roof designs

Wig

I am thinking about a new roof on a cottage in France.

The upstairs in the cottage is in the roof space, when you go upstairs there is a 3 foot high wall front and back of the house with 2 gable ends, on top of the 3ft walls are the wall plates and the A-frame sits ontop of the wall plate. The cross beams on the A-frame are then about 7 feet above the floor and whole of the roof space is then open above you, (i.e. there is no ceiling, so to speak)

Currently the roof is pitched + slated, real slate to the front manufactured slate to the rear, and was re slated about 20 years ago, so the roof is currently in good condition, except that the wall plate timbers should be replaced and some of the A-frames need completely replacing as they are basically tree trunks (imagine 6 inch diameter trees without bark and full of woodworm holes), and some are splitting. When the roof was re-slated unfortunately they did not go to the expense of replacing the old A-frames and wall plates.

I want to know what are the various options for roof design or existing roof repair including crimped zinc sheeting etc. If I was to go to the expense of a complete roof re design, my ideal roof would be completely without timber, because of the woodworm problem in France. would be long lasting (100 years or more) without maintenance. Very well insulated. & have velux roof windows

I was thinking a steel A-frame structure with zinc sheeting, but I'm not sure the walls could cope with the weight.

Anyways, what roof designs can you think of? traditional or modern

fatbikersbouncebetter

If the roof is over a hundred years or more, then th ewood structure has done ok and any replacement will outlive you. First job is to find out what you are allowed to do, not what you want to or think you can do, Most areas have local architects that will do a proper design and structure survey, Oay a bit now and save a lot later. :money: