In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
dundonald wrote:

I've searched the archive of this group for information to my
questions. I came close, but unfortunately the two threads I found
asking the same questions concerned terraced houses rather than
detached houses.

I have a smaller sized 4 bedroom detached house built around 1982. I
want to make use of my loft to give me more floor space. The loft
covers the whole square of the house, but the pitch of the roof is
low. I'm 6 foot and I can't stand up straight at the heighest point.
Also, sorry I don't know what these are called, but there are pieces
of wood that diagonally slant inward and down from the roof to the
floor (are they eaves?) like this:

/ \
/ \
/ \
/\ /\
/ \ / \

So, I'm guessing before I even think about a loft conversion the
whole roof will need replacing to make it a higher pitched roof and
the type of roof that doesn't require the inward slanting pieces of
wood for support.

My questions a

1. Is this a common practice with most modern houses having a lower
pitched roof?

2. How much can be expected to pay for such a roof replacement?

3. And whilst we're at it, any pointers on how much the whole
package (roof replacement and loft conversion) might cost?

Access to the loft space shouldn't be an issue. There's one of the
smaller bedrooms that can be converted to accomodate the stairs up to
the loft.

Many thanks.

I assume from your description that your roof structure uses trusses - where
a truss is a triangulated structure consisting of a ceiling joist, two
rafters and two or more bracing members, all held together with spiked metal
plates, pressed in from the sides. Does that sound about right?

If so, you are right that you would have to re-build the whole roof -
probably using purlins rather than trusses, and with a steeper pitch if you
want to convert the loft space. I don't know the cost, but it sounds pretty
expensive!

However, your first port of call needs to be your local Planning Department.
You would certainly need planning permission to raise the roof line - and
this may well be refused if this would make your house incompatible with the
surrounding properties.
--
Cheers,
Set Square
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