Cutting roof supports?

[rocker]

Oooosh guys I've gotten pretty nervous about doing this now! Just to clafify, these are what I call rafters but what every one else seems to be calling trusses.... they are the ones that make the pitch of the roof and are part of the roof itself.... if we imagine a pitched roof with the gable end at the side of the house, and an extended part at the back of the house joining the roof, so that approx 1/3 of the roof that joins the extended part doesn't have tiles on it and just goes into the attic, and then down and rest on a load bearing wall.... I'm not exlaining this well, am I? I am not living in the house yet so it's a bit more tricky to get a good picture, but I have a feeling this is going to be a no-no, although I have definitely seen builders doing it. Cutting a hatch elsewhere could be an idea... you don't need planning permission for that, do you?

 

[rocker]

Oh and the tiles are welsh slate

 

[topquark]

Oooosh guys I've gotten pretty nervous about doing this now! Just to clafify, these are what I call rafters but what every one else seems to be calling trusses.... they are the ones that make the pitch of the roof and are part of the roof itself.... if we imagine a pitched roof with the gable end at the side of the house, and an extended part at the back of the house joining the roof, so that approx 1/3 of the roof that joins the extended part doesn't have tiles on it and just goes into the attic, and then down and rest on a load bearing wall.... I'm not exlaining this well, am I? I am not living in the house yet so it's a bit more tricky to get a good picture, but I have a feeling this is going to be a no-no, although I have definitely seen builders doing it. Cutting a hatch elsewhere could be an idea... you don't need planning permission for that, do you?

No mate, no planning needed, you would need building regs; but only if the access is to be for habitable stpace (which it doesn't appear to be).

 

[topquark]

Oh, they're trusses when they are prefabricated and rafters are the sloping part of a cut roof (cut in situ, made to measure, and generally much stronger).

 

[rocker]

Oh, they're trusses when they are prefabricated and rafters are the sloping part of a cut roof (cut in situ, made to measure, and generally much stronger).

Ah I see, in that case I think they are rafters.

 

[telectrix]

Oooosh guys I've gotten pretty nervous about doing this now! Just to clafify, these are what I call rafters but what every one else seems to be calling trusses.... they are the ones that make the pitch of the roof and are part of the roof itself.... if we imagine a pitched roof with the gable end at the side of the house, and an extended part at the back of the house joining the roof, so that approx 1/3 of the roof that joins the extended part doesn't have tiles on it and just goes into the attic, and then down and rest on a load bearing wall.... I'm not exlaining this well, am I? I am not living in the house yet so it's a bit more tricky to get a good picture, but I have a feeling this is going to be a no-no, although I have definitely seen builders doing it. Cutting a hatch elsewhere could be an idea... you don't need planning permission for that, do you?

don't need planning permission, but you do have to notify the work to the Guild of Roof Trolls, jus to ensure that you don't damage their habitat.

 

[topquark]

Ah I see, in that case I think they are rafters.

As Tel said, gotta watch what you do with them; coz they're engineered not to have bits cut out If you know a good chippy (who's used to doing cut roofs), now's a good time to call in a favour and get them to take a peek.

 

[bodders22]

Just a thought, when your moved in rocker get a couple of local carpenters in for a no obligation quote they'll soon tell you how they'd do it, say you'll think about it get your saw out as soon as last ones getting in his van !

 

[Marvo]

A few photos of the trusses still in one piece would be handy. From what you're saying they sound like some variation of a Howe truss in which case the diagonal struts are under compression load and are very much necessary. Photos would clarify.