Loft Stilts, Is this where you screw them onto?

[Deleted User]

Insulation looks like it needs replacing.

Not sure that wood will support a shelf (not floor) even for storage.

Proceed carefully.

Mun.Rassul

Ganga wrote: »

I am sure you know this but be carefull where you put your feet whilst up there.do not step off the wood or you will go thru the ceiling.

Indeed Ganga, I have once "nearly" out my foot straight through at my parents house, that was a close call, I plan to lay down several boards to act as walkways

Mun.Rassul

sevenhills wrote: »

You look to have raised it quite a lot, why is that? Since you have fastened the wood to the roof beams, those beams will be taking the weight.
I dont know anything about lofts, but I would have put the wood beams into the wall/bricks, like the ones that are already there.

Hi the loft has been left as it is since I bought the house a year ago, it already had the roof supports there, they around a foot and a half from the loft floor, it going to make boarding up abit tricky.

EachPenny

You either need to forget about your storage plans or else get a professional structural engineer to advise you.

The depth of the ceiling joists looks barely sufficient to support the weight of the ceiling over the spans involved, let alone support the weight of flooring, stored items plus people.

The whole roof construction is lightweight, with no original bracing or ties. I would agree with Lorian that the new wood in your loft has probably been added as ties (to address a problem with the roof spreading?). That work doesn't look like it has been carried out to a professional standard, and certainly shouldn't be relied on to provide any vertical support for flooring or storage.

A forum like this can be good for getting DIY advice, but what you need is advice from a professional.

In fact the only advice I would be willing to offer (other than to get a professional) is that if it was me then I wouldn't even be walking around in that loft until it had been checked by a competent person.

Mun.Rassul

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Insulation looks like it needs replacing.

Not sure that wood will support a shelf (not floor) even for storage.

Proceed carefully.

I was thinking of placing the shelf or platform along where the solid brick wall is underneath in the hopes of it being able to take some weight, the only other option I can think of is to create a floor by attaching new beams at the edges of the loft on the brick walls

Lorian

Mun.Rassul wrote: »

I was thinking of placing the shelf or platform along where the solid brick wall is underneath in the hopes of it being able to take some weight, the only other option I can think of is to create a floor by attaching new beams at the edges of the loft on the brick walls

Please, seek professional advice.

Mun.Rassul

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Insulation looks like it needs replacing.

Not sure that wood will support a shelf (not floor) even for storage.

Proceed carefully.

The insulation is over 10 years old at this point, I assume it would still hold some worth so the plan was to put a fresh layer over it.

Mun.Rassul

EachPenny wrote: »

You either need to forget about your storage plans or else get a professional structural engineer to advise you.

The depth of the ceiling joists looks barely sufficient to support the weight of the ceiling over the spans involved, let alone support the weight of flooring, stored items plus people.

The whole roof construction is lightweight, with no original bracing or ties. I would agree with Lorian that the new wood in your loft has probably been added as ties (to address a problem with the roof spreading?). That work doesn't look like it has been carried out to a professional standard, and certainly shouldn't be relied on to provide any vertical support for flooring or storage.

A forum like this can be good for getting DIY advice, but what you need is advice from a professional.

In fact the only advice I would be willing to offer (other than to get a professional) is that if it was me then I wouldn't even be walking around in that loft until it had been checked by a competent person.

It seems a cowboy may have been in the loft once upon a time! I've only had the house a year and the general advice I'm getting is probably right, I will get someone in to look at it and see what the deal is. Will keep you updated on what the outcome is as I'm sure the information will be useful to know.