Conversion advice

Leofric · 8 Apr 2019

You could also try the health and safety angle, somebody could take the top of their head off walking into a wire less than 6ft from the floor.
You would normally expect at least 2m headroom under beams !
ps the wires couldn't follow the slope of the roof as they wouldn't then be acting as ties.

pilsbury · 9 Apr 2019

You have been given some sound advice. When talking to the builder/designer, I would simply ask them if they think it’s a sensible design that would be acceptable in their house. Their only answer could be that it’s not which therefore attributes blame to them for a ridiculous design that is not fit for purpose.

The tie wire across the doorway is something quite special. It could be on one of those YouTube compilations of engineering **** ups..... you know, where the 2 halves of the bridge don’t meet..... or a doorway is half way up a skyscraper.

Fefster · 9 Apr 2019

Excellent advice, thanks to all. I have had a good outcome thanks to your help.
The wires are being removed tomorrow. They were put up in error and are apparently not needed with some other reinforcement work.
I have requested in writing that the warranty will not be affected and I have received this.

wessex101 · 9 Apr 2019

Fefster said:
Excellent advice, thanks to all. I have had a good outcome thanks to your help.
The wires are being removed tomorrow. They were put up in error and are apparently not needed with some other reinforcement work.
I have requested in writing that the warranty will not be affected and I have received this.

That is all well and good but if they remove the ties they need to confirm what is stopping the roof from spreading? If they were incompetent enough to put the ties in in the first place it would not surprise me if they "forgot" to put in a ridge beam to support the roof.

Fefster · 9 Apr 2019

wessex101 said:
That is all well and good but if they remove the ties they need to confirm what is stopping the roof from spreading? If they were incompetent enough to put the ties in the first place it would not surprise me if they "forgot" to put in a ridge beam to support the roof.

They said that the ties were put in by mistake. It's not a glass roof so it should not be needed. They are reinforcing the gable ends apparently and we have a guarantee, so I am happy. I will ask the question though so thank you for raising it.

^woody^ · 9 Apr 2019

Fefster said:
They said that the ties were put in by mistake. It's not a glass roof so it should not be needed. They are reinforcing the gable ends apparently and we have a guarantee, so I am happy. I will ask the question though so thank you for raising it.

Be sure to tell building control that the ties are being removed, and ask the inspector if he is "happy that roof spread is being catered for by removal of the braces".

pilsbury · 9 Apr 2019

My only thoughts from someone who is not a structural engineer is that when putting the roof up with those daft wires at garrotting height, the builder must have had a fleeting thought that the customer was going to be ****ed with this. I’d then imagine he investigated this on the quiet only to find they were required and took a big gulp before carrying on with the boarding hoping your eyesight was not up to scratch and your entire family were oompa-loompas. It seems to me that it’s only when you’ve questioned this and highlighted the absurdity of it all that they are no longer needed.

Has he suggested a nice roman pillar feature in the middle of the room or a big pole floor to roof incase the misses wants to take up pole dancing?

Leofric · 9 Apr 2019

Have the drawings received bldg. regulations approval ? If so, what roof construction is specified/drawn. As others have said you need to check with the designer and building control that the roof is structurally stable. It looks to me as though there has to be a ridge beam to prevent the roof spreading and dropping as there are no horizontal ties.Do the drawings show a ridge beam ?

tony1851 · 10 Apr 2019

^woody^ said:
Whilst normally something of this nature (a structural tie) would require encasing for fire protection,

An element forming any part of a roof structure does not require fire resistance.

tony1851 · 10 Apr 2019

Leofric said:
Have the drawings received bldg. regulations approval ? If so, what roof construction is specified/drawn. As others have said you need to check with the designer and building control that the roof is structurally stable. It looks to me as though there has to be a ridge beam to prevent the roof spreading and dropping as there are no horizontal ties.Do the drawings show a ridge beam ?

I doubt the drawings will show any structural detail at all. These firms which 'do everything' just get a local draughtsman to knock up some pretty pictures for the client.

Fefster · 10 Apr 2019

Leofric said:
Have the drawings received bldg. regulations approval ? If so, what roof construction is specified/drawn. As others have said you need to check with the designer and building control that the roof is structurally stable. It looks to me as though there has to be a ridge beam to prevent the roof spreading and dropping as there are no horizontal ties.Do the drawings show a ridge beam ?

It's fine, I have a letter from the roof manufacturer and the builder confirming that the tie wires are not needed and the roof is safe and still under warranty. The roof is being constructed onto a block wall and a new timber roof was constructed underneath that. When the roof was supplied, the roof company thought it was being supplied for a conservatory and supplied the kit including the wires. The builders, instead of checking, installed the tie wires when it seems obvious to anyone with any sense that they were not intended for that design. Because it is a block wall, the tie wires are not needed. The building regulations are all approved and they have all the details of the roof without the tie wires and they also say it is fine.
This has all stemmed from builders steaming ahead with a project even if it felt completely wrong to them. This could all have been avoided. Anyway, thanks for the time taken, everyone.

^woody^ · 10 Apr 2019

tony1851 said:
An element forming any part of a roof structure does not require fire resistance.

Like ceiling joists you mean?

Leofric · 10 Apr 2019

I was just interested to know what the roof construction actually is - ridge beam/ purlins or what ?

^woody^ · 11 Apr 2019

Leofric said:
I was just interested to know what the roof construction actually is - ridge beam/ purlins or what ?

Plastic conservatory roof structure.

Leofric · 11 Apr 2019

Fefster said:
The roof is being constructed onto a block wall and a new timber roof was constructed underneath that.

Beyond me - what's all this about a timber roof

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Conversion advice

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