My partner and I have found a potential triplex with good bones and great potential but we have one concern about the addition that was constructed. The previous owners added to the second story but did not demo the old existing roof. Instead they decided to frame the new addition directly to the roof of the original house leaving the roof exposed in the attic of the new addition. I was just wondering if anyone has ever seen this before and if so was it a big issue?

I'm not understanding what you're saying. They built on top of the old roof but the old roof is showing in the attic of the new part that is on top of the old part? This doesn't make sense.

@John Teachout they didn’t built another floor on top of the existing roof, it was an extension. This extension has a roof that is higher up and runs the opposite direction so the higher roof is framed on top of the existing roofs peak. When you go into the attic you can see the existing roof with the rafters of the new roof tied into it.

Hi @Cameron Foster ,

First thing I would do is to search for the property in your local municipality's building department to find any history of permits pulled for permission to build that addition. If you find a permit, I would feel somewhat comfortable that it was done correctly since the local municipality does inspections and approves the improvement. 

In any regard, buy with right to inspect and bring your concern to the home inspector to take a look. If you wanted the 100% and were willing to spend a little more money, hire an engineer to visit the property to look at that specific issue. If they tell you the place is a liability, use your right to inspect and move on. 

Based on your revised description, I don't think I would lose sleep over it. Did they attach the wood with the shingles still in between the structural framing and existing roof deck? If so, that seems a little odd but not necessarily something that would create a problem. As suggested,check to see if there are building permits for the addition.

@John Teachout The wood is attached to the old metal roof but my and my partner found the permits and the building has no violations. So it looks like we’ll be in good shape. Thanks for the help.

@Tom Parris Thank you. We did as you said and found no previous violations. Hope to put an offer in later this week.

Originally posted by @Cameron Foster :

@John Teachout The wood is attached to the old metal roof but my and my partner found the permits and the building has no violations. So it looks like we’ll be in good shape. Thanks for the help.

You found permits for the addition? Were there plans included? Hard to believe any jurisdiction would allow what you've said. Very unorthodox. Others are commenting on the legality which I question, but basic physics tells me something's up. The rate of expansion/movement as well as the physical properties of a metal roof, as you mentioned, is quite different than wood/framing. Now putting that roof in an enclosed space which will likely get very hot, depending on your locale, is worrisome.