Removing a ceiling to show the eaves

milout

Hi All,

First post on the boards...

We are looking to renovate a standard 1970's bungalow out in Galway and would like to remove the existing ceiling in the front room / dining area in order to show the gabled roof.

Will this need planning permission and has anyone any experience of doing this in the past? The building has a G rating so will be looking to add in new thermal insulation at the same time to make it more energy efficient/

Thank
Mi

Calahonda52

What do u mean by gabled roof?
So u want to maybe double the ceiling height and u are st the same time concerned about the G rating.
Hot air rises so increased ceiling height = more expensive heating

milout

Hi,

The gable means the triangle pitch of the roof.

I know heat rises, but at the moment the insulation is non existent, so even raising the ceiling height cant make it worse.

With new double glazing and insulation board between the roof and the new plaster board I think it will outweigh the loss from the extra height.

Thanks for the input.

Calahonda52

Okay so u will cut the ceiling joists and move the ceiling up?.
This needs care and attention as the ceiling joists are the bottom chord in the triangle and are in tension, keeping the wall plates together.

There are different ways of doing this, depending in what visual finish u want.
Are the walls cavity block or cavity wall?

milout

Thanks Calahonda52,

I really like the sleek rafter free look, but wouldn't mind keeping the joists if they are decent timber, save re-cutting everything and risking the roof bowing!

I'm not sure about the cavity walls, will need to check that one.

From what you say a structural engineer is def needed, with maybe a review by building regs do you think? What do you reckon about planning permission being required.

DOCARCH

milout wrote: »

From what you say a structural engineer is def needed...

Definitely.

milout wrote: »

What do you reckon about planning permission being required.

If the profile/shape if the roof is not to be altered externally, then, no planning permission required.

Drift

Make sure you get an engineer to inspect the roof and give you a design for the alterations. This type of work has the potential to damage both your roof and walls seriously if done incorrectly.

Also - prepare yourself now for the possibility of making compromises. It might not be possible to do exactly what you describe depending on the type and structure of the roof.

milout

Thanks all for the advice.

I think I will be hitting the boards for a surveyor recommendation shortly and will keep you updated if we go for it or not