Boarding out the loft

[craigap]

Hi all

I am looking at boarding out the loft for some storage and possibly a bean bag/futon so I have somewhere to go and study a couple of times a week out of the way.

I am also routing some new cables and pipework through the loft, along with increasing the insulation, so am considering cross jointing it with new 3"x2" (same as what is in there already).

The loft has a supporting wall across its width so I don't think strength will be a major issue for what I need, however there are some wooden 'struts' coming down from the rafters to the floor joists. There are 3 rows of 5 on each side of the loft using wood of about 25mmx15mm. other than this, there is the usual (300x75mm?) wooden pearlings going side ways.

What I want to know if are these to stop the roof spreading or additional support for the loft joists? And which I am putting in new timbers, should I replace these with 3x2" as well?

Also, would I better just fastening the new timbers to the existing (once levelled as they run out by 30mm in some places) or using joist hangers and fastening to the brick walls (still fastening to existing joists?) so if I ever need to put anything extra up there I have at leas partially provisioned for it?

TIA

Craig

 

[mac391]

I think the struts coming down from the rafters are there to keep the ceiling up (or the loft floor) please someone correct me if i'm wrong. So by adding new timbers across the existing, you are merely adding to the weight they support.

I know that if you want to convert your loft correctly you insert hefty steel, supported on the inside coarse of brick and fit new floor joists to them, so the steel takes the weight and not the ceiling joists.

Not the ideal answer i know, hopefully you will get a definate reply from someone who's sure!!