"Mike Mitchell" wrote in message
...

My ex-council house semi is basic in design, but built like the
proverbial brick "outhouse". Since all the internal walls, ground
floor and first floor, are of solid masonry, the joists in the loft
seem really strong with no discernible spring when one steps along
one. The joists are now partially boarded over, but I was wondering
what a brand new house is like in the loft. In a modern house, the
walls are usually stud type, i.e. not load-bearing.

Only on the upper levels usually and around the downstairs toilet.

So how strong are the ceiling joists in the loft
in a modern house? How to they stay up
without load-bearing walls to support them?

They are ruff trusses. Each truss is all one piece and spans the width of
the house. The internal walls usually have a wood piece here and there from
floor to roof trusses giving extra mid way support on some.

Some modern house are very well made and very sturdy. The problem with
older houses is they lack insulation and cost a fortune to run.