Q&A – When is an off-center attic beam a concern?

One of the big concerns during a home inspection is finding a damaged or improperly installed weight-bearing support beam. In order to get the best assessment possible, a follower came to our experts for a second opinion.

A question came in through the AskARoofer Instagram page from a home inspector, asking about an attic beam. They said:

Hey there! I'm a home inspector. Is this beam a concern? Considering its not straight.

Our roofing expert, John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group, responded, saying:

A column beam must carry the load at the ridge supporting the joists at both sides to be considered a structural support beam. This beam is an offset from your photo, so I am unsure of its purpose, but it does not support the structure entirely. Maybe it was added as additional support, but I can not tell from the information I have to work off. Being onsite and inspecting, you should be able to determine what it is connected to and possibly what its intent was for.

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