Can I cut the beams for a loft ladder

[brevill]

My roof is a truss roof (I think) and the ceiling beams and truss that goes up to the roof are 55cm apart.

The loft ladder I've bought is 70cm wide 110cm long. Can I cut one of the beams to make it fit?

Here are a couple if pics of the loft space:
https://imgur.com/a/deF7Nsy

Or is it best to return it and buy a 55cm wide one?

 

[Leofric]

No ,you can't cut the roof trusses, they are triangulated and you would destroy the structural integrity of the truss by cutting the bottom cord/ceiling joist .
Return the ladder and get one to fit between the trusses.

 

[blup]

Trussed roofs can be altered but it involves more work, plus they are less likely than a traditional cut roof to support anything more than the weight of the ceiling i.e not for significant storage or human use.

OOI, are the dimensions you give, for the loft hatch opening (70 x110cm), or for the ladder itself, because the latter suggests a low ceiling height in the bedroom/landing

Blup

 

[Leofric]

Roof trusses can be altered by people like a specialist loft conversion company who know what they are doing and carry out structural alterations in accordance with approved structural calculations , but it should not be attempted by a householder fitting a loft ladder.

 

[brevill]

Thanks for your replies. I think I’ll skip it and get a smaller one.

70x120 is the size of the actual box frame that the ladder fits into (I.e the opening size) it’s a tb Davies luxfold ladder.

FYI it’s only for lightweight storage in the loft space.

 

[Mottie]

You could do with a bit more insulation in that loft.

 

[brevill]

You could do with a bit more insulation in that loft.