Roof Framing Inspection — What a Structural Engineer Looks For

Why Your Roof’s Framing Deserves an Engineer’s Eyes

Shingles are the part of the roof you see. Framing is the part that holds everything up. A new $15,000 roof installed over compromised framing is a $15,000 mistake — the shingles will look great while the structure underneath continues to deteriorate, sag, or fail under the next severe storm.

Most roofing contractors never enter the attic. They evaluate the roof from outside: shingle condition, flashing, gutters, visible damage. That surface-level assessment misses every structural deficiency hidden under the decking. Cracked trusses, missing hurricane straps, inadequate rafter ties and collar ties, water-damaged members, and unauthorized modifications are all invisible from the roof surface.

1 Source Roofing is the only roofing contractor in metro Atlanta with a licensed structural engineer on staff. Our inspections go beyond observation. We calculate loads, verify connection capacities, evaluate code compliance, and produce engineering reports that document every deficiency. The inspection below is the same systematic process our engineer follows in every attic he enters.

The 12-Point Structural Framing Inspection

Our engineer evaluates every item below during a roof framing inspection. Each point corresponds to a specific structural function that must be intact for the roof to perform safely under gravity loads, wind loads, and the environmental conditions specific to metro Atlanta.

1. 1Truss and Rafter Condition Every truss chord, web member, and rafter is inspected for cracks, splits, bowing, twisting, and notching. Cracked bottom chords are the most common truss damage finding — often caused by storage loads the truss was never designed to carry. Rafters are checked for mid-span deflection that exceeds the L/180 limit specified by the IRC.
2. 2Roof-to-Wall Connections (Hurricane Straps) Every rafter or truss-to-wall-plate connection is checked for metal connectors. Hurricane straps must be present at every bearing point, installed with the correct manufacturer-specified nails, and every nail hole must be filled. Toenails-only connections are flagged as deficient.
3. 3Rafter Ties and Collar Ties Opposing rafters must be connected by rafter ties at the wall plate level and collar ties in the upper third of the attic. Missing ties allow walls to spread outward and ridges to sag. The engineer verifies presence, spacing, lumber size, and fastener count at each connection.
4. 4Load Path Continuity The continuous load path from roof to foundation is the chain of connections that transfers gravity and wind forces from the ridge to the ground. Every link — ridge connection, rafter-to-plate, plate-to-stud, stud-to-sill, sill-to-foundation — must be intact. A break anywhere in the chain means the forces above the break have no path to the ground.
5. 5Bearing Points and Support Posts Every load-bearing post, column, and bearing wall in the attic must sit directly above a load-bearing element below. Posts that bear on the middle of a ceiling joist span — rather than on a wall or beam — create point loads the joist was not designed to carry, causing deflection and cracking in the ceiling below.
6. 6Ridge Board and Ridge Beam Condition The ridge is inspected for splitting, sagging, and connection failure. A ridge board is a nailing surface, not a structural beam — it relies on rafter ties and collar ties to remain stable. A structural ridge beam must be verified for adequate size, proper bearing at each end, and sufficient post-to-beam connections. Ridge sag is one of the most visible signs of framing failure.
7. 7Modifications and Penetrations Unauthorized modifications — cut truss webs, notched rafters, holes drilled through chords for plumbing or HVAC — are among the most damaging defects an engineer finds. A single cut web member can reduce a truss’s load capacity by 50 percent or more. Every penetration is evaluated for structural impact.
8. 8Water Damage and Wood Deterioration Water damage weakens wood framing by promoting fungal decay and reducing the member’s load-carrying capacity. The engineer probes suspected areas with a moisture meter and an awl to check for soft, deteriorated wood. Stains, discoloration, and mold growth indicate active or historic leaks that may have compromised the structural integrity of the affected members.
9. 9Roof Sheathing Condition Sheathing (plywood or OSB) is checked for delamination, soft spots, sagging between rafters, and nail pull-through. Deteriorated sheathing cannot hold roofing nails, which means the shingles above it will blow off in the next windstorm regardless of how well they were installed. The engineer identifies areas where sheathing replacement is needed before new roofing goes on.
10. 10Bracing and Lateral Stability Continuous lateral bracing prevents trusses and rafters from rolling or buckling sideways under load. The engineer checks for permanent bracing at the bottom chord, web members, and top chord per the truss manufacturer’s bracing requirements. Missing bracing allows individual trusses to twist, creating uneven roof planes and localized failures.
11. 11Ventilation and Insulation Impact While not a structural item per se, the engineer notes ventilation deficiencies that contribute to structural deterioration. Blocked soffit vents, missing ridge vents, and improperly installed insulation that traps moisture against sheathing accelerate wood decay. These observations inform the full scope of the roof replacement or repair recommendation.
12. 12Code Compliance Assessment Every finding is evaluated against the International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted by Georgia, ASCE 7-16 for wind loads, and the local code amendments applicable to the jurisdiction. The engineer determines whether the existing framing meets current code or falls short — and by how much.

Attic Cross-Section — All Inspection Points

Red Flag Indicators — What Each Problem Looks Like

Not every defect is obvious. Our engineer knows what to look for because he has seen hundreds of attics in metro Atlanta. The diagram below shows the visual indicators that separate a sound roof structure from a compromised one.

Our Complete Structural Engineering Resource Library

This roof framing inspection page is the hub of our structural engineering content. Each page below covers a specific structural topic in depth — the science behind the defect, the code requirements, and the engineered repairs our team performs. Together, these pages represent the knowledge base that sets 1 Source apart from every other roofing contractor in metro Atlanta.

The Difference Between Observation and Engineering

A home inspector notes what he sees. A roofer reports on shingle condition. Neither calculates whether a 2x8 rafter spanning 14 feet at 24 inches on center can carry the combined dead load, live load, and wind uplift specified by ASCE 7-16 for a 115 mph wind zone. That calculation is engineering — and it is the difference between knowing a rafter looks bent and knowing whether it will fail.

Our structural engineer produces a written report for every inspection. The report documents each deficiency with photographs, identifies the applicable code section, calculates the actual versus required capacity, and specifies the repair. That report serves as the engineering basis for our crew’s work, as documentation for your insurance claim if storm damage is involved, and as a permanent record that the repairs were designed by a licensed engineer.

If you are planning a roof replacement, the structural inspection happens first. We correct the framing before the new shingles go on — not after. For homeowners in Alpharetta, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Roswell, and Marietta, our team is within 30 minutes. Call (404) 277-1377 to schedule your free inspection.