Cutting adjacent rafters for loft hatch

[bsr]

I'm moving my loft hatch. I have 4x2 joists at 16" centres with a clear span of 1.8m.

The current hatch has one joist cut, trimmed as usual, nothing sistered/doubled.

I want to move the hatch so there are only two uncut joists between the old and new openings.

J J J T C T J T C T J J

Where J is a plain uncut joist, T is an uncut joist with a trimmer, and C is the cut joist.

Is that OK?

In simple terms how close can I cut joists without having to sister etc

Finally should I leave the old opening alone or do something to it? I think at the minimum I will need a piece of 2x2 across the centre to screw the plasterboard too.

Thanks

bsr

 

[blup]

You've gone as far as you can by leaving one complete uncut joist between the new and the old, but I think you worked that out.

You can leave the old one alone, maybe a piece of 4 x 2 where you indicate, it will support the plasterboard.

The above assumes all is structurally sound.

Blup

 

[bsr]

Thanks