Trusses landing on walls not built to carry them
Where roof load lands decides whether walls and ceilings crack.
In short: A truss resting on a non-load-bearing wall sends load where the design never intended. It is one of our major Beveridge frame findings.
Load-bearing or not
Every internal wall is designed one way or the other. Non-load-bearing walls are built lighter and are meant to have a gap under the trusses above.
What we recorded
Trusses and joists sitting directly on a non-load-bearing wall on a Beveridge frame, reported as a major item.
What follows
The wall can deflect, ceilings can crack along the line and the roof load reaches the slab somewhere it was not designed to.
Related roof items
Roof bracing not bent onto the top plate, valley boards with no end support and slack strap bracing were found on the same series of Beveridge frames.
The fix
Usually packing removed and proper clips fitted so the truss is free of the wall. The truss designer or engineer should confirm.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Beveridge. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
