Removing verticals from loft

[davechci]

Hi, I am looking to put a scalextric track in the loft and you will see in the phots that there are two vertical timbers. I want to remove these but am unsure as to if I can. The roof has typical "W" shaped beams. The verticals dont seem to be carrying any load as they move / wobble quite easily.

Is it safe or not? I know it may need somebody to physically check, but just wondered if they could be temporary beams that were put in when the house/roof was being built.

[url]http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/davechci/DSCN0288.jpg[/url]

[url]http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/davechci/DSCN0289.jpg[/url]

[url]http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/davechci/DSCN0290.jpg[/url]
[url]http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/davechci/DSCN0292.jpg[/url]

[url]http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/davechci/DSCN0291.jpg[/url]

Thanks

[stoneyboy]

davechci,
Your roof will have been constructed on site and there appears to be plenty of timber in the structure. I don't think you will create problems removing the vertical struts - try removing the bottom bolt to check if there is any load on the strut.
end

[rubberneck]

Are the ceiling joists hung from those vertical timbers? You may find the ceiling will flex quite a bit when you are walking around in your loft if you remove the vertical ties. The flexing may cause the ceiling plaster to crack. It might be worth strengthening the ceiling joists before you remove these timbers. I sandwiched my existing ceiling timbers (2" x 3") between 2" x 5" timbers and connected them with sabrefix timber connectors.