DIY extension - roof

[maltaron]

Possibly to help in your decision, when I did my extension 3 or 4 years ago I considered a cut roof (I am also a joiner by trade), however, the trussed roof was marginally cheaper and they did full structural calcs for £100.00.
Mine was a hip end and I still had to cut the jack rafters myself.

 

[pixiepoo]

Thanks maltaron, that's interesting to know.

I am assuming the trusses are far quicker to install as well.

When you mention the structural calcs that they provided - is that to satisfy the building inspector against the drawings that would have been in your original plans?

 

[RomanAbramovich]

I did an extension on a building notice a year ago - for the pitched (and hipped) roof structure I called two local truss suppliers for price comparison, they sent a guy out to survey the site and measure up, discuss requirements re soffit depth etc. The supplier provides a detailed plan (knocked out with a cad package, by the looks of it). The plan was presented to the BCO and accepted without question. Puts a nice tick in the box for both you and the BCO, cos the truss suppliers plans are assumed to be copper bottomed.

5 years ago I did a self build ext on full detailed plans, this time cut roof. The BCO did seem a bit nervous about signing off the roof structure/carcassing - said cut roofs were so old skool it was a 'dark art' (he looked about 30), but conceded as we'd followed the plan, and that plan had previously been signed off by LBC.

I recall it took about 12 weeks for the detailed plans to be approved by LBC.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

said cut roofs were so old skool it was a 'dark art'

All the more reason for people to rise up and burn all the factories where they make trussed roofs.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

said cut roofs were so old skool it was a 'dark art'

All the more reason for people to rise up and burn all the factories where they make trussed roofs.

Oh move on man, its not 1955 anymore!

 

[noseall]

As Maltaron said, you still need some degree of cut roof skill even when constructing some truss roofs, in particular hip ends. The final quadrant of most trussed hips is 'loose fill' as is the hip blade.

Some people like to have space in their loft and for this reason a cut roof is king. Also, when extending an existing roof it is often simpler to use a cut roof method rather than try and work in a pre made truss fella into the existing. Particularly relevant when extending an existing hip end with purlins.

One more thing - I hate and absolutely detest valley sets! One of the most irritating items of a truss roof to fit. I always ask for loose fill on all of my valley sets.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Oh move on man, its not 1955 anymore!

Not everything has got better by being made cheaper since the '50s.