ᐅ Gable roof is not centered - any experiences?

Created on: 4 Aug 2021 12:15
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PetraRo
Hello everyone,
we are renovating a 40-year-old house. The roof was raised, and two dormers were added. Last week, the roof was covered. Unfortunately, the new roof is not centered; the ridge has shifted about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) to the left. As a result, the overhang on the left side is 20 cm (8 inches) longer than on the right. Correcting this would not be possible without a complete teardown. The construction company suggests either extending the overhang on the right side or shortening the overhang on the left. The question is: does this proposal make sense? Due to the position of the house, the gable side is not visible from the front, so the shift is not very noticeable. It is mainly noticeable because of the uneven roof overhangs. Thank you very much for your feedback!
11ant4 Aug 2021 13:35
PetraRo schrieb:

Unfortunately, the new roof is not centered; the ridge has shifted about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) to the left. As a result, the overhang on the left side is 20 cm (8 inches) longer than on the right. A correction is only possible by completely dismantling the roof. The construction company suggests either extending the right overhang or shortening the left roof edge. The question is: does this proposal make sense?

No, these proposals do not make sense. The fault lies with the contractor. No competent bricklayer checks plumb and angles only on the last course; the same should apply to carpenters. Do you have a completion bond / performance guarantee?
If yes)
Dismantling is not your responsibility and is the cleanest solution.
If no)
I would prefer a misaligned roof—at least if it does not affect the structural integrity—that is still watertight over the "alternative" of dismantling, having the contractor go bankrupt, and water leaking in. However, the price reduction should be a substantial five-figure amount, and the company should additionally cover all expenses for corrective permits / planning permission adjustments.
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K1300S4 Aug 2021 18:16
Deconstruction is always a matter of proportionality, but in this case, I see the financial threshold for not doing it as extremely high, so I would personally insist on it first. However, be prepared for a lengthy process.
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hanghaus2000
4 Aug 2021 20:45
Who would only notice something like this once the entire roof is installed? This is unacceptable. The carpenter should have noticed it at the latest during the installation of the first rafter.

Request the contractor to fix the defect.

Did you subcontract the work individually? Or is the renovation handled by one company?
Tarnari4 Aug 2021 20:54
I also can't understand how this could happen. Drawing a perfect circle freehand is probably difficult for most people.

But here we are talking about supposed professionals who should have no problem placing a triangle exactly in the center of a rectangle.

Unbelievable. I wouldn’t accept that.
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hanghaus2000
4 Aug 2021 21:18
My carpenter measured all the support points before approving the detailed planning for the timber frame assembly.

When I asked why, he said he has often experienced that the supports were not built according to the plan.
11ant4 Aug 2021 21:24
K1300S schrieb:

Demolition is always a matter of proportionality,

That’s why I find it completely disproportionate to keep measuring tools in your pocket until five minutes to midnight. Such mistakes don’t just magically appear in the final stretch before reaching the marathon’s finish line.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/