Log cabin from 1907. Before 1984, a couple of "supports" were removed in a row in the roof construction in one of the attic spaces on one side. The rafters are spaced 145cm apart. In 2005, the roof tiles were replaced and an inspection showed that where the supports were removed, there were no signs of the roof sagging or similar issues. A carpenter was present during the roof replacement and the supports were deemed unnecessary, which is why I am now considering removing all of them. What do the experts here who know about roof constructions and log houses say, is it safe to remove the "supports"?
No. Furthermore, these are not support legs but parts of an old-fashioned variant of a three-jointed frame. Very common in barns in the past. The "support legs" are needed to stabilize the house laterally. What can happen if you remove them is that the entire structure collapses. I completely understand that there were no settlements in 2005. That is also not the main risk. Do not trust carpenters when it comes to structural issues.
The house is 9m long and has 7 roof trusses, of which those closest to the gables are tight against them. Now, numbers 2 and 3, i.e., 1.45 and 2.9m from one gable, are cut on one side. I'd like to remove the two on the opposite side as well, and ideally both on the 4th roof truss too, that is the one in the middle of the house. So, half of the house's length would have them, and half wouldn't, with one at the gable end for the half where they are removed. Are there ways to replace them otherwise?J justusandersson said:
OK, it's 1-1 for/against whether these beams are overkill or not = more opinions are needed.
They are needed...
Somehow you need to keep the walls together; it might not collapse immediately if you remove them, but you're taking a risk I wouldn't take.
It's probably possible to keep the walls together in another way if you absolutely want to remove the supports.
/ATW
Somehow you need to keep the walls together; it might not collapse immediately if you remove them, but you're taking a risk I wouldn't take.
It's probably possible to keep the walls together in another way if you absolutely want to remove the supports.
/ATW
You can't calculate knowledge that way ;-)T Träkåk said:
Bring in an experienced carpenter on-site who can determine. You might be able to remove a few more, but it's probably best to refrain.
Logical when you just get a little help along the way, thanks. The carpenter's statement that it was calm probably referred to the two rafters that were truncated on one side, not that these beams are unnecessary in any rafter. It's the opposing supports for the same rafters that already lack these on one side that are most troubling. Could limit the intervention to removing the vertical support on the other side of the rafters that already lack these on one side. This would mean that 5 rafters remain complete and 2 entirely lack lateral stabilizing effect. Over many years, you could say the house has had 86% of the original lateral stability of the upstairs longitudinal walls. If the proposed change is implemented, 71% remains. I'm not a designer, but generally speaking, it feels like log houses are more over-dimensioned than that, right? Getting someone to visit is unfortunately not easy within the next six months, and I would like to renovate this year, which is why this forum is so great.