Can I cut this joist?

[HammieUK]

I'm half way through a loft conversion at present (see here), and I've realised there's potential to improve the head room on the first floor stairs by cutting one of the joists. Unforunately I'd already put the loft stairs in place before I realised this, so you might have to use your imagination with this picture...

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• HammieUK
• 12 Feb 2012
• 1

The floor joists (~50 x 175) run perpendicular to the stairway, there's a retaining wall below the joists on the left side of the stairs, and the external wall is on the right. My question is can I cut back one of the floor joists to the retaining wall? I'm only expecting a 'probably yes' or 'probably not' answer, I'll get a structural engineer round to confirm but I'd like to know if anyone thinks it would be a waste of time? Here's another older picture that might help explain what I'm babbling on about, the joist I want to cut is the one at the bottom...

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• HammieUK
• 12 Feb 2012
• 2

Any advice much appreciated!

 

[ladylola]

To be honest the second picture doesn't make anything clear to me at all, but looking at the first picture I'm assuming you mean the joist directly above the stairs that currently has a cable dangling over it?
If this is the case then you answer as far as I can see is "probably yes"

 

[HammieUK]

Yeh that's the one. Sorry I couldn't get any better pictures, the chipboard goes underneath the stairs so I'd have to do some cutting to expose the joists again.

 

[Static]

Take the boarding up and post another photo of the actual joist you wish to remove..

 

[dhutch]

Take the boarding up and post another photo of the actual joist you wish to remove..

Get someone in qualified to give a suggestion. Beyond the 'proberbly yes' which i would agree with, from photos, its very hard to say. Can you confirm both of of the walls the preposed cut ends would sit on are brick?


Daniel