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How to build a loft

BIM_Engineer
Former Community Member

How to build a loft

Lofts as an after thought can be expensive and difficult to install

So I've included  a simple lightweight steel (Cold Formed Section) staircase that the average DIYer should find relatively simple & cost effective to knock up with a basic tool set

If you played with a mecanno set as a child :grin: then this is for you

https://dovedaler.com/2012/08/16/workbench-news/

A few points to consider 

  • Purlin spans are for illustration purposes only
  • All floor loft spans  to be checked by engineer
  • Stairs suitable for 1.50 KPa Live loads
  • Planning and Building applications are applicable check with your council
  • etc,etcLoft Stairs.jpg

 

Re: DIY Placement of a Loft within a Roof Space

Hi again.  My loft would take the length of the house.  I have a duplex .. a brick wall in the middle dividing we two.    Your original drawing with the stair against the wall .. would be ideal for me.  At the top would turning right .. would be able to walk nearly the whole length of the villa.  Thanks again for your wonderful imput.

BIM_Engineer
Former Community Member

Re: DIY Placement of a Loft within a Roof Space

@BibbyKat If you can get someone to take some photos and then upload them to this topic I'd be happy to take a quick look :smile: and I may well have some other solutions to share that are more suited to your requirements in my Bim (Building Information Modelling) Engineering & Construction Handbook . Remember Safety Always First (SAF) when climbing into roof spaces.

BIM_Engineer
Former Community Member

Floor for the LOFT

 

 Following on in The Loft series is the floor .

The Structural Floor will need to be designed and certified by an Engineer

Points to consider when determining the type of flooring system

  • Roof Access by means of ladders and scaffolding
  • Material handling within the roof space
  • Safe working Platforms within the roof space
  • Condtion of the ceiling beneath the loft
  • Limiting the amount of work to be done  within the roofspace to erection only where possible
  • etc,etc

 Loft Floor.jpg

 

Because of the above factors The floor has been designed to sit on walls above the ceiling with sufficent clearance to the ceiling joists & beam members

The floor can also be prefabricated on the gound and re-assembled in the roof 

For support beams spanning short distances I've use Timber LVL Beams

For Beams spanning larger distances I've used bolted Prefab Steel Truss Beams

These beams will not be seen from within the loft once the walls to the loft are installed

 

 The exploded view (down to up) is in sequence to the way it will be installed

Hope you find it useful

 

Other posts in this loft series:

 

DIY Stairs for a Loft


DIY Placement of a Loft within a Roof Space

BIM_Engineer
Former Community Member

DIY Walls For The Loft

Following on in The Loft Series after the stuctural floor are the walls

these are best constructed within the roofspace where the floor provides a safe large working platform for fabrication 

 

 

The walls are designed to enclose the loft and to support the rafters & roof.

Cut collar ties that previously passed through the loft will need to be trimmed & attached to these walls. Brace and fix  the wall framing to the existing structure ready for lining.

 Loft walls.jpg

 

 

Other posts in this loft series:

 

DIY Stairs for a Loft


DIY Placement of a Loft within a Roof Space

 

Floor For the loft

 

Hope you find these links useful

 

Also please check out Bunnings DIY advice Here

Bunnings DIY Advice & Videos

 

Andy_Mann
Former Community Member

Re: DIY Walls For The Loft

G'day @BIM_Engineer Chris, is there any way that you can post higher definition diagrams of your plans, more specifically, the exploded detail images? Maybe it's just me, but I can't make much out of it in the current format, & enlarging a "View Image", just makes it blurry? :frustrated:

BIM_Engineer
Former Community Member

Re: DIY Walls For The Loft

@Andy_Mann

Ive increased the resolution in the image
But Ideally the best format is 3D-PDF, unfortunately its not supported here on this site/browser
Capabilities are here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th6nujT9ULQ

Andy_Mann
Former Community Member

Re: DIY Walls For The Loft

@BIM_Engineer, thanks for helping out, it does look more readable now. :bigsmile:

 

 

BIM_Engineer
Former Community Member

DIY Ceilings& Roof Window For the loft

Ceiling & a optional window completes the Loft Series

At this point you might want to consider having a licenced Electrician

install power points and lights.

After fixing Ceiling battens to the rafters place ceiling insulation

from within the loft space covering insulation with plasterboard ceilings

The wall insulation can be place from within the roof spaceLoft Ceilings.jpg

 

The approximate quantities and data are provided for material pricing and handling.

Hope you found the series benefical and informative.

Fitout, trim, paint and decorate accordingly and please share your loft photos :smile:

 

 

 

Other posts in this loft series:

 

DIY Stairs for a Loft


DIY Placement of a Loft within a Roof Space

 

Floor For the loft

 

DIY Walls For The Loft

 

Hope you find these links useful

 

Also please check out Bunnings DIY advice Here

Bunnings DIY Advice & Videos

muzzd
Getting Established

Re: DIY Stairs for a Loft

Hi Bim-ENGINEER

Can I trouble you for clearer details for the above steel staircase

Thank you

Re: Reply ... Re: DIY Stairs for a Loft

Hi @muzzd,

 

Unfortunately Chris (BIM_Engineer) is no longer a member of the Bunnings Workshop community. Can we assist you with your project? I would recommend you create a new discussion and share your needs in as much detail as possible.

 

Many thanks,

 

Jason

 

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