Can this be done to a Hip-Roof?? w/ Pics
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 17
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Can this be done to a Hip-Roof?? w/ Pics
Hello everyone.. Here is the story.. Working on a 1926 American Foursquare style home I just purchased near Buffalo, NY. Began this remodel project by starting with the front room / front porch. Began by removing all of the plaster and lathe from this room, and will be replacing with drywall. My question to all of you structural engineers and know-hows out there is, can the ceiling rafters in this room be removed, with proper bracing and support for the roof and hip rafters at the wall? Currently as you'll see in the pics, the roof rafters all come to rest on a 1x2 that lies perpindicular across the ceiling rafters above the soffit. I would like to brace those up at the wall, along with the roof rafters, taking the weight off the ceiling rafters, and allowing me to cut them off flush with the front wall if possible. I would like to secure my drywall right to the underside of the hip roof, making a nice cathedral ceiling, and possibly install a skylite. Can this structurally be done?? Any info or advice would be great!!
Pics:
1) A view of the front porch from the street
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/1.jpg
2) This is how the roof joists are currently supported (1x2 across the ceiling 2x4's)
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/2.jpg
3) Another view of the roof joists coming to rest on a 1x2 laid across the ceiling rafters.
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/3.jpg
4) This is where the roof attatches to the house.
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/4.jpg
5) This is where it looks like at some point someone installed a brace under one of the hip rafters. You can see the weight of it pressing down on the 2x4 ceiling rafters that I would like ot remove, so this hip rafter would need to be supported in the corner by the wall if possible.
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/5.jpg
6) Another shot of the roof rafters resting on the 1x2. No, that one isnt bent from the weight, actually i reached up with my hand and pulled that curved section off.. Its not supporting anything...
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/6.jpg
Pics:
1) A view of the front porch from the street
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/1.jpg
2) This is how the roof joists are currently supported (1x2 across the ceiling 2x4's)
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/2.jpg
3) Another view of the roof joists coming to rest on a 1x2 laid across the ceiling rafters.
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/3.jpg
4) This is where the roof attatches to the house.
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/4.jpg
5) This is where it looks like at some point someone installed a brace under one of the hip rafters. You can see the weight of it pressing down on the 2x4 ceiling rafters that I would like ot remove, so this hip rafter would need to be supported in the corner by the wall if possible.
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/5.jpg
6) Another shot of the roof rafters resting on the 1x2. No, that one isnt bent from the weight, actually i reached up with my hand and pulled that curved section off.. Its not supporting anything...
Http://www.cdecker.com/house/6.jpg
#2
Member
Ceiling Joists
No, you cannot do this. The ceiling joists extend past the outside wall and support the roof. If you cut the ceiling joists at the wall, the entire roof structure will fall.
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 17
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Correct, however if I extend the wall up and tie in the roof rafters before they get to that point, that should transfer the weight to the wall and not the ceiling rafters, therefore allowing me to remove them, or at least. this is what I would like to know...
#4
Member
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 2,999
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
I have studied your pictures. What I am going to say next, I am going to say with extreme caution. Yes, it is possible to do what you want, however, it will not be able to be done as simply as you have stated. What you need to do before you dismantle anything is to have a structural engineer look at it. This is of upmost importance. As wirepuller said your roof can come right down. I have seen this happen. We can only see photo's of your joists and rafters, so there are limitatations as to what we can say. Get a structural engineer. Good Luck