Can you believe this?

[Suzque49]

We are replacing our roof and stripped it down to the OSB. Then noticed that the sun was shining through a crack in the ceiling between the marriage walls. Upon further inspection, my hubby discovered that when they set the house up in 1990, they neglected to bolt together about 20 ft at the end of the house!! So over the years it has separated, and now has about a one inch gap between the sections along the roof line!
This is something the original home owner would never have had a chance to check, but I would have thought the building inspector would have checked it, (We are on a permanent foundation on acreage) wouldn't they?

[Harry]

Hi

Bummer!

Did you join the halfs?

Harry

[Suzque49]

Hubby and Son went up this afternoon and were able to pull it together about 1/2 inch with about 12 to 15 all thread bolts. Hubby said at least it won't move anymore. Now I should be able to fix the cracks and have them stay fixed!!

[Jim from Canada]

If you can retain access to the bolts you put in, you may be able to tighten it right up over a period of time. Give them a bit of a tightening (1/2 turn or so) every day until the gap closes.

[Harry]

Hi Suz

Here is a copy and paste from a popular MH Installation Manual.

To obtain access into the ceiling cavity to bolt or alternately
lag screw the ridge beam sections together, fold back
the underlayment paper and remove the 16” wide sheathing
panel(s) at the peak. Note that the shingles may not have
been installed on one or both halves, at the 16” wide area at
the peak. If one side is shingled, it is intended that the beams
be lag screwed together. If neither side is shingled, the beam
may be lag screwed or bolted together. Bolts to be 3/8” x 4-
1/2” at 48” o.c. with 3 additional bolts at 3” o.c. over interior
beam supports. Lag screws to be 3/8” x 5” at 24” o.c. with 6
additional lag screws at 3” o.c. over interior beam supports. (If
marriage walls and ridge beam halves have been plated with
3/8” sheathing, then the bolts/lags must be increased in length
by 3/4” to 5-3/4”.) Predrill 1/4” pilot holes for the lag screws
at 1-1/2” down from the top of the beam and with a maximum
offset from the horizontal of 45 degrees. A gap between
beam halves up to 1” is allowable. Gaps larger than 1/2” must
be fi lled with plywood or lumber shims. For 1/2” max gaps,
increase fastener length 1/2”. For 1” max. gaps increase fastener
length 1-1/4”.

Oddly enough .... a gap is allowed ..... but there should have been fasteners. You should be ok now.

Harry