What Could a Sway in the Roof Mean?

Aging Roof Shingles

• As a shingled roof ages, the gravel that is used during the installation process starts to degrade. It can also be washed away over time, especially after severe and prolonged rain. This produces a very slight sway effect on the roof, and most likely, you will see several sways along the entire roof. This is an indication that your roof needs to be replaced, or at the very least, repaired.

Installation Over Uneven Roof Rafters

• If contractors don't take the time to make sure that the rafters on a roof are level, and roofing material is installed over them, the roof can have a sway-backed appearance. Unfortunately, this is something that has to be fixed by removing the roofing material, fixing the rafters and replacing the material. If you are building a new home, discuss your concerns with your contractor and make sure that they pay special attention to this area to avoid having this problem occur.

Collapse of Rafters

• Rafter collapse is a serious issue that can be caused by wood rot, insect damage or direct damage to the roof. When the rafters supporting the roof collapse, an entire section of the roof can sag down, creating the sway effect. This damage needs to be addressed immediately and the rafters need to be replaced. While costly, these repairs protect the home's structure and reduce the risk of having the rest of the roof cave in.

Damage to the Roof

• Actual damage to the roof can also cause a sway to appear. When something large, like a tree, falls on a roof it can cause a depression if it does not completely break through the roof's surface. Other causes for this type of swaying include excess snow or ice load on the roof. This causes a section to cave in, either slightly, or dramatically, depending on the weight of the snow. Slight swaying is not as serious, but still should be addressed.

Interior Damage

• Although rare, a roof can become sway-backed if a homeowner removes a load-bearing wall, or joists from the ceiling. Load-bearing walls actually do support the weight of the roof and if one of these walls is modified incorrectly, or completely torn out, the roof structure is unsupported and can sag or bow, creating the sway. Unless you have experience in dealing with load-bearing walls, and providing the correct support once they have been modified, never attempt to remove or change these walls.

What to Do

• If you have actual damage to your roof, get several estimates from local roofers to have the damage fixed. Most homeowner's insurance policies cover this kind of damage. If the swaying is slight or is due to aging shingles, schedule a roof replacement or repair as quickly as possible. While these problems are not as severe, they can lead to larger problems down the road.