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loft conversion (Read 27907 times)
supersparky
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loft conversion
Sep 24th, 2004, 4:43pm
 
ok, heres dilema;

had a wall knocked down downstairs (house) and an rsj put in
it was load bearing

we had this done in the living room and in the kitchen.

we got told at the time that, if we ever had the loft converted the walls would have to go back, the living room one as far as i know

can anyone see a way arround it? ive got someware to stick the stairs

there must be another way of doing this?

cheers

ss
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big-e
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #1 - Sep 25th, 2004, 10:09am
 
Were they internal or external walls?
If they were internal then I would guess you could have some steels installed spanning the loft supported by the external walls.  I think you need to get a professional round to have a proper look, unless of course you fancy a bungalow. Wink
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supersparky
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #2 - Sep 25th, 2004, 11:13am
 
lol cheers
yeh, it was an internal wall
its a mid terrice aswell if that makes a difference
the walls wer like
...
the red walls were the ones removed and replaced with rsjs

ss
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big-e
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #3 - Sep 25th, 2004, 11:37am
 
Your best bet would be to go into your loft and check which way your joists run, from the layout of your house I would have guessed that the long wall down the middle if the house was supporting the joists running from front to back(or back to front Wink), this is how it's been arranged in all the houses i've had. If so then It should just be a case of a standard conversion.  There must be a builder here who specialises in lofts, if not get a structural engineer in who will be able to clear it up once and for good. Smiley
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #4 - Sep 25th, 2004, 12:07pm
 
yup its front to back
also, the wall that is above the middle wall(on the ground floor layout) is only 2 inch block  ??? be ok?
so you think its possible to do if steels were put in from front to back?
if theyy would put it it would mean roof off right?
lol

of course i would consult a struct engineer, ittad have to go through planning oddice anyway
but wanted to know if it was possible and if so how

cheers agen

ss
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #5 - Sep 25th, 2004, 12:39pm
 
If the main supporting walls are intact then you would probably only need to have the joists increased in size but even if steels are needed then they can be brought in through holes in the exterior walls without too much trouble(just starts getting a bit more expensive)but may need brick supporting pillars building to help take the load.  Have a word with anyone nearby who has a conversion as they may be able to point you in the direction of someone reputable. Smiley
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #6 - Sep 25th, 2004, 12:43pm
 
dont know anyone who has lol

if it was to go the way of increased joists would they run at oppotites to the ones that are there at the moment?
when you say pillars, would they come all the way up from the ground floor?
just exploring different ideas this boring wet saturday  Tongue

cheers

ss
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #7 - Sep 25th, 2004, 1:02pm
 
The joists would  either replace or be fitted to your existing ones.  I have only seen the brick pillars once on tv(2 bricks square tied into the existing wall straight to the floor layed upon beefed up foundations when the  walls were single skin brick. I think this was back when Discovery H&L was called TLC, but if your walls are sound then a steel will be able to span most gaps.  How high is the roof as all increases in joist size + floorboards  will eat into the headroom?

It may be raining but atleast youre not at work Smiley
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #8 - Sep 25th, 2004, 1:20pm
 
yup, ya could look at it like that  Grin

cheers for the advice

ss
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Robbo
Re: loft conversion
Reply #9 - Sep 25th, 2004, 6:53pm
 
You wiil certainly need to increase the joist sizes to either 7 or 8x2 which will sit running parralell to the existing cut into the walls either side ... as for downstairs the r.s.j.itself should be sufficient, what depth is it? if you build two brick piers at either end for the purpose of incresing the bearer, theese piers can be easily built by using fir fix ties to bond the wall and piers together, I wouldnt consider steels up above as it would be easier to remove and upgrade the downstairs steel to adequate strength than hoying new ones up above if it is not currently adequate. Have done plenty of loft conversions anything I can advise on give me a shout.
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #10 - Sep 25th, 2004, 11:07pm
 
ok mate, ill check tomorrow, and let ya know

nice one


ps at the mo they look like they are 3*1s or something, with 3 big joists, probrably 6*2 running across spaced evenly out, ill get a photo if thats not to clear but im thinking that its part of the truss

oh and the rsj sits on about 6 inch of brick left from the old wall which still jut out and are boxed in (again ill give a photo)

cheers
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Robbo
Re: loft conversion
Reply #11 - Sep 25th, 2004, 11:50pm
 
Probably 4x2 joists as is the norm, those other timbers would be the binders which are keeping the joists from moving, theese can come out and some noggins added to do the same job, cant see why the rsj wont surfice if it has a good bearer either side as you indicate, is this a full planning permission jobbie or a  Wink"ahem..ahem"  Wink
inverted commars play come hobbies room that needs no p.p.
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Re: loft conversion
Reply #12 - Sep 26th, 2004, 12:22am
 
its gunna go through the dept as gotta be above board for if ever it was sold Wink

cheers

ss
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Robbo
Re: loft conversion
Reply #13 - Sep 26th, 2004, 1:55am
 
A hobbies room is still above board just so long as it is not a habitable room!!!!!!!! Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes
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Dewy
Re: loft conversion
Reply #14 - Sep 26th, 2004, 3:40am
 
In other words SS you wil be OK so long as your hobby isn't weightlifting.  Grin Grin
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jasonB
Re: loft conversion
Reply #15 - Sep 26th, 2004, 9:00am
 
Whats the distance from front to back, if its much over 5.0m you will have a job doing it in one span with timber. Will either need a steel between party walls above your central wall to half the span or maybe three steels, two parallel to the party walls and one down the centre with joists running side by side.

Although it may be possible with two steels into the partl walls set back from the external walls and placed under the new vertical walls and just joist the new floor area.

If you go into the party wall (assume 9" brick) you may not have sufficient bearing and will have to get involved with party wall agreements.

Jason
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« Last Edit: Sep 26th, 2004, 9:02am by jasonB »  
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Robbo
Re: loft conversion
Reply #16 - Sep 26th, 2004, 2:47pm
 
Am I miss reading this ... the impression i got was the existing steels were to act as a break between spans and the info given to s.s,. was that the original walls, now rsj'swould have to be replaced to act as bearers for sturdier floor joist, and I considered that the steels now in place would surfice if they are of enough capacity.?
A new joist chopped into your half of a party wall is sufficient bearer, alternately they can be sat on joist hangers and you have the added bonus of fixing the original to the new, Joisting is usually one of the lesser problems to overcome, its the fire issues that are the real bug bears.
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« Last Edit: Sep 26th, 2004, 2:50pm by ROBBO »  
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