My attic: what are these bits of wood, and can I cut them?! [pic]

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fullerand

Registered User
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Hi,

[I assume the main response will be "don't do anything without having an engineer check it first", and I agree, however.... ]

Please see pic below. My house (semi-D) has a pitched cut roof frame. From a DIY book I recognize the important bits labelled in the pic. However, there are 3 cross frames (labelled with yellow lines) that seem not to be load-bearing. Do you know what they are, and what their purpose is?

My reason for asking: they make it really arkward for walking around the attic, and I'd really like to get a saw to them...

Thanks, I couldn't see anything related in the attic sticky.


attic.jpg
 
Uh, just for the record that's my thumb at the top of the pic - needed to block out the direct light from the bulb.
 
Are you sure you should go near them because it looks to me like your all thumbs?

:D

I'm not a roofer you understand but I understand the cross beams are for stopping the roof from coming apart.

As for getting an engineer to look at it don't waste your time just get an old time roofer in for a few mins to look at it.

If you need someone for that PM me.
 
The cross-pieces are collar ties and, as S.L.F. says, they are to stop the roof from coming apart (gravity makes a pitched roof tend to spread). Do not touch them.

The purpose of the vertical members is less obvious to me. It looks as if they are there as additional support for the ridgepole, but it is difficult to be sure of that without knowing the dimensions and what is directly underneath them. It looks like more do not touch territory.

Perhaps you need a shed.
 
A triangle is very stable. That is what the cross beams are there for. They make up the third leg of the triangle. Do not touch them!

Removing the vertical beams will hardly make it easier to walk around your attic.

So my suggestion is do nothing!
 
Step away from the saw, Sir.

Get a roofer in as S.L.F suggested, thwy will give you workable options.
 
They are an integral part of the roof truss and are interfered with at your peril.Stay your hand then. why are you planning to cut them?
 
Are you lokking to 'saw them apart' for an attic conversion or just to make life easier? Are you using the attic purely for storage?!!
 
If it's with a view to attic conversion...you could re-roof using a different roofing system. (I think) but it would obviously increase the expense considerably. It would probably be better value to do an extension if you have the room.

As for cutting them...please post your address so I never accidently come to your house...if you decide to proceed! :D
 
There is obviously a way to get your roof to stay up without those beams. I am saying this not because I am a roofer or an engineer but because I am sure some of your neighbours have had attic conversions.

So maybe talk to your neighbours to see if they know what the builders did to keep the roof sturdy without the support beams. In my attic I think all the lads did was to make a load of triangles and attached them to every support beam!

However, it is obviously not a job you want to take any risks with so perhaps get someone who know to come out and give you a quote for a conversion! Then act all innocent and ask how do you support the roof. Tell them thank you very much for their time and that you will be in touch!
 
Thanks for all the replies, I hadn't responded yet because I got a fit of giggles every time I came back to the thread and saw the pic of my thumb!!

As per the OP it's not for a conversion, simply for ease of getting across the attic when I need to a) do a job up there or b) put stuff up for storage (we have a small shed in the garden, which is full, and no scope for a bigger one). A neighbour had the same issue and simply removed them a bunch of years ago without issue(yet) - still, I wasn't so sure it was a good idea, hence my post here.

I guess I'll leave them alone for now, unless one day we decide to convert the attic.

Cheers
 
>> A neighbour had the same issue and simply removed them a bunch of years ago without issue(yet)

Not sure what it will take to show up your neoghbour's folly. Maybe a storm hitting the roof at a particular angle. Or maybe it will happen slowly. But one way or another I suspect your neighbour will pay in the longer term... encourage them to rectify this. Their insurance might even be invalidated as they willfully damaged the structure of their own house.
 
Dear God in heaven don't touch the collar ties, get an attic conversion if you want storage.
 
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i hope you dont have a semi-detach with the neighbour mentioned above ...whats his next project ... :D
 
Don't touch the collar ties before any additional alterations to support your rafters are done.

The "vertical members" are to stiffen your ceiling joists.
 
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