roof perlins

[palmer1]

We are still planning our loft conversion, now only with roof window so no complications of having a dormer. It is a traditional roof. Area is approx 22 x12 foot. One of a terrace of three cottages but all sharing the same roof and the same perlins. We are at the end so the perlins in our roof are supported from the gable end wall and run straight through to the other gable end wall in number 3 cottage. The perlins are joined/spliced at about midway. My question is if we need to cut the perlins out to do our loft conversion, will it affect our neighbours roof? We don't really want to cut them out and as we are not having a dormer we don't think there is any need to, but it has been suggested to us that we will need to cut them out to allow for a steel beam and it's associated support to be introduced to support the new floor joists etc. We would be grateful for other peoples advice about this so basically if you share your perlins with neighbours is it ok to cut them and remove your section? Thanks

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You would not normally need to remove or cut out a segment of a purlin unless it really intruded on the space. Even then removing one should not affect the other houses.

As has been mensionted to you before, it is pretty pointless talking to builders you need to talk to a designer.

 

[palmer1]

We have got a structural engineer and he seems to want to remove perlins and replace them with steel ones higher up, he says we need to have a steelframework to support the new long joist, this in turn need support from more steelwork and bracking and includes two new perlins. It seem abit OTT to us. We dont want to cut out the existing perlins, and it is only a simple small loft conversion. Do we need to get a second opinion?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Maybe, but your loft conversion is not overly straightforward though. If you have not appointed him yet then definately get a few others round.