Modifying an attic access in an old home?

[MatBirch]

My house was built in 1905 with traditional rafters/ridge/collar ties. For some reason, at some time, some dummy framed in the attic access hatch REALLY, REALLY small. I'm a pretty good size guy, and this *****! I'm rewiring the entire house to get rid of the old knob and tube, so I'm in and out of the attic a bunch right now. I actually wound up with pretty significant bruising on my chest after the weekend from squeezing through the damn thing over and over. If I don't give a BIG exhale, I can't get through at all. I still have to lift both arms up and "dive" up through, as my shoulders won't pass through if my arms are down.
I want to open it up, to not only make it easier, but it will also be safer, as I could fit my 8' ladder under it, instead of 6'.
I've framed in openings it truss roofs before, is there anything I need to concern myself with, due to the older roof/rafter/joist system? The existing access is in a hallway with walls on either side, running parallel to the joists.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

I'm not qualified to help with how to do it, but would it pay to make it the correct size for a pull down latter?

 

[firebirdparts]

Realistically, I don't see how you mess anything up if you just cut one board. FWIW. It's pretty hard to answer a question "is there anything I need to know".

 

[Bert_]

They are usually small because that's what fit without cutting a collar tie. The one in my house is 13 x 24.

You have to be a little careful cutting. You've the weight of the ceiling pulling down and the room pushing out.

Probably less work to just find someone to help for a day.

 

[captain14]

Post some photos of the opening from above and below. Include some measurements. Usually houses of that age have a separate set of steps to the attic off the bathroom/bedroom also.

 

[MatBirch]

There isn't a 2nd access anywhere. I can get some pics. The top side of course is just a dirty mess of blown in insulation.
I'd love to find some qualified help, but it's a long, ongoing job that will still take several more weekends. We also have some kitchen and laundry renovations planned, both of which will require some work up there. I need to be able to access it somewhat regularly, but not enough to warrant a permanent ladder.

I have no desire to attempt to store things up there. In order to make it useable space, I would need to frame sections of catwalks above the 15-18' of blown in insulation, and there are still 1x4 collar/rafter ties at waist level every 4' to climb under/over/around. (At least, I'm assuming they're ties, but they also support the knob and tube down the center of house. They wouldn't have installed them just for the electrical would they?)
...I'll get some pictures

 

[The Cobbler]

1905 construction framing was mediocre by todays standards . often members that were in the way were cut out with no bridging or anything . not saying you should arbitrarily just start hacking rafters out, but I think you can achieve what you want relatively easily .
as suggested, some pics would help a lot

 

[bradpac]

It sounds like the roof is supported, not by the ceiling, so cutting a bigger hole in the ceiling shouldn't be a problem. Just frame your opening between the ceiling joists and with walls on either side your framing can sit on as well it would be hard for things to go structurally bad.

 

[PWC Repair]

It sounds like the roof is supported, not by the ceiling, so cutting a bigger hole in the ceiling shouldn't be a problem. Just frame your opening between the ceiling joists and with walls on either side your framing can sit on as well it would be hard for things to go structurally bad.

I agree with this. If the rafters run parallel with the walls, just frame it in from above, then cut out the center. I would personally go with the fold down attic stairs myself.

 

[nadogail]

Without looking at what you have, I am unwilling to make a recommendation.

 

[firebirdparts]

Photographs won’t show much, I don’t think. If you just cut one ceiling joist and box it in with the ones on either side, it wouldn’t make much difference in a simple structure.

 

[rburke65]

Has to be somewhat similar to cutting in a sky light. Search YouTube for a hint or ‘how to’.