loft conversion

[richardmm]

Hi everyone this forumhas been a good resource for myself due to the good people here

i have a loft with normal loft with normal 2 purlins on both side of the normal orginal roof. i want to store some things there such as heavy stuff i dont use much .

i was seeing this site and people say they have to upgrade joists? my question is do i have to upgrade joists? there is already joists in the loft.

if i do upgrade joists do i just get new joists for example a 2x8 and attach it to both of the walls a bit above the normal joists? or do i rest them on the normal joists?

thanks

 

[noseall]

Hi everyone this forumhas been a good resource for myself due to the good people here

i have a loft with normal loft with normal 2 purlins on both side of the normal orginal roof. i want to store some things there such as heavy stuff i dont use much .

i was seeing this site and people say they have to upgrade joists? my question is do i have to upgrade joists? there is already joists in the loft.

if i do upgrade joists do i just get new joists for example a 2x8 and attach it to both of the walls a bit above the normal joists? or do i rest them on the normal joists?

thanks

A new load bearing floor would need to span from wall to wall. That could be an internal wall if there is a load bearing one available. Only problem with long spans and lofts, is getting the stuff up there.

 

[RandomGrinch]

my question is do i have to upgrade joists? there is already joists in the loft.

What size are your existing joists?

And your title states "Loft Conversion", when it sounds as if you are talking about a bit of storage space - will this only ever be a 'loft storage room', or would you want it to become a 'habitable' space at some point?

 

[richardmm]

A new load bearing floor would need to span from wall to wall. That could be an internal wall if there is a load bearing one available. Only problem with long spans and lofts, is getting the stuff up there.

ok thank you but what about storage purposes? how can i strenthen the joists? new ones or bracing needed?

 

[noseall]

ok thank you but what about storage purposes? how can i strenthen the joists? new ones or bracing needed?

You can glue and screw additional timber to the existing, and gain a wee bit more strength from them. Or use a ceiling binder type method. Both would likely need you to be able to access lengthy timbers into the loft space.

 

[richardmm]

You can glue and screw additional timber to the existing, and gain a wee bit more strength from them. Or use a ceiling binder type method. Both would likely need you to be able to access lengthy timbers into the loft space.

good thinking sounds quite good . i will have a few more people to aid help

i was thinking this one

if i get new joists in and attach to the existing wall plate and span the joists to the middle internal load bearing wall and another from there to the other wallplate. I will be doing this a bit more above the original loft joists.

will this be okay sir?

Thank you again

 

[noseall]

good thinking sounds quite good . i will have a few more people to aid help

i was thinking this one

if i get new joists in and attach to the existing wall plate and span the joists to the middle internal load bearing wall and another from there to the other wallplate. I will be doing this a bit more above the original loft joists.

will this be okay sir?

Thank you again

Yes. You will likely have to navigate cables and pipes, unless you can somehow raise the new joists a wee bit. The slope of the roof will be prohibitive.

 

[richardmm]

Yes. You will likely have to navigate cables and pipes, unless you can somehow raise the new joists a wee bit. The slope of the roof will be prohibitive.

thanks for fast advice good man you are.

one more sensitive question sorry man but i need this one time

can i just remove all floor joists from loft and put in new joists and use existing wallplates...or i might just go from brick wall to other brick wall... is this allowed?

i know i will get building control but before i just want to check if its okay.

because why keep normal joists if i put new ones... i take away normal oringnal joists and use them for other stuff.

thanks

 

[noseall]

thanks for fast advice good man you are.

one more sensitive question sorry man but i need this one time

can i just remove all floor joists from loft and put in new joists and use existing wallplates...or i might just go from brick wall to other brick wall... is this allowed?

i know i will get building control but before i just want to check if its okay.

because why keep normal joists if i put new ones... i take away normal oringnal joists and use them for other stuff.

thanks

Technically yes. Rather, you'd just leave the existing ones there (to hold the roof and ceilings up!) and 'sister' the existing ones with new deeper joists. This would likely have to be done off a scaffold with some of the roof tiles removed and any prohibitive plumbing and electrics dealt with.

 

[stevie888]

thanks for fast advice good man you are.

one more sensitive question sorry man but i need this one time

can i just remove all floor joists from loft and put in new joists and use existing wallplates...or i might just go from brick wall to other brick wall... is this allowed?

i know i will get building control but before i just want to check if its okay.

because why keep normal joists if i put new ones... i take away normal oringnal joists and use them for other stuff.

thanks

The existing ceiling joists also tie the wall plates together to prevent the rafters pushing the walls out. Would be highly unusual to remove them

 

[noseall]

The existing ceiling joists also tie the wall plates together to prevent the rafters pushing the walls out. Would be highly unusual to remove them

If you sacrificed the ceilings and removed any pipes and cables, it would be possible to swap them out, one at a time. I don't know why you would though, rather than just sister the existing.

 

[richardmm]

one question for anyone here

what is breathable membrane what does it do as builder said he will go tomorrow and get somefor kitchen roof change i want to educate myself

thanks

 

[Jurassicspark]

A breathable membrane doesn't allow moisture or rainwater to penetrate (from outside) but will allow vapour to pass from the inside.