The clear and thorough examination of any building or its element is one of the guarantees that the problem will be considered faster and better. It is significant to remember that the thorough examination of the building structure and understanding of the conditions may help in the correct identification of not only the problem but also its reasons. It may be also resulted in reducing its harmful effect or evenly absolute removal in the future. After the problem examination, it is crucial to consider other ways for repair to exclude the appearance of the same problem in the future.
The roof spread is the main problem that exists in the barn that was carefully inspected. Several reasons could have resulted in roof spread. Firsts, there are roofs built without tie beams. Their absence may create several problems as one of the main functions those tie beams perform is “triangulating the principal rafters and resisting the loading of the roof” (Hunt and Suhr 72). In this case, the force on the structure is redistributed and imbalanced and causes the roof to spread. This problem is widespread for the larger roofs and is not the reason for the case.
Furthermore, the ranking is the other problem that usually causes the roof spread and it is the problem of the case. The trussed rafters may be imbalanced for some reason on one side. The effect of domino is created, “any sideways force on one truss could push each truss out of its vertical plane” (Hunt and Suhr 72). Usually, there is a chance “to strengthen a racking roof in situ” (Hunt and Suhr 72), the retrospective branches may be inserted, but not in the case. It is crucial to remember that the inadequate fixing of joists was one of the reasons for the problem. Furthermore, the problem with the absence of at least two horizontal ties was crucial.
The roof may be repaired with the notice of the existing situation to avoid the same problems in the future. First, the builder can remove the slates carefully with the purpose to reuse them in the future. The slates are not broken the problem is in the wrong beams structuring. Thus, it may be concluded that for the building of a new roof, we should refuse roof trusses as they are unnecessary. The roof span is not so large, so the triangle-beamed roof structure is of no necessity.
One of the variants for the new design of the roof is the flat roof. Before explaining the main characteristics of flat roofs, it is significant to consider their advantages. One of the main advantages is that you will never have a problem with the roof spread. Furthermore, if the construction of the roof is properly made, “in three layers laid in hot bitumen with the surface covered in bitumen-bedded chippings for protection from the sun” (Glover 73), there will never be the problems with the roof fail.
The other advantage of the flat roof for the barn is that the ventilation may be easily created out of chipboard. This material may seem rather unreliable, still, it is not so. The ventilation design is not the supporting girder in the roof structure, so it is possible to use the cheaper materials for its creation. The main purpose of the ventilation in this construction is the preventing interstitial condensation (Glover 73), but, at the same time, the ventilation in the barn is important for your general condition there and the owner’s health.
Furthermore, in case of some problems appearing, the flat roofs may be either repaired individually or the professionals may be called. In both cases, the repair of the flat roof is much easier than that of triangle form. The costs of such repair will be lower.
Flat roofs “are afraid of” warm and damp air, like it may be in kitchens and bathrooms (Glover 73). Because the barn is not aimed at the mentioned purposes, the flat roof is the ideal variant. It must be noticed that flat roofs of good quality and made by professionals serve at least 10-15 years. After that, there is a reason to renew the covering and the roof will serve the same period.
Thus, taking into account the previous experience with the triangle beamed roofs, its repair should be conducted with the use of absolutely different techniques. Because the roof is not large, the flat roof design may be offered instead. It is crucial to notice that being not so expensive in creation, it will serve for a rather long time. Sometime later, it will be enough just to change the covering without the necessity to repair the whole roof. It is also notable that the necessity for the ventilation creation in the design of the flat roof serves as an additional advantage as the ventilation in the barn is important.
Works Cited
Glover, Peter. Building surveys. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2007. Print.
Hunt, Roger and Marianne Suhr. The Old House Handbook: The Essential Guide to Care and Repair. London: Frances Lincoln Ltd, 2008. Print.