Attaching cross battens to party wall

[nthused]

Hello,
This is a sub-question from my post here:

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=172262

I want to run cross battens from the side wallplate within a hipped roof and attach these to the existing ceiling joists (at 90 degrees) below, to spread the load. I would like to attach these battens to the rafter feet at the side of the house and then to the party wall at the other end. I don't want to invoke a party wall act situation, so how best could I attach the individual batten ends to the party wall.

 

[big-all]

you are doing load bearing work to the wall shurley you have no choice but to have a party wall agreement!!!!

 

[nthused]

Cheers big-all, suspected this would be the case. Fortunately my neighbour is a very nice person! I did read somewhere though that the act would apply only if any part of the wall was replaced, removed or added to ie. increasing the height. This may have been the act itself that states this.

Does the party wall act then apply if you attach a large set of shelves to it and store some heavy items, such as at ground level, where people may have shelves full of books, or a couple of 50" plasma TV's? Sureley this is load bearing also - where is the distinction made? That's a point, some people actually attach their TV's to their chimney breasts....

Party wall act issues aside, do you know what is the best way to attach individual timbers into the party wall? Joist hangers from masonry? Joist hangers from a seperate beam / plate attached to the party wall?

Cheers

 

[noseall]

Screw a 100mm x 50mm pole plate to the wall so that it supports the underside of the joists. Fit 4", 12's every 600mm.

 

[nthused]

Thanks Noseall.

 

[noseall]

No prob's. Stagger the fixings so that you have one near the top and another near the bottom and so on.

 

[nthused]

I guess to spread the load on the wall a bit and stop it splitting the plate?

 

[noseall]

I guess to spread the load on the wall a bit and stop it splitting the plate?

A cop out really.

On a broader piece of timber it may be necessary to have fixings in pairs so as to prevent cupping or warping, staggering takes care of this when only using a single fixing.

Ultimately though, it will be more important to ensure the fixings are sound regardless of staggering. If staggering means you will hit a weak spot in the masonry, then forget it.

 

[nthused]

Thanks for this Noseall. I can feel a trip to the local timber merchants coming on. Need to speak to Mrs Nthused first though....!.....