Enlarging a Loft Hatch

[bbqmob]

My daughter has asked me if I could enlarge the loft hatch in her top floor flat as the existing one is only 23" square and very difficult to get through once the ladder is in place.

Over the weekend I had a look but the roof is supported with pre-fabricated roof trusses at something like 24" centres which is why the existing hatch is so small.

I can't make it longer in the same direction as the trusses because the hatch is in a narrow hallway so to do anything I would have to cut away a section of one of the trusses.

In a conventional roof I'd be happy to do this and then trim between the adjacent ceiling joists but I'm a bit nervous of these pre-fabricated trusses.

Is it possible / safe to cut a section out of one and then trim between the two trusses either side to put back some support?

The section to be removed is only the ceiling support timber (ie it would not involve any of the vertical members).

Any advice would be appreciated.

John.

 

[Static]

Best advice would be don't.

Truss's rely on all the members that make them up and removing a bottom chord (ceiling tie) would compromise the truss potentially causing the truss to spread outwards.