I want to enlarge my loft opening to install a good loft ladder, however, the chap at Loft Shop said that because my roof is a truss roof I wouldn't be able to cut the ceiling rafter/truss that I need to do.
On DIY web sites there is no warning about truss roofs and logic tells me that providing the rafter to be cut is supported and then properly finished there should be no problem.
Can anyone advise me.
Thanks

as you say long as you surport the rafters that you have cut which will be two at the most not a problem.

Hi Steverb

Virtually every pitched roof is a truss roof of one form or another.
Most of the time the triangular roof eliments sit on the outer walls and are tied via a peice of timber to the opposite wall, the object being to prevent the weight of the roof pushing the walls apart,
in other words the roof as a whole is a seperate entity that sits on the outside walls but does not inflict
any forces other than compressive, it might be fastened down but that is primarily to stop it
blowing away in a wind, thats not to say you cant enlarge your loft opening but if you cant get
your head around the forces involved prior to getting your saw out, I would recomend you get a journeyman carpenter to advise you,

Thanks for your advice.

It is highly inadvisable to cut the modern pre made units as they are designed for supporting the roof whilst using the minimum of wood and at the least cost possible. You can avoid doing any major joist cutting by looking around at the various loft ladders on the market just now that are designed for small hatches.

freelance writer

www.pukka-contractors.co.uk