1900 Folk Victorian has sagging dormer
Home built 1900, upstair unfinished. Dormer installed in hip not tied into bottom floor ceiling/upstairs flooring joists, it just “hangs”. Sorta of installed in midst of hip, neither “edge” is over the load exterior wall. Over 18 yrs in home, gradually dormer is sagging into attice space! Understanding that 2×4 support 4′! Joists are 22′ 2×4 Fir, as are rafters. How to safely strengthen and support dormer. Dormer faces “east”, rafters and joists run perpendicularly, “north/south”.
Replies
You need some pictures if you expect any help here....impossible to figure out what is going on from your description.
Next, get an engineer or highly qualified contractor to take a look at this before you go one step further....I would do it soon if you have noticed sag...
If you don't need the space
If you don't need the space below I'd consider running supports down to the floor to prop it up. Put some sort of beam on the floor to spread the load.
Dodge
I was asked about the same question last fall. Their situation pertained to unsupported ridges and valley's. This requires site inspection and one heck of a creative mind specific. A code compliment easy fix won't happen often.
in your homes timeframe, not unusual to see either under framed or "changed" supports that vanished while " opening this up. "
These things can be corrected, just not without all the information. Easily understood drawings and good pictures linked together.........with all framing sizes noted, and.....
Try to find somebody qualified as an engineer or even a seasoned remodeling contractor. Site visit.