Nereus wrote: ↑Fri Feb 24, 2023 10:19 am
A bit difficult to see just what you have there, the photo is nearly black. The ceiling appears to be suspended from some additional bearers, or rafters, running at right angles to the actual battens that carry the gyprock. Very strange! But ceilings are not usually built to carry any weight, unless they are built with strong rafters mounted between surrounding walls.
The gable roof appears to have timber trusses, which may be what you are calling “beams”, and therefore 4m apart. The bottom part of the truss, (called a collar tie), is also braced with a vertical member from the top of the gable. This is where the strength of the roof is, and the load is taken by the surrounding walls. It is the ONLY part of the roof that is designed to carry weight. Any “walkway” would need to be between those trusses, carried between the collar ties of each truss.
After market “manholes” are available in various sizes. For me I would forget about trying to make storage space, but install manholes in each room in such a position that can be opened to spray for termites. Fitted properly they are hardly noticeable. You would probably need to find a contractor that installs gyprock ceilings to get it right.
Termites are prevalent in Hua Hin; they have cost me several times replacing wooden material. But they live underground, and also look for moisture. If the bloody things are already in the roof space, then you may have a big problem!
Thanks for that great explanation, yes the roof is constructed as you say. The termites I see are a few small winged ones coming out of a couple of the holes cut into the ceiling of the living area for the small LED downlighters. There are no termites at all flying outside the house at the moment (yes we get the big evening swarms after rain, but this isn't the case right now).
I'll follow your advice, as the hatch in the kitchen should also do for access to the living space if I place it close enough, the ceiling/roof being a continuous space. I believe pest control companies have sprayers which are extendable so could cover the main area of the villa, with one more hatch in the dining area close to the master bathroom for similar access. The villa is 'L' shaped with the master bathroom in the angle, the dining/living/kitchen areas going down one arm, and the master bedroom/second bathroom/bedroom down the other.
Obviously the space under the house must be treated too.
I had wooden skirting boards infested a couple of years back, but that part of the house (a third bedroom/bathroom extension) is segregated both above (flat roof) and below the villa, All had to be replaced, so I'm aware of the potential damage. Weird how they got in there.
Thanks again for your kind help, Nereus.
