Hi,
I am planning a loft conversion in my 1920's gabled semi. The roof is traditional cut roof with purlins spanning from gable to party wall with a single diagonal prop at mid span onto the central masonry spine wall. I am planning to install new floor joists front to back designed to support load bearing knee stud walls to replace the purlins.
My question is - is it necessary to birds mouth in the top plate of the stud wall into the rafters, or is it possible to simply cut the top plate with a chamfer to suit the slope of the rafters and nail or screw it? Cutting birds mouths into the rafters close to the back of the existing purlins will be difficult due to restricted access.
Thanks
I am planning a loft conversion in my 1920's gabled semi. The roof is traditional cut roof with purlins spanning from gable to party wall with a single diagonal prop at mid span onto the central masonry spine wall. I am planning to install new floor joists front to back designed to support load bearing knee stud walls to replace the purlins.
My question is - is it necessary to birds mouth in the top plate of the stud wall into the rafters, or is it possible to simply cut the top plate with a chamfer to suit the slope of the rafters and nail or screw it? Cutting birds mouths into the rafters close to the back of the existing purlins will be difficult due to restricted access.
Thanks