FTB - Roof Strenghtening and Building Regulations

Worrymerchant

Please can someone help us, we are FTB and have bought a property that requires the roof strengthened to comply with building regulations - as stated by the Surveyor. We have found a competent builder, and have booked him to start work in the next few days - do we need to get building regs for this or can we just get on with the project? How should we proceed? We really could do with advice asap!

nelly_2

Right I changed this post what exactly needs stregthening?

Worrymerchant

The survey recommended that additional strengthening of the roof frame be done.

We had a structural engineer look at it & he said "The main purlins supporting the rafters at mid-span are supported on 2 brick corbels on one side and on 2 cast iron plates on the other. One of the brick corbels appears to have been damaged and the cast iron supports have deflected under the weight of the roof. At present this has not caused any damage to the structure but we would recommend that the brick corbel is re-built and the cast iron plates are replaced by steel angles resin anchored into the masonry."

So there's that being done & our builder has also recommended we put in extra struts (dont want to use the wrong term) in a V shape, there's 1 V currently in the middle. Hope that makes sense? It's a fairly small terraced house.

macduf

I dont think you wont need Building regs just complete the works to the Engineers Spec.

macduf

I dont think you wont need Building regs just complete the works to the Engineers Spec.

marybishop

If I were you I'd ring your local Building Control Dept and ask them the question rather than try to second guess. If you've got structural calculations from a Structural Engineer there shouldn't be any problem getting B Regs if they're needed. Better to find out now before you pay a builder to do work that may have to be re-done if it doesn't conform.

Worrymerchant

Everyone seems to be saying different things, I rang the council, they think we have to put in a building notice form, the builders think its just a way of them making money as we'd now have to pay to have them inspected as well. Apparently every council is slightly different which is a bit crazy if you ask me.

Guess there's no getting around it, it's a shame as it might delay us & all we are trying to do is add strength to it to make it last longer.

ukwoody

I no longer do roofs, but I have never heard of having to get any form of permission from the council to carry out this particular nature of work. It is a fairly common problem and is usually quite straight forward if carried out by a competant person. The fact that you are mearly reinforcing an existing structure and not making major changes you should be fine, unless you are in a flat or listed building.
Other trademen may be able to shed more light on this, and indeed I am willing to be corrected, but certainly years ago there was no need for any form of certificate from the council.

woody

Worrymerchant

The buiding control people at the council have said we have to put in a building notice & have it inspected as well (I'm really worried they'll come & start saying the previous owners have worked on the roof & we have to fix it to meet builing regs!). We just dont have the money for that!

Builders we very surprised the council asked us to do this as we arent changing anything just adding extra support to it. Plus it costs you £200 just to tell them you're doing the work to make the roof last longer, gobsmacked.