Timber frame steel

[Kirk1974]

Need a little advice before I go spending on drawings etc.
I have a timber frame house, end terrace.
Regarding a loft conversion, can I use steel for floor and truss support. Would the steels be ok sitting on the timber walls. The span would be approx 7.7m?
Some guys on the site I'm working on have told I might not any 'ridge beam'.
Any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[RonnyRaygun]

Need a little advice before I go spending on drawings etc.
I have a timber frame house, end terrace.
Regarding a loft conversion, can I use steel for floor and truss support. Would the steels be ok sitting on the timber walls. The span would be approx 7.7m?
Some guys on the site I'm working on have told I might not any 'ridge beam'.
Any advice would be really appreciated.

No reason not to use steel beams beams in timber frame construction, although you might need to reinforce the stud wall with an additional post to carry the steel, depending on the loads.

7.7m is a long span and would require a pretty big beam - at least a 254x254 UC.

If you have trusses you won't have a ridge beam. Trussed roofs are the most complicated to convert and require a lot of additional support in order to remove the struts and ties.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Aye, there was good thread on here for a trussed roof conversion, if applicable I can track it down.

 

[Kirk1974]

Thanks for the prompt replies.
Wouldn't fancy having to open walls to reinforce the studs.
Front to back is about 5.5m. Would I be better to put, say 4 steels that way. I could put a stud across to support the trusses (I hope).

Sorry, I meant to write - I might not need to put a ridge beam in. I could support them in an other way. Obviously down to the engineer.

I didn't want to fork out for drawings, only to hear an SE tell me I need to pull my house apart.
Think ill stick to the sparking lol.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

An SE should be prepared to pop round for an initial visit without charge.