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The image shows the view up the ladder towards the intended hatch or trapdoor area. For scale, the ladder is parallel sided and 60cm or 2' wide. The four arrowed joists are new, much longer than previously and have been re-sited from their original positions.
The problem is providing maximum support for the obs. floorboards while avoiding projections into the path of anyone climbing the ladder.
The trial floor board on the left prevents normal use of the handrail and will need to be narrowed. The joist on that side will also need to be shortened and perhaps mitered to improve hand clearance on the handrail.
The full cross joists at the top of the image is sited at the minimum head clearance position when climbing. I have to lean back with my arms straight and my hands on the handrails to be able to reach that joist with my head. Anything nearer risks a potential accident in the pitch dark.
The hatch itself will probably need to be tapered to pass between the legs of the pyramid while being lowered. All of this could have been avoided if I had built a chimney block pier instead of the pyramid. The ladder could then have been parallel and close to to the nearest side wall. Instead of being placed at right angles and right out in the very middle of the lower floor.
A costly decision in terms of the freely available space. The widely splayed pier legs block normal access to large parts of the ground floor. Particularly in the area behind the ladder. If the pyramid proves not to be stiff enough in practice I shall have the perfect excuse to start building a chimney block pier.
Click on any image for an enlargement.
The trial floor board on the left prevents normal use of the handrail and will need to be narrowed. The joist on that side will also need to be shortened and perhaps mitered to improve hand clearance on the handrail.The full cross joists at the top of the image is sited at the minimum head clearance position when climbing. I have to lean back with my arms straight and my hands on the handrails to be able to reach that joist with my head. Anything nearer risks a potential accident in the pitch dark.
The hatch itself will probably need to be tapered to pass between the legs of the pyramid while being lowered. All of this could have been avoided if I had built a chimney block pier instead of the pyramid. The ladder could then have been parallel and close to to the nearest side wall. Instead of being placed at right angles and right out in the very middle of the lower floor.
A costly decision in terms of the freely available space. The widely splayed pier legs block normal access to large parts of the ground floor. Particularly in the area behind the ladder. If the pyramid proves not to be stiff enough in practice I shall have the perfect excuse to start building a chimney block pier.
Click on any image for an enlargement.
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