Gable on My house, does it provide additional strength?

[skydve76]

I posted a while back about my garage header taking some damage, I had a couple contractors tell me different things. On my house the roof goes front to rear and the trusses above the garage sit on a short wall that sits on top of the LVL (glu-lam). The house has a gable on the front which I think is supported on the outside and middle walls, the main roof continues under the gable and doesnt have shingles but is sheeted. Im not sure how the gable is supported I cant see the framing from the attic as the main roof is sheeted underneath it all the way to the front of the garage.

Question, In a heavy snow, does the gable take the weight to the outside wall and middle wall or does the gable just add weight to the main roof and not provide any support at all?

I was told by 2 contractors who beat on the lvl with a hammer its still solid. I also got bids from 2k - 10k to replace it and its just crazy trying to figure out what to do and who is right. Im worried if I replace I may end up worse off somehow trying to fix something not broken. Im trying to learn and make an educated decision for spring, thanks!

ETA: Hammer Test!

 

[nmk_61802]

Gable is decorative. Setting on the main roof trusses. The header above the door is carrying the load of the main roof around the door, including the gables weight.

 

[Skooterj]

That looks more like mold to me than wood rot. I would clean and scrub it with bleach water. Poke around with a screwdriver and see how deep it goes. Replace the OSB sheathing with pressure treated and fix the house wrap. Looks like water was getting trapped above the door. Make sure the J-channel for the siding on top of the garage door trim can properly drain.

 

[billconner]

Agree with both posts above. Exterior siding and sheathing repair/clean and be sure it's flashed properly.

The gable just adds some dead load to the roof framing - maybe 5-10 pdf, not significant compaired to snow load in Nebraska.

 

[skydve76]

That looks more like mold to me than wood rot. I would clean and scrub it with bleach water. Poke around with a screwdriver and see how deep it goes. Replace the OSB sheathing with pressure treated and fix the house wrap. Looks like water was getting trapped above the door. Make sure the J-channel for the siding on top of the garage door trim can properly drain.

Agree with both posts above. Exterior siding and sheathing repair/clean and be sure it's flashed properly.

The gable just adds some dead load to the roof framing - maybe 5-10 pdf, not significant compaired to snow load in Nebraska.

After it dried a it did eat in a bit (see attached pic), Id say 50% of the beam is damaged in the middle on the surface, maybe 2-3mm in. Here is a video of the hammer test, the contractor hit it way harder. I sheeted this up and plan to have the siding/flashing fixed today to deal with this in the spring. Im going to have a 2x4 "T" ready to go, if we get massive snow fall I may go hammer inder the beam in the middle for good measure. I have no idea how long its been like this.

Im being told this beam is way overkill for my house given its a ranch but I have no clue what to believe!

Hammer Test:

 

[Skooterj]

You eliminate the water issue, and that header will outlast all of us. Silly place to use a GluLam, an actual LVL would have probably been cheaper. Only use Glulams when people will see them.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Silly place to use a GluLam, an actual LVL would have probably been cheaper.

Either the builder had no clue and used the wrong terminology and they shipped what he asked for, or the supplier had a great deal on a leftover glulam.

 

[grant00]

Gable is decorative. Setting on the main roof trusses. The header above the door is carrying the load of the main roof around the door, including the gables weight.

This. Based on your interior picture of the back of the wall above the garage door, this is not a true gable wall we are talking about. It's a bearing wall under your trusses. The door header is structural and takes roof load. Your "gable" is purely decorative.

 

[KenC]

It looks to me like it will be fine once dried and sealed from further water damage.

I would run a level string line side to side, measure from the bottom of the header to the string. then record the measurement. That will make it easy to check for any future sagging. I really doubt any will occur, but proving it will ease your concerns.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Gable is decorative.

On newer construction, this is correct. On residential building built in the 50s-70s, there may be a ridge BOARD, but this was just to give the framers something to nail to when they were putting up the rafters.

Older residential buildings might use a ridge BEAM. This is a load carrying member. Each end sits on top of a very substantial post that carries the load down to the foundation?

 

[tarmy]

On newer construction, this is correct. On residential building built in the 50s-70s, there may be a ridge BOARD, but this was just to give the framers something to nail to when they were putting up the rafters.

Older residential buildings might use a ridge BEAM. This is a load carrying member. Each end sits on top of a very substantial post that carries the load down to the foundation?

This has been my experience.

 

[billconner]

On newer construction, this is correct. On residential building built in the 50s-70s, there may be a ridge BOARD, but this was just to give the framers something to nail to when they were putting up the rafters.

Older residential buildings might use a ridge BEAM. This is a load carrying member. Each end sits on top of a very substantial post that carries the load down to the foundation?

I would say usually correct. Next door they are roofing an addition between two gable roofed structures. That roof between has a structural ridge beam that is supported at it's ends by two other ridge beams. And one of the supporting ridge beams seems to be supported by heavy timber trusses at the ends, transferring the load to the corners.

Just interesting the variations possible.

 

[billconner]

Silly place to use a GluLam, an actual LVL would have probably been cheaper.

I wonder age of building. Glulams have been around at least since 1950s. LVLs used in houses seem to have been introduced in the 1970s. OSB in 1960s. Just possible LVLs hadnt become common in this region yet.

 

[skydve76]

I wonder age of building. Glulams have been around at least since 1950s. LVLs used in houses seem to have been introduced in the 1970s. OSB in 1960s. Just possible LVLs hadnt become common in this region yet.

House was built in 2005

 

[billconner]

Well, then as Skooter suggested, odd place for a glulam. Maybe it was a bargain or leftover or mistake.

 

[csp]

Look at where the ends of the trusses are sitting. That's where the load is bearing. The gable is just for show.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

It would appear that the OSB took the brunt of the water intrusion. The surface of the Lam-beam clearly has some damage- but the damage is probably minimal to it’s structural integrity. The only concern I would have is the glue between the layers- has it been degradated- severely limiting the structural integrity. Just because the wood is slightly damaged- if they aren’t secured together, they don’t work “as one”.

I’d also be interested in how so much water intrusion occurred. Clearly, something wasn’t done right- maybe that whole gable face should be stripped of the vinyl siding, wrap, and of course the bottom course of the OSB.

Perhaps some water/ice shield should be used along the bottom edge with proper flashing.

 

[rburke65]

Gable adds no constructive strength

 

[skydve76]

The reason it filled with water is the wind tore my flashing off at the top and it was only bent 90 degrees at the top into the siding, and they glued it no caulk. After the wind ripped it off that day there was a huge downpour and the flashing filledup with water as the wind only ripped it off at the top on one side. Im trying to get insurance to cover it.

I left the beam for now it sounds like it is over kill so Ill keep an eye on it.