loft conversion

[weeman1981]

i want to do a loft conversion i have 4 by 2 spanning 17 feet wall plate 2 wall plate and 6 by 3 perlins running other way spanning approx 27 feet ontop of the 4 by 2 all i can as theese perlins are doing is holdin 4 by 2 up to stop them sagging . can i loose the perlins all together and run 8 or 9 by 2 along side 4 by 2 wall plate to wall plate as new floor joists please give honest detailed answer most gratefull thanks

[Disco Fever]

It might just be easy to get a local builder or a builing surveryor to tell you what you need, Buildersmate will probably tell you the same thing....

[buildersmate]

Zacmaster is spot on. Architects generally sub-contract for the services of a structural engineer - the required calculations should cost about �100. Look up 'structural engineer' in Yellow Pages if you are organising it yourself.
Two other main areas you will have to solve - one Zacmaster has mentioned - fire escape route. The second one is minimum insulation standards in the new area.