Structure of internal loft space/rafters

Hello Mac, Yes this normally & it is doing a structural job so best to leave it in place, it’s a simple way to add another roof section to an existing roof structure. It’s not the best way to do it, but it’s cheaper & cost effective solution which is what most consumers only really care about in the modern era, and not proper craftsmanship anymore. The other way is cutting the existing rafters back and putting in a proper valley rafter & bolting a ridge beam to a exist rafter on the existing pitch trying to be joined this, obviously this is a lot of more work & skill involved & would involve propping up the cut rafters in the existing roof etc. The method done on your house is simply running timbers up the existing rafters and cutting your new rafters to this, with this simple method you lose access to that loft space which is down side but most people wouldn’t really be bothered by that. Hope this answers your question. Regards Frankie BT Roofing Services Limited

This sounds like a lateral roof brace. and I assume you mean it goes over the access hatch if so it can be altered and may require an additional brace. if in doubt contact an engineer.