What are these (and more importantly, what do they do?)

[snellgrove]

Hi all,

New here! Currently after a bit of help, tried to search but because I don't know what these things are called, I'm having limited success. Plenty of loft diagrams don't seem to have them!

Background: boarding the loft up, due to condensing+combi boiler being installed up there in about 2/3 weeks time. Got some regs to comply with in the mean time

I have these diagonal 'truss' like timbers along the joists on the floor. I'm not entirely sure they are actually doing a lot - perhaps they did at installation time? or maybe they are vitally important and I shouldn't disturb them!

All images are clickable for larger versions.


It's the one that runs bottom-right to top-left, in this picture:




The two diagonal pieces of wood:



Last picture to show overall roof construction type. Seems to be 'W' (I believe this is 'Double' or 'Cantilever' ?? but could well be wrong)

The 'diagonal' (as in upright, not going along the floor, in this picture) pieces of wood are not being touched, apart from having some fluorescent lights attached near the top. I understand these to be load-bearing and stopping my house being a cabriolet model!



Can't wait for this all to be over & done with! Water tank etc all going, boiler is being mounted on the wall behind it.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[HaydnExport]

they are bracing's mate, i wouldn't pull them off

 

[Shytalkz]

Your trusses are Fink type. All trusses have longitudinal bracing at points where individual members that make up the truss meet. There will also be diagonal bracing on the underside of the rafter members at either end and there can also be plan diagonal bracing on the ceiling, depending on the overall span of the trusses (or how conservative the building designer is!)and this is the one that you have indicated in your pix.

The purpose of bracing is twofold: to brace the roof structure and to provide overall stability to the building by transferring wind load to the structural walls. As such, should generally be left alone.