I would like to make a room in the loft of my bungalow but there are three 
vertical supports from the ridge to the floor. They do seem substantial 
(about 2"x1"). What are they for. Can they be removed and if so what other 
support system would be required to replace them and open up the whole loft 
area.

Any advice welcomed.

Steve

Flyfire wrote:

> I would like to make a room in the loft of my bungalow but there are
> three vertical supports from the ridge to the floor. They do seem
> substantial (about 2"x1"). What are they for. Can they be removed and
> if so what other support system would be required to replace them and
> open up the whole loft area.
>
> Any advice welcomed.
>
> Steve


Steve,

2"x1" can no way be described as substantial and they can probably be
removed.

NOW THE WARNING:

Please be aware that it can be extremely risky to remove ANY roof timbers
without having the understanding as to what they do and the loads they are
carrying - the average roof can weigh many tons - and more with a covering
of snow - and if it collapses after you have been working on it, you will be
held responsible in law for all of the after affects.

Consideration must also be made of the fact the the ceiling joists will be
unable to support any sort of heavy deadweight or liveweight without having
to be seriously reinforced.

There will also be an issue with insulation, heating, cold and noise.

Another issue will be that you will need to get Building Control approval,
possibly Planning approval and you will have to comply with the Building
Regulations for a multitude of things.

ADVICE:

If you have very little knowledge of the works that you want caried out (and
your post would seem to bear this out) PLEASE at least consult with someone
who has that knowledge and knows the pitfalls and Building Regs inside out
so that they can steer you in the right direction - Architect, Structural
Engineer, Loft Conversion Specialist etc.

This may not be the answer to your original question, but it may save you a
lot of hard earned cash if something goes wrong.

Brian G

Thanks Brian.

There is an oops there. There is a NOT missing.
It should read They do NOT seem substantial.
I am not a total idiot. I am an ex aircraft engineer but admit that 
buildings are something I know not a lot about. Hence, the request for 
information. I was hoping someone could give me a guide as to why such 
insubstantial timbers are there. They are so insubstantial and without any 
nodal support that they would be bowing to near breaking point if any loads 
of roof size and order were bearing on them.

Therefore I am slightly bemused as to their purpose. They just seem to be in 
my way.

Steve
"Brian G"  wrote in message 
news:3oqjgpF76m96U1@individual.net...

> Flyfire wrote:
>> I would like to make a room in the loft of my bungalow but there are
>> three vertical supports from the ridge to the floor. They do seem
>> substantial (about 2"x1"). What are they for. Can they be removed and
>> if so what other support system would be required to replace them and
>> open up the whole loft area.
>>
>> Any advice welcomed.
>>
>> Steve
>
> Steve,
>
> 2"x1" can no way be described as substantial and they can probably be
> removed.
>
> NOW THE WARNING:
>
> Please be aware that it can be extremely risky to remove ANY roof timbers
> without having the understanding as to what they do and the loads they are
> carrying - the average roof can weigh many tons - and more with a covering
> of snow - and if it collapses after you have been working on it, you will 
> be
> held responsible in law for all of the after affects.
>
> Consideration must also be made of the fact the the ceiling joists will be
> unable to support any sort of heavy deadweight or liveweight without 
> having
> to be seriously reinforced.
>
> There will also be an issue with insulation, heating, cold and noise.
>
> Another issue will be that you will need to get Building Control approval,
> possibly Planning approval and you will have to comply with the Building
> Regulations for a multitude of things.
>
> ADVICE:
>
> If you have very little knowledge of the works that you want caried out 
> (and
> your post would seem to bear this out) PLEASE at least consult with 
> someone
> who has that knowledge and knows the pitfalls and Building Regs inside out
> so that they can steer you in the right direction - Architect, Structural
> Engineer, Loft Conversion Specialist etc.
>
> This may not be the answer to your original question, but it may save you 
> a
> lot of hard earned cash if something goes wrong.
>
> Brian G
>
>
>
> 

On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 10:16:05 GMT, "Flyfire"
 muttered and said:


>I would like to make a room in the loft of my bungalow but there are three 
>vertical supports from the ridge to the floor. They do seem substantial 
>(about 2"x1"). What are they for. Can they be removed and if so what other 
>support system would be required to replace them and open up the whole loft 
>area.
>
>Any advice welcomed.
>
>Steve 
>

They would probably be supports for the chippys putting the roof
trusses up. Instead of someone holding the things, they used bits of
handy 2x1, also cut to length, they would give the correct height for
install without having to measure all the time.

Easiest way to be certain is to see how much "play" is in the middle
of the things in the horizontal direction. If they move freely in and
out, they are under no load.

Thanks for that Eric. That looks exactly what they are. There is just no way 
that these struts are part of the load bearing roof frame. I am just not up 
with custom and practise in house building but I knew it had to be something 
like that.
Regards
Steve
"EricP"  wrote in message 
news:uukgi159gfv3rks9mm2k8aujm4d00475e7@4ax.com...

> On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 10:16:05 GMT, "Flyfire"
>  muttered and said:
>
>>I would like to make a room in the loft of my bungalow but there are three
>>vertical supports from the ridge to the floor. They do seem substantial
>>(about 2"x1"). What are they for. Can they be removed and if so what other
>>support system would be required to replace them and open up the whole 
>>loft
>>area.
>>
>>Any advice welcomed.
>>
>>Steve
>>
> They would probably be supports for the chippys putting the roof
> trusses up. Instead of someone holding the things, they used bits of
> handy 2x1, also cut to length, they would give the correct height for
> install without having to measure all the time.
>
> Easiest way to be certain is to see how much "play" is in the middle
> of the things in the horizontal direction. If they move freely in and
> out, they are under no load. 

They are roof trusses and used on most modern houses. They are thin timber
but get their strength from the shape of the triangles formed. Do not remove
bits - the roof will sag or worse. You could reinforce the timber but you
would need larger sections and a structural engineer to calculate sizes,
forces etc. Older roof have large beams halfway up the sloping (purlins) to
take the force. probably a big job but could be done.

"Flyfire"  wrote in message
news:FLSVe.8079$Kk3.5829@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

> I would like to make a room in the loft of my bungalow but there are three
> vertical supports from the ridge to the floor. They do seem substantial
> (about 2"x1"). What are they for. Can they be removed and if so what other
> support system would be required to replace them and open up the whole
loft
> area.
>
> Any advice welcomed.
>
> Steve
>
>