I live in an awkwardly built 1950s semi. However the loft is huge. It has massive potential. Our adjoining neighbours have told us they had a quote for a loft conversion and it was more expensive than the 2 storey extension they had built instead. When I look at the structure of the loft I see why it might be expensive, but wondered what the options are to clear the structure.
The left image is the plan. The joists and rafters run with the lined paper. The right image shows the cross section where the support lattice is in the middle of the loft. This lattice sits about 5 inches away from the chimney, and appears to transfer the weight from the middle of the 8x2 rafter supports onto the middle wall of the house. None of the other walls upstairs are supporting - all built onto the first floor with no support underneath. The lattice is constructed from 6x2s nailed together old school with 6 inch nails.
At the moment the left side of the loft is pretty much inaccessible.
So what can i do to eliminate this lattice support? Something is telling me the only option is to have a steel running front to back (shortest span) where the lattice is. This could then be used to support new joists (though would loose about 9 inch of headroom as theyd be at 90 deg to existing) Anything else that could be done? I appreciate this is not a diy job, just wondering what options are there.
The left image is the plan. The joists and rafters run with the lined paper. The right image shows the cross section where the support lattice is in the middle of the loft. This lattice sits about 5 inches away from the chimney, and appears to transfer the weight from the middle of the 8x2 rafter supports onto the middle wall of the house. None of the other walls upstairs are supporting - all built onto the first floor with no support underneath. The lattice is constructed from 6x2s nailed together old school with 6 inch nails.
At the moment the left side of the loft is pretty much inaccessible.
So what can i do to eliminate this lattice support? Something is telling me the only option is to have a steel running front to back (shortest span) where the lattice is. This could then be used to support new joists (though would loose about 9 inch of headroom as theyd be at 90 deg to existing) Anything else that could be done? I appreciate this is not a diy job, just wondering what options are there.