Steel beam required?

[Elthrin]

At what size of Dormer and length of ridge do you actually need to use an RSJ to support the Ridge?

We have a Bungalow where I am doing a hip to gable conversion as below:

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• Elthrin
• 17 Nov 2014
• 2

There is an existing loft extension , it occupies the loft space in the main section of the roof.

I am creating a 3.2m wide dormer at the back with the verticals sitting on the inside skin of the back wall. The sides of the dormer will be built up off the side wall and the central supporting wall. The ceiling joists will run perpendicular to the drop of the flat roof i.e. from left to right, again supported on the side and central supporting walls.

I am intending to have the new ridge sitting on a single skin of blockwork and the side of the building with an inner skin of 2"x4" timber then at the other end to support with a timber structure built up off the inner supporting wall, doubled up 2"x4". The distance between the inner and side wall is 3m so I am wondering if there is any reason to include an RSJ in the design?

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• Elthrin
• 17 Nov 2014
• 2

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• Elthrin
• 17 Nov 2014
• 2

 

[tony1851]

Do the existing ceiling joists actually run side-to-side rather than front-to-back?

Are you building this yourself? The dormer structure does seem a little unusual.

 

[Elthrin]

Yes, the main section of the bungalow runs front to back with a central wall but everything left of the hallway runs side to side.

 

[tony1851]

If you are doing a hip-to-gable, you usually need a steel beam at ridge level.
The flat roof joists of the dormer are ususlly run front-to-back.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yea like this:

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• freddiemercurystwin
• 14 Apr 2010
• 12