Loft conversation and loan baring beams

ShowMeTheCash

Conversion and load baring ^^^^

So my house was originally story and a half.
My attic is floored with that groved chip board flooring there is a lot space up there and can effectively walk around, the full length of the house.

I plan to convert the attic space and am looking at Velux windows.
I would like to install three Velux Cabrio style windows.
These are the ones that open out into a balcony. The top and bottom opens out.

My question is around the support beams that take the weight of the roof.

Essentially my home is a rectangle, the attic space is a rectangle with two support beams running from gable to gable.

Just wondering has anyone installed these where they got around these supporting beams, is it possible to take sections of the beam out but continue to support the weight without cause structural damage?

Or does this mean I could only install windows above the beam?

BryanF

Anything is possible, but you need a structural engineer

As per forum charter, We cannot discuss questions relating to structural matters.

Penn

If the beams you're talking about are timber, they're called purlins. It's a standard type of roof construction and the important thing is that if you remove or cut out some roof timbers, you need to replace it with something else to carry the load. As BryanF said however, you need a structural engineer or similar to inspect the existing roof structure and determine what can be removed and what is required in its place, and especially with a large window such as the Cabrio balcony window.

You should also be aware that the Cabrio balcony windows may require planning permission.