Can roof be tied to blockwork on timber-framed house

[Phil64]

Hi,

I own a timber framed house - it's a slightly unusual tall, thin, design 4 stories high. The outer skin is regular rendered blockwork and the roof is built on to the timber frame in regular fashion. However, the house is in an exposed location and when we get strong winds (over 30 knots) the inner frame moves - a bit like feeling an earthquake!

Apparently this is all designed within tolerance, and having lived here for 10 years there is nothing 'abnormal' appearing to make me think otherwise. I'm about to do a load of work on the house and I'm wondering if the roof can be safely joined to the outer skin in the hope that this might remove or reduce the movement in high winds. I should add that I have already checked that the required ties between the outer skin and frame are all there and look fine using a camera down the cavity - so inner and outer structures seem well connected.

I'm also wondering whether it is architects or surveyors you would normaly approach with this kind of question, and how specialised they would need to be to answer it?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can offer any guidance to me on this.

Regards,
Phil

[Mr Punter]

The timber frame will shrink and move down in relation to the blockwork.  It has probably done most of the shrinking.  The blockwork was not designed to take the roof load, so be cautious.  It is one for a structural engineer.

[Iceverge]

Probably one for @Gus Potter.

 

It's quite a tall building for a house. I would consider engaging a SE for any renovations. 

 

Once buildings get tall they get exposed to substantially more wind. 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 19 by Iceverge

[mike2016]

Everything is tied to the timber frame - there are Stainless steel anchor straps and holding down straps tying in the timber structure to the foundations and also keeping the roof on! They have a certain tolerance. You can find out what that is perhaps if the original SE is still around / has it on file / via the Architect? Check planning and see who the original Architect was? 

 

[Phil64]

Thanks everyone for your comments. That's a good thought mike2016 on checking with planning to try and find out the original architect. I'll also check around for a Structural Engineer as suggested by others.

Thanks again everyone, that's very useful feedback.

Regards,

Phil

[Gus Potter]

On 19/02/2024 at 09:24, Phil64 said:

a bit like feeling an earthquake!

 

On 19/02/2024 at 10:41, Iceverge said:

It's quite a tall building for a house. I would consider engaging a SE for any renovations. 

Good advice.

On 19/02/2024 at 09:24, Phil64 said:

I'm about to do a load of work on the house and I'm wondering if the roof can be safely joined to the outer skin in the hope that this might remove or reduce the movement in high winds.

You should get an SE to come and have a chat about this as it could really drive the design.

 

It may be that if you add on a bit which will add further sideways wind loading then that could be the straw that breaks the back of the building. On the other hand if you add on something that contributes more to the stiffeness of the building then that could be a good thing.

 

Get an eperienced SE or someone that understands the forces and go from there. An experienced timber frame designer will also know about this and the pitfalls and long term performance.