Hi. I'd be grateful for anyone's technical advice....We had a loft conversion about 10years ago but have since had a two-storey side extension which means we are easily able to reclaim the area where we used to have a hip roof (which is now within the new side extension roof). The original loft conversion steel beams and floor joists are already in situ but I need to make a couple of adjustments in terms of the studwork/walls:
1) We have a flitch beam at the apex of the original roof, which was added when we converted. It is supported at one end by a stud wall which hides the chimney stack but this stud wall needs to be moved and the flitch beam will be about 300mm too short - could we have a U-shaped bracket made to support and extend that end of the flitch by 300mm to the new stud wall? Or alternatively would we need to weld a new piece of steel or bolt some timber extensions to the existing beam? Its not feasible to replace the existing flitch beam.
2) In the new roof area, we need to build a stud wall to divide the newly-reclaimed conversion from the new loft section (we can't convert it all due to lack of floor steels and wind-braces, angled purlin supports in situ). What I want to know is, is it ok to build the vertical windbrace beam / apex support and two of the purlin support beams into the dividing stud wall? I'm assuming that as long as I don't change the braces/supports in any way, adding studwork / plasterboard around them won't change their function?
I'm going to get the building inspector out but ideally wanted to erect these walls before they attend so that I can get the structure signed off in one go. Thanks for your help.
