Is it safe to remove struts in loft space to enlarge access door?

[mikefsw18]

I have a modern brick clad timber-framed house with a top room up in the (pitched) roof which has loft spaces to either side (ie behind the side plasterboard walls of the room) and a loft space above (see first slightly rubbish chart attached)

. I want to create a larger door into one of the two side loft spaces by removing two of (around eight) of the the vertical struts that make up one wall of the room (plasterboard). Is it acceptable to remove two single struts and make a timber lintel to span the gap between the adjacent double struts (see second slightly rubbish chart attached). Sorry I can't attach photos right now as I'm not at the property.

Mike

 

[John D v2.0]

it might be, but it depends what's supporting the struts underneath and how strong it is. Is it a wall or just a beam?

I used to think this kind of thing was simple, until I saw the calculations our SE did for the flat roof joist that the trimmers attached to for the roof light. Should be dead simple but because of the two point loads from the sides it got really complex:

Having said that, the answer to the above was basically double up the joists, so you might just need to double up more than you think.

 

[gonch69]

you need too check what roof construction you have if its attic trusses then no you cant just cut them out as they carry the weight of the joist also you would need an engineer
if its a top hat construction then it a lot easier as there would just be ashlar stud wall normally not totally structural and fine to remove certain uprights

easy way to check is if uprights are gang nail to rafters then attick truss

top hat contruction look up in roof space if you see trusses sat on glulam beams and cut rafters