Loft Conversion

[Malh001]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a builder or loft conversion specialist in the Gt yarmouth area?

It is for a small bungalow conversion so nothing major.

Any information would be much appreciated. There was a nightmare thread on the Pie and Piston last year regarding a conversion and i would prefer a recommended company.

Cheers

[prmoldoaks]

Just a quicky, have you checked your roof is "hand cut" or "Framed" then a loft conversion will be possible, if its "Factory made" or "Fink Truss rafters" then the only way forward would be to remove the entire roof and start again.

Fink trusses can be easily identified by the thin cross sectional area of the timbers and the sections are joined using gangnail or similar steel plates, another giveaway is there is no ridge board. The trusses look like a big "W" inside.

Sorry if i'm telling you to suck eggs but you will be surprised at the number of people who think they can eaisly convert there loft only to find the dreaded modern fink trusses inside.

[Malh001]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I have checked the loft and it is the old hand made type, pre 1960 i think?

There is remarkably few supports in there actually. Just two main thick joists running the length of the roof and a large post each side supporting these attached to the ceiling rafters.

[prmoldoaks]

Yes that confirms its a cut roof and the long joists (ceiling jois purlins) are providing latteral support to your ceiling joists. The roof is obviously spanning front to back so may not contain any internal load bearing walls, this will need to be checked to support new floor joists.

If there is no internal L/B walls then steels can be inserted through the gable wall for intermediate floor joist support. Two of these are normally installed located under the new internal studwork external walls, these also provide support to the existing rafters at 1/3rd span, as the existing rafer purlins and strutt work is removed.

A structural engineer will need to be employed to calculate the loadings and advise generally for the regs, it may be worth getting the plans sorted first, as any quote from a builder at this stage will be wide open to ifs and butts.

Hope this helps

[Malh001]

Cheers for that. I will definately get some proper plans drawn up and seek the advice of a structural engineer.

[herbialfa]

Drawing up these sorts of plans is what i do for a living.

Call me on 07725 838305

Brian

[markCSC]

Just to add that you can convert a fink truss loft without removing the entire roof, as we had ours done. As long as there is additional bracing put in it shouldn't be a problem. A good company should be able advise you but converting a fink truss loft will cost more than a "normal" loft.

[prmoldoaks]

Marc, you are right, but what they do is basically construct a new roof within the fink truss roof, the fink rafters (unless overdesigned) are not man enough, mind you, you could add more steel / wood purlins to support the rafters but it does depend on where the loading can be taken, each individual house is different, and new floor joists will be required.

Edited by prmoldoaks on Monday 7th January 17:12