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Hi everybody! Completely new here so sorry if I'm posting incorrectly, and sorry if I use incorrect terminology. I'll try my best.
Im looking for advice on which posts to use to support an insteresting structure. I've received the opportunity to turn a 6m w x 6m l x 4.2m h, part mudbrick, part wooden structure into a dwelling. Its north facing windows are blocked by another structure. The roof is an A frame with a north and a south facing side. I want to build a loft for my bedroom, and raise a quarter of the roof up so that I can stand and look out over the structure at the property. I plan on it being slightly smaller than 3m by 3m.
I've been told that it would be easier to just cut a 3x3 hole in the roof and build an entirely new structure including a new roof for that structure, which would sit in that hole and on the same supports that will support the loft, which I'll be connecting to the concrete slab floor (with some sort of footing or bracing?).
I can use one wall maybe as load bearing. The other three sides of the loft/structure would be held up purely by bearers (not sure if that's the right term. The big pieces of wood that I'll connect the joists to) connected to posts. I plan on using 265mm e joists with 300mm spacings. Im also hopefully going to have windows to look out of. If anybody is still with me, I'm wondering what I would need to use as posts to bear all of that load?
Thank you so much to whomever lasted all the way to the end!!! I know it was a lot but it's hard to describe without showing...
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Rhajia. It's a pleasure to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about a loft installation.
It sounds like 100 x 100mm 5.4m Post GL13 Merbau Laminated Select Grade DPR KD could be used as your posts. Alternatively, stud frame walls can be created to bear the weight of your floor. You might need to sketch out your plans and have a structural engineer look over them to advise on adequate ways of supporting the loft.
I've taken the liberty of putting a rendering together for you. The window's orientation might now actually be what you're looking for, but I hope it at least gives you something to work with. The biggest hurdle with the floor will be ensuring the beams can span your 6m. I suggest you'll need posts in the middle at the 3m mark to reduce the span. Once you have your plan fleshed out, make sure to run it by an engineer before commencing work.
Let me know what you think, as I'm keen to follow along with your project and assist.
Mitchell
