Peter Crosland wrote:

"Chris Allmark" wrote in message
om...

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. The ceiling height of the
existing bedrooms is around 2.5m, so it would be possible to lower
these by 30cm or so. As regards changing the roof from a hip to a
gable - would that require planning permission as well as the building
regs?


Almost cetainly.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that you don't!

You can have a dormer at the back, and the gable wall conversion, and
velux type windows to the front all without planning permission. The
only time you will need PP is if you want to stick a dormer on the front
as well.

If the purlins were removed where would the steels have to be

placed ..... this all sounds like it is going to be v.costly and
slightly beyond the scope of a diy project !!!

Depending on the size of the place there is probably not that much need
for steel work. The gable end and dormer obviously no longer have need
of a purlin, and the one on the front can be extended such that the end
left flopping about it taken to the new gable wall and hung from that.

It would be normal to put a RSJ/large timber beam in across the front of
the existing loft to which the new floor joists will then be attached
via joist hangers - but that would limit the amount you could lower the
floor level even by "stealing" space from the rooms below. At the rear
the new floor joists would be hung from the rear wall.

You will certainly need the services of a structural engineer to satisfy the
BCO that the work will be safe.

A good architect may also be able to draw up the plans and do the calcs
required.


--
Cheers,

John.

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