Don't Get Too Attached ...

[Jay Markanich]

to your front porch roof.  One day you might come home to find it missing!

At least that's what I thought when I had a look at a new construction recently.  Overall it wasn't bad!  But some things just demand attention, and this was one of them.

This is the outside end of the front porch roof.  It could be that they aren't finished with it, but the builder said the house was ready for a pre-drywall inspection.  (It wasn't.)

My problem is this:  the ledger beam, which is the 2x6" that is attached to the house, is secured with only nails.  And the 2x6" joist rafters are only toe nailed into the ledger beam.  Only nails?

Ideally the ledger should be attached at 12" intervals with through bolts into and through the rim joist (or frieze board) which makes the roof a part of the structure of the house.

Similarly the joist rafters should be more firmly attached to the ledger with some form of strap.  There are various that could be used.  That would strengthen the entire structure.

For sure that roof is not heavy and very, very wind vulnerable.  I have seen them literally blow off!

My recommendation:  Don't wait for the County to find things like this.  They may not.  County inspections are very quick - they have a lot of houses to look at!  Hire an experienced home inspector.  Home inspectors spend more time and look at everything!