Ready to hire?

Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a job

Need some tips or advice?

Extensions

Extending into eaves of mansard roof

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.51 PM

I have a top floor victorian flat, and the kitchen area has an old mansard roof. When the block was redeveloped in 1999, they put a new velux window in the pitched roof but later boarded off the window and angle to create a flat front to put the kitchen units on. I would like to extend the kitchen into the eve to reveal the window again and create a bit more space and light (about 30-40 cm depth by 2 metres wide). Question: There are angled joist supporting the slate roof and some upright ones for the flat wall. Can I extend into the angle by removing the uprights save a large one at either end (so two metres apart? Or would I just be confined to extending between the joists to create a window recess only. ???? --- Thanks for your very helpful reply. Was unable to attach photo here but I have attached some to my posted job: http://www.mybuilder.com/job/view/983207 Thanks again Your info makes a lot of sense. Thanks! Further photo on job. Sorry not brilliant quality to work with but as far as my arm would take me through the hole in the wall if you get my drift! Looking at it, seems to be supported from both sides so perhaps original builders just intended to recess the window between the existing joists? --- Thanks so much Mick, really appreciate your help on this. To answer your question, the kitchen is VERY small so it was about creating a little extra space and some light and properly sealing the cavity too. The high units would be moved to another wall. I will certainly get some advice when I've accessed the window section. As for insulation, there isn't any!! I open up the kitchen drawers and get a blast of cold air from an opening in the slate roof onto a box gutter , also get the occasional visiting pigeon! Nice! Another reason to open it, it really needs fixed. Thanks again for all your help. regards Sandy

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

1 Answer

Anonymous user

Hi Sandy, This one is not so straightforward to answer, I think I understand what you are getting at, if the velux is in situ already and has been fitted according to regs it should in theory be ok to uncover, however if there has been retro fitting of timbers to support the velux/roof you would not be able to remove these without having them checked over and any strengthening works carried out. If the timbers you are talking about are there for bracing the wall only you should be ok to remove them, that said I would get someone with experience to look it over before you undertake any works as it could be catastrophic if you do this incorrectly. If there is any chance of posting any images it may help. Good luck Looking at the images I cannot see if the bottom of your current kitchen wall built off a steel beam or a pair of joists fixed together, if it is it may well be an extra support to the mansard also is there any chance of a photo of the top of this wall as its method of connection to the roof above would suggest if it is supporting or not. Cheers Hi again Sandy, How committed are you to removing this wall? is it mainly the light or the space you are after? obviously you will be losing insulation by taking the wall out which will need addressing, also have you thought of how you are going to install your kitchen units as the Mansard roof is obviously not vertical? I have to cover my back and advise you to get a professional in to check it out thoroughly before proceeding, that said from the information shown in the images you have posted it does not look like it is supporting, so if you were to remove the plasterboard to reveal the stud work you should be safe to get a full view of what has been done on the original installation which should answer your initial query. Obviously make sure any electrical works are isolated and also any gas supplies to avoid any risk of injury. Hope this helps Mick

Answered5 August 2014