Loft rafters cut and moved

[downhillmonkey]

Hi all,
I'm currently moving my loft hatch and require some advice.

I've located the area I wish to move the hatch to but I've come across something worrying.

The rafters in the the area I wish to place it have been cut and nailed side by side. This means that the rafters are angled. I've attached a picture to give you and idea of what I mean.

Can I move them back in line and butt them end to end using some sort of attachment to tie them together or is there a reason for them being the way they are?

If I keep them this way the loft hatch will run at an angle against the cut pieces.

Hope this makes sense.

thanks

 

[masona]

That's normal as the ceiling joists run past the bearing wall,

Have a read here, similar to yours, you can see the drawing better on the 2nd page

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=96009&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

[EddieC]

From the photo I presume you are going to install the loft hatch where the drill is. Where the top left circle is there is either a brick or timber stud wall below and this why the ceiling joist cross over at this point and are lapped side by side because the wall supports the ceiling joists.The sag in the joist is common The circled area bottom right is the only timber that needs to be cut. you need to form a frame in the area of the top right and the bottom left circle and you should not have to cut these timbers. Fix a length of timber from the bottom left circle across to the joists to the wall cutting through the middle joist,this will form the first part of the frame. Measure across the width of the loft hatch and repeat the process (BUT BE CAREFUL NOT TO TREAD ON JOIST YOU ARE CUTTING THROUGH), you will then have a frame. Measure the length of the loft hatch and cut a timber to suit. fix in place and cut through the plasterboard. Install the hatch. P.S. invest in a good sharp saw for this job, happy cutting

 

[downhillmonkey]

Excellent advice. Many thanks for your help.