VERTEX was retained by a homeowner’s insurance company to investigate displaced walls in a new construction house. VERTEX visited the site to see the condition of the house and the reported issues that the homeowner was experiencing. The condition was occurring in the area of the living room where the house design incorporated a vaulted ceiling. During our investigations, VERTEX identified the absence of a structural ridge and rafter ties in the house design was causing wall displacement. Typical gable roof structures require lateral restraint to resist outward thrust from the rafters on the wall top plates. Without the consideration of these lateral loads, vertical roof loads apply lateral forces to the wall top plates, causing wall displacement, bulging walls, and a sagging ridge. VERTEX’s observations and findings were presented to the insurance company in a written report. Ultimately, the homeowner engaged an engineer and contractor to design and retrofit rafter ties to provide the necessary lateral restraint.
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