Beams in converted barn

[Moona]

Hello All,

Please can someone help me. I would like to install doors to two attic room conversions and I have been told there is a possibility to cut a beam running horizontally and have a door which is higher than the existing (badly fitted) one.

I attach photos of the two rooms and i have drawn a red line (on the approximate area) on the part of the beam i have been told is possible to cut (and support with additional stilts/props - sorry i dont know the name). I would like to know if this is safe to do and that cutting that particular beam won't see our roof collapse

The images are in the folder 'beam' on my profile (i cannot attach them to this message for some reason)

Thank you very much for your help.

Moona

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• Moona
• 18 Mar 2015
• 1

Untitled

• Moona
• 18 Mar 2015
• 1

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

 

[Moona]

Thank you

 

[ree]

No, you cant cut where you indicate, in fact, cutting any framing in that partition would be structurally risky. I dont think anything would "collapse" but its not sound practice to introduce risk.

I think that what you have is a modified Post truss - any post is long gone, and the Principal rafter on the RH has been modified and is bolted thro the partition.
Wherever you see bolts they are almost always retrofits, and often indicate previous structural movement or refurbishing re-arrangement has taken place - beware.

The LH principal rafter is supporting a purlin which is supporting the common rafters - you can see a supporting post below, and just out of line with the purlin. Cutting the LH Principal rafter would weaken this arrangement.

The pics dont show the RH side arrangements or how the tie-beam is loaded or notched etc?

I doubt that this space was originally a loft or bedroom.

 

[Moona]

Thank you for that piece of info, it is much appreciated.

I wonder why the builder thinks it's ok to cut it. a bit worrying seen as he's a specialist in making timber roofs.

I have taken another photo but i am not sure if that is the part you mentioned (RH side arrangements ? )

Yes, the rooms did not exist before and the previous owner mentioned that she had this part constructed to create an "upstairs".

thank you once again

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• Moona
• 18 Mar 2015
• 1

 

[ree]

Thank you for the new pic.

The RH bolt-on rafter has been tied into the RH side purlin with a metal strap - this was presumably to help prevent the roof from spreading. Are there any more metal ties?

The RH side purlin is supported by a stud knee wall.

The door opening is square headed on one side of the partition and angled on the other?

The roof window opening will be putting some extra load on the common rafters esp the rafters near to the partition.

I wonder if you actually have two separate ridges that meet over the partition?

Such jumbled framing alterations are common enough in old properties and mostly seem to endure and work quite well so dont worry about things. Remember that i'm not on site and have no dimensions to work to.

But no cutting of anything unless a structural engineer has given a view.

 

[Moona]

Thank you again.

I've had a look and there doesn't appear to be any more metal ties on that side.

If i understood you correctly, the partition refers to the two different sides the two doors would be on? if so, then both doors will be identical. the opening you see, which is square on top, is just temporary and will be angled once the door is fitted. right now, we have to really duck down to go through that part. the other side, where a door already exists, our hope was to just replace it. but after that particular builder mentioned cutting the beam, that sounded more appealing as it would avoid having to duck down as the current height is no more than 1m45.

hahaha, yes jumbled framing is an understatement. the house is very old and most of it is jumbled.

I guess i didn't know the complexity of such constructions that i assumed i'd get a straight yes or no answer from my photos. silly me.

Good idea about a structural engineer to view it. i'll look for one this evening. thank you once again

 

[Moona]

I wonder if you actually have two separate ridges that meet over the partition?

I have no idea, and no idea where to look for them, sorry.

 

[ree]

Why two doors? One opening for one door.

 

[Moona]

sorry, i misunderstood what you meant. Yes, only one door per partition (two doors in total, one per partition. I have sent photos of both.)

The shape of the door will be the same as you see the existing fitted door, except it'll be higher (if we get the go-ahead for cutting the beam)

 

[ree]

Are you talking about two partitions? I was under the impression that we were discussing one partition shown from both sides in pics 1. 2. & 3.

 

[Moona]

what we have is basically the side /(partition?) where you can see the door already fitted, which i'm looking to replace. and the other side is where i am standing and taking the photo, behind me is the opening (no door as yet) which is the second photo.

I am standing on the mezzanine taking the photo and on either side, there is a room where the doors need to go.

Hope that makes sense, and sorry for the confusion.