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...
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...
Any advice much appreciated!
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...
Any advice much appreciated!