loft

"Insufficent Data" :-)

The size of the timbers isn't very clear in those pics. How deep are the joists (the timbers to which the ceiling is attached)? And what is the maximum san between supporting walls.

Dave

ill try and explain the best i can. the joists are 2 inches acros and 3 down.these then have 2 joists running across them on both sides which are 3 by 2 as well.the supporting wall in the middle to th outside wall is 142 inches down and 71 inches to the front of house an

I take it that the "142 inches" long wall is poking through the loft?

(I've forgotten what that's called but it is late Saturday and I am sober, so such things are to be expected under the circumstances.)

Anyway the answer is: No.

On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 22:44:33 +0100, a particular chimpanzee named daz5000 randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

retractable ladder) comes down into the enclosed stairway, nor whether the stair is fully enclosed at first floor and ground floor level or whether it is open to the lounge or kitchen. You also don't show where your alternative escape window is in the roof space or whether all the doors from the second floor to the final exit are 30-minutes fire-resisting. Neither can I see whether you have installed mains-wired smoke detectors to all storeys.

If all that happens is they fall through the floor, then they'd be luckier than if they were trapped up there in a fire.

no sorry,the supporting wall is just under the right of the beam goin all down the middle. its 142 inches from one supporting wall to anothe in the middle,71 from beam to the left and 117 to the right.the boar ive put down is where you can stand and the same on the other side.wil the beams still move with me fixing the boarding stepped to add strengt and screwed down every 10 inches. cheer

No. The space is definitely not suitable for habitable accommodation. Not only is the floor structure woefully inadequete for anything other than light storage, the fire safety aspects are frightening. If there was a fire elsewhere in the house, the children would die.

Christian.

Well, you'd best put that on pause cos 2x3 isnt meaty enough for much. For 71" span you could add 2x3s on top of the existing 2x3s, glued and screwed every 6", to make it usable. If the unsupported span were 142" thats... about 12', 2x4 additions would be better. Neither of these are anywhere modern requirements though, but such requirements concern millimetres of deflection rather than being about safety - wood is a bit springy.

Fire escape is another matter to attend to.

NT

thanks to all, after boarding the floor and spending about £200 so fa for nothing, im going to get the job done by the pros.whats been sai no diy to save money is worth the risk to any of my kids.thanks again