Loft beam, can it be removed?

C

Cloud

New Member
Hello,

I have a number of wooden items running from side to side in my loft. However, I am unsure if this diagonal beam in the picture attached is doing anything? For context, my very old loft satellite was affixed to it. Now, one side is in the brickwork attached to my neighbours wall and the other side connects to the eaves of my roof.

My question is, can I remove it? What function does it serve? And what about the other wooden pieces in the background, can they be removed? I understand there probably is some level of function. But, the main annoyance is the diaognal beam that is floating mid air across the loft. It has some wobble to it when you lean on it, so it doesn't feel that sturdy.

any advice is highly appreciated!
 

Attachments

  • 20230416_151637.jpg
    20230416_151637.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 88
Please see these two further pictures that may help to clarify.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20230419_120311_Gallery.jpg
    Screenshot_20230419_120311_Gallery.jpg
    775.6 KB · Views: 63
  • Screenshot_20230419_120250_Gallery.jpg
    Screenshot_20230419_120250_Gallery.jpg
    860.8 KB · Views: 61
On your pics, why not mark each piece of timber that you want removed?
Maybe you will be OK removing the diagonal timbers? But I'm not yet too sure.
You seem to have a chimney breast supported - can you post a clear shot of the c/b support, it might somehow be tied in with whatever you are trying to do?
Do you have purlins on both sides of the loft?

The plasterboard below the rafters is not looking too clever?
 
Hi,

I am just referring to the diagonal beam mid air.

The other ones aren't too much of an issue, as I haven't boarded there.

The chimney breast support was put into place at a later date, so the two aren't interconnected.

Sorry, I am unfamiliar with what a purlin is.
 
I would be very loath to remove any part of a roof structure unless it was absolutely clear what it was doing and it was either redundant or its function had been taken over by a new member. This timber appears to be acting as a tie. The very worst case is that you remove it and there is movement in your neighbour's place. Perhaps not immediately, but don't forget that roofs are designed to carry a load of snow.

If you really want to remove it then you need an SE to inspect and report and not rely on a bunch of "experts" on a forum.

As a matter of interest, in your first picture which is the party wall?
 
Remove nothing until you fully understand it's function and have put in place alternative members to carry the load of the original members. This is not a DIY job, you need a structural engineer before you even start to consider removing beams. If you look at a beam and think to yourself 'What does that do? I it really needed?' consider this, their has never been a time in recent history when timber was so cheap it was used unnecessarily.
 
Well Post # 7 "which is the party wall" is no expert but I'm glad he tried. Good for you mate.

I've cut quite a few roofs and repaired others, and a lath of that section in that position has no structural purpose.

"carry the load" - what load? The diagonal is loose "it wobbles".
"removing beams" - the diagonals are not beams.
Well done for having a go.

Not noticed by either of you is that most of the hangers and collar ties are missing
 
I understand that it shouldn't be removed until we are certain what it's function is. Which is why the beam is still there.

As for its structural purpose, its literally mid air. The only thing that stands out to me is that it is fastening the wall on one side to the eaves on the other side. But, why I do not know...

I wouldn't necessarily say that it's wobbling, but if you leaned on it, it would move maybe a centimetre.

By the way, what are hangars and collar ties?
 
It doesn't look particularly graded, but timber can take a surprisingly large force in tension, more possibly than the fixings can take each end,
 
If it is helpful, this is the shape of the roof from an external perspective.

I am the end terrace.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20230419_211902_Maps.jpg
    Screenshot_20230419_211902_Maps.jpg
    1 MB · Views: 39
Cloud said:
The only thing that stands out to me is that it is fastening the wall on one side to the eaves on the other side.
Click to expand...
Then it's probably stopping those from moving apart!
As others have said, you need a real expert to have a real look...
Not someone like me looking at pics on a forum.

Good luck with it all.
Regards,
Cando
 
But, how could a timber that is not even as firm as my wooden garden fence post prevent the two sides of my home from moving apart? Surely if that was its function, it'd be sturdier.
 
Cloud said:
But, how could a timber that is not even as firm as my wooden garden fence post prevent the two sides of my home from moving apart? Surely if that was its function, it'd be sturdier.
Click to expand...

A piece of chain or rope would fulfil the same function and that would also move laterally if pushed.

You have one "expert" telling you to remove and keep an eye on the timbers and the rest of us telling you not to. Your call
 
It does beg the question though, why not straight across; and when the carpenter built the roof, if he was on his own, did he just put it across temporarily to maybe support the purlin while he was fixing it and when he finished could not be bothered to remove it.
Or the bricklayer comes along & builds the party wall gable around it before the carpenter has finished & has chance to remove it. The chippie will often erect the rafters as a profile for the bricklayer.
You have a mirror image at the other end of the block, I wonder if they have one, except of course they could have removed it without seeking advice.
Still as above you should seek professional advice.
 
Last edited:
Post #7 & 16,
Do you now know where the party wall is?

OP: "rope" "chain" "laterally" will do nothing for your roof except to introduce some kind of hazard.
"laterally" means sideways, of course.

"the rest of us" - I do hope that you dont think that technical questions should be decided by mob rule even if you are not able to think for your self?
That would be a very poor call indeed dont you agree?

If you need anymore help please just call - my call is that we should always have time for DIY'ers.
 
Post #13,
A strange notion that a length of loosely fixed timber could be holding a brick wall and an eaves "from
moving apart"?
I'm sure that your advice was well meant?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top