Purlin in Victorian Terrace

Hi, There is usually only one purlin on either side of the roof, but it sounds as though the purlin is not big enough and there aren't enough supports, I would recommend doubling the size of the purlin and find double the amount of load bearing support for the purlin. You should jack up the ridge and purlins before adding new, then you will have a straight and true roof shape once finished. You can fit the new purlins alongside the old one's and support, then take away the old one's. The hardest job would be getting the timber up into the attic, as the purlins would be long. I have in the past created a flitch beam out of 6x1 treated timber and 150mm x 8mm steel plate, the timber is on both sides of steel, then bolted through at 400mm centres using 10mm bolts, this creates a reinforced beam, the benefit of this is you can bend the narrow timber and steel around corners which helps when getting timber up into difficult spaces like attics. I hope this is of help to you. Kind regards Paul Callaghan

HI pally83, Quite an interesting one, as around the time your property was built there were an awful lot of quite interesting events in the world that had quite an effect on the build quality of houses, and I suspect yours may be one affected. It would be good to know as to the exact build date of the house, as it is very close to the outbreak of the first world war if it is about 100 years old. if this is the case, as was the case on a property I refurbished 7 years ago, it is very possible that on the outbreak of war, timber was rationed, if not timber sizes were pushed to their absolute limit. Example, west park in Selby was a 1940's development, the house I bought to renovate was the last on the development to be finished before wwII was declared, and our neighbors house had dramatically reduced timber sizes and consequently creaked and flexed far more than ours. When we stripped off the lath and plaster ceiling, we even found a swastika and some very unkind message that the joiners left! Obviously doesn't help, but may explain. It may be possible to "laminate" the existing Purlins, but would be dictated by the site conditions, but I am concerned the surveyor slated the "wooden post", unless it was very unsubstantial, as I Moved a structural wall recently and supported the roof with a structural stud wall and 8"x4" timber after discussing the options with the building inspector and agreeing it would be as if not more substantial than the existing brick pier. You should have a specialist in your area look at it to check the actual stresses on the roof visually, and they should be able to come up with several options that do not require the roof to be replaced. Hope this is of help.