The loft area of my new house contains hefty wooden beams (perhaps 3x8") to
support the roof rafters part-way up.

These beams are 3-4 feet above the floor of the loft (ie. above the ceiling
below).

Below each beam, on each side, is a wooden joist running perpendicular to,
and on top of, the main ceiling joists, perhaps 3x2".

Between the thick wooden beams, and the extra joists below, have been nailed
a series of thin wooden slats (4" wide, maybe 3/8" thick). Several feet
apart, half a dozen on each side, nailed to the sides of the beams with a
couple of nails each end.

They don't appear to be carrying any load (which would be borne by the
nails); so what are they for?

(I'm asking because I'm boarding the entire loft, and they're in the way.)

--
Bartc

BartC wrote:
The loft area of my new house contains hefty wooden beams (perhaps 3x8") to
support the roof rafters part-way up.

They're called purlins. See http://www.buildsrilanka.com/Images1/Roof_3.gif
and http://www.diydata.com/general_build...nstruction.php

Below each beam, on each side, is a wooden joist running perpendicular to,
and on top of, the main ceiling joists, perhaps 3x2".

Binder, spaces the ceiling joists apart and stiffens the structure.

Between the thick wooden beams, and the extra joists below, have been nailed
a series of thin wooden slats (4" wide, maybe 3/8" thick). Several feet
apart, half a dozen on each side, nailed to the sides of the beams with a
couple of nails each end.

Hangers, the ceiling hangs from them and are used to allow smaller
ceiling joists to be used. If you remove them the ceiling will sag.

They don't appear to be carrying any load (which would be borne by the
nails); so what are they for?

They're not carrying much load - just the ceiling - but that's not
the same as not carrying any load. And if you're intending boarding
the loft that implies placing things on the floor and increasing
the load.

You /may/ be able to put replacement hangers further into the eves,
but you /will/ have to do engineering calculations to work out if
that would be suitable. Essentially, as hangers are there to allow
smaller joists to be used, you're likely to need to replace or
suppliement the joists with thicker ones.

In yer typical Victorian terrace the hangers form the uprights for
the attic walls.

(I'm asking because I'm boarding the entire loft, and they're in the way.)

Do you need standing space within the eves - behind the hangers?
Board the floor perpendicular to the joists and the boards will
but up to the hangers. Cut notches in more boards to board
behind the hangers.

As a rule of thumb, a span of "x" feet needs standard-sized joists
of "x square inches" at 16" spacing to cross the span without support.
eg, 15 feet needs 8"x2" joists. As it's a loft it's likely the ceiling
joists are just that and are 3"x2".

JGH

On Apr 11, 12:31*am, "BartC" wrote:
The loft area of my new house contains hefty wooden beams (perhaps 3x8") to
support the roof rafters part-way up.

These beams are 3-4 feet above the floor of the loft (ie. above the ceiling
below).

Below each beam, on each side, is a wooden joist running perpendicular to,
and on top of, the main ceiling joists, perhaps 3x2".

Between the thick wooden beams, and the extra joists below, have been nailed
a series of thin wooden slats (4" wide, maybe 3/8" thick). Several feet
apart, half a dozen on each side, nailed to the sides of the beams with a
couple of nails each end.

They don't appear to be carrying any load (which would be borne by the
nails); so what are they for?

(I'm asking because I'm boarding the entire loft, and they're in the way.)

--
Bartc

The 3x8 are purlins. They and the wallplates (on top of the walls)
support the whole roof structure.
The 3x2 nailed on the cieling joists are to prevent the ceiling joists
from moving (warping) and causing cracks to appear in the ceiling
below.
The vertical hangers are to support the ceiling from the purlin again
to prevent movements.
The ceiling is also supported off any partition wallsin the rooms
below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purlin

In article 2d87963b-fdb1-4420-a25f-3652e5ce9298
@k30g2000yqb.googlegroups.com, says...
Do you need standing space within the eves - behind the hangers?
Board the floor perpendicular to the joists and the boards will
but up to the hangers. Cut notches in more boards to board
behind the hangers.


Or remove the hangers, board over, then replace with meaty screw-eyes
and straining wires/bottle screws.

--
Skipweasel - never knowingly understood.

"BartC" wrote in message ...
....
Between the thick wooden beams, and the extra joists below, have been
nailed
a series of thin wooden slats (4" wide, maybe 3/8" thick). Several feet
apart, half a dozen on each side, nailed to the sides of the beams with a
couple of nails each end.

They don't appear to be carrying any load (which would be borne by the
nails); so what are they for?

(I'm asking because I'm boarding the entire loft, and they're in the way.)

[Hangers]

Thanks for the replies. Wouldn't have guessed that these things were under
tension, but they seem insubstantial for a compressive force.

So it looks like I need to keep them, and have to work around them, which is
a bit more fiddly. Although, apart from them, this loft is surprisingly
uncluttered compared with some previous houses with wooden struts and beams
everywhere.

--
Bartc

"BartC" wrote in message ...

So it looks like I need to keep them, and have to work around them, which
is a bit more fiddly. Although, apart from them, this loft is surprisingly
uncluttered compared with some previous houses with wooden struts and
beams everywhere.

They would be trussed rafters and are what the majority of new houses use.
They use less materials and arrive factory made so are quicker to erect.
Never cut one unless you have already replaced it with something to hold the
roof together.

On Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:31:28 +0100, "BartC" wrote:

The loft area of my new house contains hefty wooden beams (perhaps 3x8") to
support the roof rafters part-way up.

These beams are 3-4 feet above the floor of the loft (ie. above the ceiling
below).

Below each beam, on each side, is a wooden joist running perpendicular to,
and on top of, the main ceiling joists, perhaps 3x2".

Between the thick wooden beams, and the extra joists below, have been nailed
a series of thin wooden slats (4" wide, maybe 3/8" thick). Several feet
apart, half a dozen on each side, nailed to the sides of the beams with a
couple of nails each end.

They don't appear to be carrying any load (which would be borne by the
nails); so what are they for?

(I'm asking because I'm boarding the entire loft, and they're in the way.)

What a coincidence! I only started yesterday putting walk boards
(slats) down and, lo! Here is a thread about them.

I'm not going to do the entire loft floor area, but will space out the
boards so that there is one every foot or so. I only had one plank to
start with yesterday (142mm x 17mm), so I could only get three boards
from it, but already those three take me to the centre of the loft
with perfect ease, rather than balance on the narrow joists.

This was brought about by my clambering around to sort out the TV
aerial cable!

MM

On Apr 11, 12:12*pm, "dennis@home"
wrote:
"BartC" wrote in ....
So it looks like I need to keep them, and have to work around them, which
is a bit more fiddly. Although, apart from them, this loft is surprisingly
uncluttered compared with some previous houses with wooden struts and
beams everywhere.

They would be trussed rafters and are what the majority of new houses use..
They use less materials and arrive factory made so are quicker to erect.
Never cut one unless you have already replaced it with something to hold the
roof together.

Cutting *one* will not cause the roof to collapse. The usual order is
to cut one and then add the new material, e.g. to support the cut
ends. It's a bit difficult to do this *before* you make the first cut.

MBQ

"Man at B&Q" wrote in message
...


Cutting *one* will not cause the roof to collapse. The usual order is
to cut one and then add the new material, e.g. to support the cut
ends. It's a bit difficult to do this *before* you make the first cut.

Anyone with sense supports it before the first cut.
Those that don't have stuff fall down.
If you don't know how to support it before the first cut then find someone
that does.

MBQ

On Apr 12, 1:22*pm, "dennis@home" wrote:
"Man at B&Q" wrote in ...

Cutting *one* will not cause the roof to collapse. The usual order is
to cut one and then add the new material, e.g. to support the cut
ends. It's a bit difficult to do this *before* you make the first cut.

Anyone with sense supports it before the first cut.

Yes, temporarily support the cut end(s). They don't have to have (in
your words) "already replaced it with something to hold the roof
together. "

MBQ

"Man at B&Q" wrote in message
...
On Apr 12, 1:22 pm, "dennis@home" wrote:
"Man at B&Q" wrote in
...

Cutting *one* will not cause the roof to collapse. The usual order is
to cut one and then add the new material, e.g. to support the cut
ends. It's a bit difficult to do this *before* you make the first cut.

Anyone with sense supports it before the first cut.

Yes, temporarily support the cut end(s). They don't have to have (in
your words) "already replaced it with something to hold the roof
together. "


My words say what you have to do, support it. Yours said you didn't need to
support it. You were wrong to say that you can "cut one and then add the new
material" (your words BTW). There was nothing wrong with what I said.

On 12/04/11 14:02, dennis@home wrote:


"Man at B&Q" wrote in message
...
On Apr 12, 1:22 pm, "dennis@home" wrote:
"Man at B&Q" wrote in
...


Cutting *one* will not cause the roof to collapse. The usual order is
to cut one and then add the new material, e.g. to support the cut
ends. It's a bit difficult to do this *before* you make the first cut.

Anyone with sense supports it before the first cut.

Yes, temporarily support the cut end(s). They don't have to have (in
your words) "already replaced it with something to hold the roof
together. "


My words say what you have to do, support it. Yours said you didn't need
to support it. You were wrong to say that you can "cut one and then add
the new material" (your words BTW). There was nothing wrong with what I
said.

could support with a stick (dead man) in the room below?
[g]