the construction was completed this summer, we've heard a couple of loud noises but weren't sure if we imagined them.
Now the beams have shifted, and several screws have come out, and metal plates deformed, both against the rafters and the floor structure.
1. How worried should I be technically?
2. How worried should I be financially?
3. What responsibility does the construction company have?
4. What responsibility does the engineer have?
5. Does it matter if the engineer is hired by the construction company?
6. Can you get help from the insurance company?
7. In what order should we do things? Our current thought is:
* contact the construction company to inspect
* contact an independent inspector? What type of inspector?
* the insurance company?
Thank you for all the help, I am very worried.
That doesn't sound good.
But please post some pictures.
Complain about the work immediately to the construction company. They are the ones you had a contract with. If they hired an external engineer themselves, that's not your problem.
If they cause issues, it might be a good idea to have an independent inspector.
I'm not sure what your insurance company could help with.
We have removed a knee wall and installed two dormers, all constructed & dimensioned by a structural engineer and built by a well-reputed construction company (not the cheapest). House with a gable roof from the 1920s. Since the construction was completed this summer, we've heard a couple of loud noises but haven't known if we imagined them.
Now the beams have moved, and several screws have come loose and metal plates have deformed, both against the rafters and the joists.
1. How concerned should I be technically?
2. How concerned should I be financially?
3. What responsibility does the construction company have?
4. What responsibility does the engineer have?
5. Does it matter that the engineer was hired by the construction company?
6. Can the insurance company provide help?
7. In what order should we do things? The current plan is:
* contact the construction company to check
* contact an independent inspector? What type of inspector?
* insurance company?
Complain about the work immediately to the construction company. It's with them you had the contract. If they then hired an external engineer, it's not your problem.
If they make things difficult, it might be good to have an independent inspector.
I don't know how your insurance company could assist.
Welcome to Byggahus!
Posted pictures in a separate post.
The house moves quite a bit, but is it normal for it to move that much?
Are you sure it hasn't been like that from the beginning? Seems a bit unlikely that it would move that much
Hi,
Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures, but you can see that screws have been pulled out, and I'm quite sure everything was aligned this summer. But it's nice, you don't seem too worried, it's good to have a forum where you can assess the severity of things!
It's completely normal for old wooden houses to make noises.
It couldn't possibly have come apart at the upper ring, it must have been that way from the start.
Looking at the lower ring, it's clear nothing has happened, the beam on the right side of the truss is flush, and the infill between the right and left is also flush.
So, I believe it's been like that from the start. It's pretty much impossible to pull out anchor screws.
As I said, it's hard to see how it would have been from the beginning if it has moved. Rather, I think it looks like it has moved because it "doesn't fit" due to different dimensions of the old roof trusses and modern timber.
However, I am extremely doubtful about the deformed nail plates. I don't know if this is how the designer intended it... Especially the one in the first picture looks quite shoddy, to be honest.
The thing that looks the worst (according to me, as I work as a designer, but in a different field) is the fact that you have air between two components that are "screwed together"..
This means that only the screws are taking all the loads/stresses! Normally, you screw the components together to get friction between the parts, which is what actually takes the majority of the load.
And as previously pointed out, the gap has been there from the start, the screws haven't unscrewed (could have been possible if it was nailed) and if things had moved this much, the screws would have broken.
I believe the sheets have always looked like that, when you look at them, they don't look deformed (which they would have if they got that shape because things moved) but instead, they simply have been screwed into things that aren't aligned.
Edit: this is clearly visible in the picture below where you have a gap between the sheet and the beam (red arrow)
Now, as I said, I am not a structural engineer, but I work with another type of design and have 10+ years of experience in shaping sheet metal/steel..
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joakim_j said:
SWEBMA said:
