Have you ever come across the term “truss uplift?” Do you think it has something to do with plastic surgery like a facelift or something like that? It may sound funny, but many people actually believe that truss uplift is some sort of plastic surgery. Well, it’s not. It is a unique condition of a house that has roof trusses instead of regular rafters. Some houses with roof trusses may suffer from truss uplift. So, what does that mean? Let’s find out.
Understanding truss uplifts
When your home has truss uplift, the ceilings of the top floor would lift from the interior walls. This usually happens during winters. You may notice a small gap between the walls and the ceiling. Most people tend to ignore it, but that’s not something you should do. Although the ceiling will come down naturally during summers, making everything seem normal again, you should get in touch with the nearest expert who offers roof truss lifting.
Most people don’t even understand if it is the roof that went up or if the floor went down. Roof uplifts have nothing to do with floors. The ceiling goes up, creating a gap that can be almost two inches wide.
Why Are Trusses Essential?
Trusses are like the necessary evil for some houses. The construction is such that you don’t have a choice but to opt for a roof truss. These are usually prefabricated structural assemblies that help to hold the top floor ceiling and the roof together. They are the best alternative for roof framing. If your house can’t support roof framing, the roofing expert will recommend roof truss.
They are usually strong structures that come in triangular shapes. A series of trusses are fastened with gusset plates. There are two parts of the truss: the inner part called webs, and the outer part called chords.
Why Lift?
Why does roof truss lifting take place, and what should you do if you see a raised ceiling in your house? Most homeowners would not know the answer. Sometimes your roof leaks due to extreme weather conditions. If there is too much rain one season, you may see a truss lift in the winter. This is because the truss cannot handle significantly different moisture levels and temperature conditions. The bottom chord of the truss requires heavy insulation. Ideally, it should be at least 12 inches; the more, the merrier. This will help to keep the truss sit tightly.
During winter, the thickness of the insulation and warmth from the ceiling helps to keep the bottom chord dry. This allows the chord to shrink a little. On the other hand, the top chord tends to absorb all the moisture and remains damn because of the humidity in the attic. So, the dampness causes the top chords to expand. As a result, there is a difference in moisture level and due to the varying movements of the chords, the truss expands and creates a gap from the walls.
If you notice the gap, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We operate in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Minneapolis. Our experienced technicians will go to your house, check the condition of the webs and chords and the gap between the ceiling and the walls and provide an estimate of how much it will cost to repair the structure. We promise you that you won’t complain about our price considering the quality of service we offer.
Our primary objective is to make sure that the trusses don’t go up again. We will not only make them come down but will also try to prevent them from experiencing another similar situation.
Construction Problems?
Many homeowners go into panic mode when they see the ceiling uplifted. That’s quite natural, especially if you have not come across roof truss lifting before. You think that there is something wrong with the foundation of your house. That’s not the problem here. It’s the roof truss causing all this damage. Some families don’t even know whether to call a construction specialist or a roofing expert. Well, you should contact us. Over the years, we have had the experience of handling different roof trusses. So, we know exactly how to fix yours.
What Do We Do?
We cannot change the entire structure of the roof. Honestly, no one will. Instead, we can mask the gap by securing the drywall. We will start by doing the top half of the walls before reaching the trusses. This will allow the drywall to flex quickly and stay fastened to the walls, preventing the trusses from lifting further. This is not just a quick fix but also a long-term solution to the roof truss lifting problem.
Many service providers may use decorative molding on the joint where the ceilings and walls meet. They try to fasten the moldings right on top of the ceilings. However, the moldings don’t fasten the walls. So, if there is a repeat of truss lifting the next season, the moldings will also lift along with the ceiling. Instead of hiding the gap, it will create a new gap. We don’t do such temporary work. That is why our technicians take time to inspect the problem before coming up with a solution.
Why Hire Us?
If you have never hired a roof truss expert before, chances are you will research about the service providers before hiring. Well, here are a few reasons why you should consider us over others:
• We always provide a solution that helps to prevent truss uplifts in the future. Our technicians are honest and will never suggest a quick-fix for this type of problem.
• We use the latest tools to complete the job faster. Our team doesn’t want you to stay in a house with an uplifted ceiling from the walls. It can become the breeding ground for molds.
• You can rely on our experience in this job. We have already served numerous houses in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Minneapolis and have got positive feedback from customers.
It is wise not to ignore uplifted trusses for long. Contact us to bridge the gap quickly.
