Most of us are aware of the importance of felt, tiles and many exterior roofing materials, but we tend to overlook the vital role rafters and joists play in the structure of our roof. Roof rafters and joists are made up of wood that is nailed, pegged or bolted together to create a structurally interdependent shape that offers great strength. Unfortunately, wood can be prone to water damage, so even a minor leak in your roof can compromise the structural integrity of your joists and rafters over time. Here we’ll explore roof rafter and joist replacement in more detail to help you determine if it is needed for your home.
The biggest enemy of any roof structures is water and rafters or joists are no exception. Water leaks can cause penetrating damp even in treated timbers. Even if your rafters and joists have been treated, the wood is unlikely to have been treated the entire way through its thickness. If your rafters sit on or in the walls, they will be even more susceptible to penetrating damp.
Another enemy of rafters and joists is rot or insect attack. These issues are typically associated with damp and can be problematic in older properties where no cavity walls or thick, solid walls support the bearing ends of your rafters. Rot and insects such as woodworm can cause the wood to start to crumble. The initial signs of woodworm are small holes on the surface of the wood, but eventually, the wood dries out, and the nutrients are drained, compromising the structural integrity of the rafter or joist.
Unfortunately, woodworm, or more precisely the adult beetles who spawn the woodworm larvae can migrate between May and October to find a fresh food source and new breeding ground.
Finally, your rafters and joists may be compromised by joint failure. Most modern roof structures use “nail plates,” which are plates fixed with screws, nails, and glue, but older timbers may be connected with wooden pegs or Mortise and Tenon joints, which can be eaten away by insects. This can allow the beams to move, which opens up the joint to further damage.
Before any repairs are performed, it is vital that the cause of the damage has been identified and corrected. Since the rafters and joists are bearing the weight of the roof, replacement can be a big job. If a single rafter needs to be replaced, it may be possible for it to be replaced in situ. However, in a worst case scenario, the roof may need to come off to provide suitable access for the removal and replacement.
If you suspect that your rafters or joists have been damaged, you can rely on us. Our recommended experts will examine your rafters and joists to determine if an internal removal and replacement is possible or if you will need more extensive work and discuss all the options with you, so you can make an informed decision.
Paul and his team did an amazing job for us , complete new roof , fascia’s soffits and gutting all replaced , chimney pointed and capped , cladding to dorma window and replaced velux window . All at a very reasonable price .
Rachel Banks
Roof all done the guys did an excellent job we are really happy would highly recommend thank you Steve and all your guys.
Paul & Denise
Outstanding service from Ben. He kept in touch, provided a competitive quote, arrived when he promised, carried out the work and kept me updated on progress, finished the job to a high standard and all in a friendly and professional way. I would not hesitate to call on his services again when my other tiled roofing repairs are needed. Highly recommended.
Neil Jones
Full roof re-tile done. Agreed a great price, work was started within 2 weeks. The driveway was swept spotlessly clean each day. The new tiles look great. There were a couple of areas of the fascia that had come away with the vibrations of the work and they even came back once the job was finished to correct those little areas to make sure that we were 100% happy with the job. I'd recommend Trevor and his team to anybody. He gave good advice and explained the details of the job to us every step of the way.
Paul
A big thank you to Trevor and his crew, for a good job. Very friendly and polite and always cleaned up after themselves. I would recommend Northern Roofing. Thank you once again.
Andrew
Thoroughly recommend this company. Our roof was in a real state (300 year old barn.). Fair price and they kept to it. Always tidy and courteous. Completed in half the time we expected.
Tony
Trevor and his team were efficient and reliable and communication was excellent at every stage of the job. Nothing was too much trouble- for instance, Trevor sourced Welsh green slates to replace damaged slates which matched the existing ones perfectly. Mick and Dean worked really hard and we are really pleased with the final result.
Andy
The job was completed quickly and as specified. New roof tiles, felting and new gutters. The price was competitive too.
Mark
Would definitely recommend - Trevor answered all my questions I had - the team worked very quickly and effectively. Love my new roof!
Leila
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