My house was built about 1950 and one thing that always struck me as odd
(well, since I noticed it anyway) was that there was no access to the attic.
While doing some roof repair I took the opportunity to look down through a
vent hole and I figured out why. When this house was originally built, it
appears that it had a flat roof. There is a layer of whatever gravel/rock
aggregate they used for flat roof covering at that time on the floor of the
"attic" space. At some point another cottage style roof was built on top of
that one but no access to the created attic was put in.

Now I have to take down the chimney and would like to insulate the attic as
well so I have to figure out a way to get at it. Since there are no gables I
can't go through from the side and going through the roof wouldn't be a
permanent solution, so I have to come up through the ceiling.

To make a long story slightly shorter, does anyone know what that rock
aggregate is made of, how thick it might be, and what I might use to cut
through it? The ceiling underneath it looks like 2x6 joists and then on top
of that planks about 6 inches wide and I would guess a half inch thick if
they're anything like the planking in the rest of the place, and then on top
of that I assume is the flat roof covering.

Possible to get through from underneath?

thanks
gm

Nothing a Sawzall with a long blade couldn't handle. If it scares you get a
carpenter to cut the hole and frame it out so you can hang a pull-down attic
stair.


"gm" wrote in message
...
My house was built about 1950 and one thing that always struck me as odd
(well, since I noticed it anyway) was that there was no access to the
attic.
While doing some roof repair I took the opportunity to look down through a
vent hole and I figured out why. When this house was originally built, it
appears that it had a flat roof. There is a layer of whatever gravel/rock
aggregate they used for flat roof covering at that time on the floor of
the
"attic" space. At some point another cottage style roof was built on top
of
that one but no access to the created attic was put in.

Now I have to take down the chimney and would like to insulate the attic
as
well so I have to figure out a way to get at it. Since there are no gables
I
can't go through from the side and going through the roof wouldn't be a
permanent solution, so I have to come up through the ceiling.

To make a long story slightly shorter, does anyone know what that rock
aggregate is made of, how thick it might be, and what I might use to cut
through it? The ceiling underneath it looks like 2x6 joists and then on
top
of that planks about 6 inches wide and I would guess a half inch thick if
they're anything like the planking in the rest of the place, and then on
top
of that I assume is the flat roof covering.

Possible to get through from underneath?

thanks
gm

One thing I'd check first is where the wiring goes. If it goes through the
ceiling or sometimes strung across joists, you want to be careful not to cut
into it. I have a similar situation and will be making an opening. First
I'll cut through the drywall with a keyhole saw by hand and then after
making sure there aren't any wires, I'll have at it with the Sawzall.

Bob

"Curmudgeon" wrote in message
.. .
Nothing a Sawzall with a long blade couldn't handle. If it scares you get
a
carpenter to cut the hole and frame it out so you can hang a pull-down
attic
stair.


"gm" wrote in message
...
My house was built about 1950 and one thing that always struck me as odd
(well, since I noticed it anyway) was that there was no access to the
attic.
While doing some roof repair I took the opportunity to look down through
a
vent hole and I figured out why. When this house was originally built,
it
appears that it had a flat roof. There is a layer of whatever
gravel/rock
aggregate they used for flat roof covering at that time on the floor of
the
"attic" space. At some point another cottage style roof was built on top
of
that one but no access to the created attic was put in.

Now I have to take down the chimney and would like to insulate the attic
as
well so I have to figure out a way to get at it. Since there are no
gables
I
can't go through from the side and going through the roof wouldn't be a
permanent solution, so I have to come up through the ceiling.

To make a long story slightly shorter, does anyone know what that rock
aggregate is made of, how thick it might be, and what I might use to cut
through it? The ceiling underneath it looks like 2x6 joists and then on
top
of that planks about 6 inches wide and I would guess a half inch thick
if
they're anything like the planking in the rest of the place, and then on
top
of that I assume is the flat roof covering.

Possible to get through from underneath?

thanks
gm

thanks all, sawzall did the trick. Messy job but it got it done.


"Curmudgeon" wrote in message
.. .
Nothing a Sawzall with a long blade couldn't handle. If it scares you get
a
carpenter to cut the hole and frame it out so you can hang a pull-down
attic
stair.


"gm" wrote in message
...
My house was built about 1950 and one thing that always struck me as odd
(well, since I noticed it anyway) was that there was no access to the
attic.
While doing some roof repair I took the opportunity to look down through
a
vent hole and I figured out why. When this house was originally built,
it
appears that it had a flat roof. There is a layer of whatever
gravel/rock
aggregate they used for flat roof covering at that time on the floor of
the
"attic" space. At some point another cottage style roof was built on top
of
that one but no access to the created attic was put in.

Now I have to take down the chimney and would like to insulate the attic
as
well so I have to figure out a way to get at it. Since there are no
gables
I
can't go through from the side and going through the roof wouldn't be a
permanent solution, so I have to come up through the ceiling.

To make a long story slightly shorter, does anyone know what that rock
aggregate is made of, how thick it might be, and what I might use to cut
through it? The ceiling underneath it looks like 2x6 joists and then on
top
of that planks about 6 inches wide and I would guess a half inch thick
if
they're anything like the planking in the rest of the place, and then on
top
of that I assume is the flat roof covering.

Possible to get through from underneath?

thanks
gm

"gm" wrote in message ...
My house was built about 1950 and one thing that always struck me as odd
(well, since I noticed it anyway) was that there was no access to the attic.
While doing some roof repair I took the opportunity to look down through a
vent hole and I figured out why. When this house was originally built, it
appears that it had a flat roof. There is a layer of whatever gravel/rock
aggregate they used for flat roof covering at that time on the floor of the
"attic" space. At some point another cottage style roof was built on top of
that one but no access to the created attic was put in.

Now I have to take down the chimney and would like to insulate the attic as
well so I have to figure out a way to get at it. Since there are no gables I
can't go through from the side and going through the roof wouldn't be a
permanent solution, so I have to come up through the ceiling.

To make a long story slightly shorter, does anyone know what that rock
aggregate is made of, how thick it might be, and what I might use to cut
through it? The ceiling underneath it looks like 2x6 joists and then on top
of that planks about 6 inches wide and I would guess a half inch thick if
they're anything like the planking in the rest of the place, and then on top
of that I assume is the flat roof covering.

Possible to get through from underneath?

thanks
gm

If it was my roof, I'd cut a hole between the joists in a closet or
other out of the way place and then decide whether it's worth the
trouble to do what you want. Make it large enough to fit through and
you should be able to pull yourself up and get a much better idea of
what you are working with. I definitely wouldn't try to go through the
roof as roof repairs are more troublesome than patching a ceiling.