Is it load bearing?

[TedTrippin]

Hi,

I have a 1930-50's build. It has separate toilet/bathroom upstairs which I want to knock through.
The doors are next to and perpendicular to each other. The bathroom door is attached to a stud
wall which joins the toilet and bathroom.

I was just in the process of taking out the door to the bathroom (which I want to move 2 foot
forward) when I decided to check on the rafters. I went in the attic and can see that a rafter
appears to pass over the doorway then is seamed in "mid-air" with the next rafter; there is no
wall, stud or brick, below this overlap. There are however walls to the left and right of this
overlap which is where the adjacent rafters overlap.

Is it safe to remove the door frame and stud wall? Should I put the new door in first so there
is support for the rafter?

Ted.

 

[bogbasher]

Pictures would help.

 

[TedTrippin]

Camera's broke

Anyway, I just happened to speak to a neighbour who said they had done the same thing without any problems. From the looks of it, once I move the door forward the rafters will by lying on the new frame.

I'll let you know if I have a roof in a week!

 

[TedTrippin]

Good news.

Moved the door frame. Chiselled out a channel in the ceiling, nailed a beam to the overlapping rafters and supported with a couple of studs. No roof collapse yet!

 

[hotrod]

Be patient Ted. Structural failure often occurs over a long period of time. It could take months or even years before the lack of support and subsequent inevitable collapse becomes apparent.