Roofs and flat roofs
The eaves of a hipped roof have kicked out on one elevation only. Why is roof spread still a question, and what tie was not seen in the loft?
Roof spread stays a question because a hip usually helps to hold the eaves in, yet this eaves has kicked out on one elevation only, and the tie that should restrain that side was not seen in the loft. The survey recorded the kick on that elevation. It did not find a tie, a collar arrangement, or a secure ceiling-joist connection doing that job. It has not measured how far the eaves has moved, and it has not decided that spread is the only possible cause.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
Spread is the tendency of rafter feet to push the walls outward when the roof is not tied across. A hipped end can brace a roof, so a kick on one elevation only does not dismiss spread and does not prove it. The missing piece is the tie that was not seen for that side. A slipped fascia or a rotten wall plate can look similar. The loft note records that the restraint was not there. It is not a measured thrust.
Ask a carpenter to look for the tie, the ceiling joists and the hip, and to say whether the kick needs restraint put back or a local eaves repair. Tell the solicitor the survey leaves spread open because the tie was not seen. Do not close the point because the other elevations look straight. The home survey did not design a tie and did not calculate the thrust at the wall plate.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Which elevation has the eaves kicked out, and which sides have not?
- What tie, if any, could you see in the loft on the kicked side?
- Did you leave roof spread as an open question rather than a measured thrust?
What are the typical next steps?
- Keep roof spread open until the missing tie is accounted for.
- Ask a carpenter to trace restraint on the kicked elevation.
- Do not treat the straight elevations as proof the hip is tied.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
If the rooms below show no cracked ceilings, is spread ruled out?
No. A quiet ceiling does not show whether the eaves is tied. The survey saw a kick on one elevation and did not see the tie in the loft. It did not measure the movement and it did not test the ceiling joists. Spread can be a slow push. The absence of a crack that day does not supply the missing tie.
Does a hipped end on its own count as the tie?
Not by itself. A hip can help to brace a roof, which is why spread is still worth asking about when only one eaves has kicked. The survey did not see a tie in the loft on that side. The hip timber was not recorded as a measured restraint, and the kick was not explained away by the shape of the roof.