Garage roof collapse. Advice on next steps

[normalbloke]

Good morning all. My mother in law’s garage roof has come to the end of its life. It’s separate from the house effectively at the bottom of the garden on a corner plot. Over the weekend, the roof has dropped by about 2-3 feet, along 3/4 of its length. It’s a single width tandem garage, so is about 10m long. It’s brick and block walls, and has a pitched roof with clay tiles on. The joist were wooden and it has a wooden ceiling inside creating a loft space. The house is 1920s, and the garage is probably younger than that, but was already there when they moved in 1970 ish. Insurance covers subsidence but not wear and tear. We suspect the insurance won’t cover it, but that’s not the main concern. Both long walls have damage to the tops, and one is visibly bowed along some of its length. I suspect the ridge failure has cause the joist to push the wall out, as opposed to the wall moving and causing the ridge failure, but that’s just my amateur eye. We want it surveyed, with a view to cause, rebuild options ( it might get shortened into a single garage and the other space used for a summer house/potting shed or greenhouse. Then deconstructed ( saving the tiles) safely. Questions initially are what sort of survey do we need and by whom? Then the next path to take really. Never had to do anything building wise of this calibre, so well outside of my knowledge set. House is central south coast is anyone has any recommendations.

Edited by normalbloke on Wednesday 16th April 11:40

[OutInTheShed]

Personally, I would get an independent builder to look at it.
You want someone to scope the problem and suggest ways forward, with a rough idea of what things will cost.
I'd expect to pay them decently for informal advice.

It might be helpful to firm up you ideas about what you want, e.g. shorter garage and greenhouse.

[Chrisgr31]

Photos would help.

What are the walls made of? They brick, stone, single skin etc?

[KTMsm]

OutInTheShed said:

Personally, I would get an independent builder to look at it.

You want someone to scope the problem and suggest ways forward, with a rough idea of what things will cost.

^^^ This

But good luck finding one

[JoshSm]

With the rate it's collapsing I'd suggest a priority should be to either get it stabilised or made safe. Surveys are all very nice but it sounds like you have a dangerous structure & if you don't get a move on then one way or another all you'll have is a pile of broken tiles, bricks & wood.

Hope it's empty & nothing inside anyone cares about.

[Cow Corner]

The correct answer is to get a structural engineer to inspect and specify the repairs - a good builder may have enough knowledge, but they are unlikely to have professional indemnity insurance. A quick visit from a local Engineer shouldn’t be particularly expensive and you could discuss your planned changes with them at the same time.

If the deflection is ongoing and you think there is a chance of collapse then you could get a builder to install some temporary propping while you investigate. If the structure is close to the boundary with a neighbour or a public area then clearly there is a much greater urgency and you should seek urgent advice.

[KTMsm]

It's a garage not a 20 story block of flats, any builder who can't repair a garage, isn't a builder

[dave123456]

KTMsm said:

It's a garage not a 20 story block of flats, any builder who can't repair a garage, isn't a builder

Yep a structural engineer will tell you what you already know with bigger words… then suggest a builder.

[ferret50]

One option, given a decent concrete floor is in place, would be to pull down the existing structure and skip the rubbish, then place a new sectional building on the existing base.....

[Cow Corner]

Yes, a SE might be overkill, but given the lack of detail, it’s likely the advice a competent professional would give, as they would have to assume the worst - I.e. it’s at risk of collapse and that it potentially be a health and safety risk.