Home DIY

I’m worried about the load baring nature of the joists, surely I can’t just cut one out?

In the short term - depends what it's supporting. It might need propping either side if it's a critical one. But this is how loft hatches are fitted so yeah you can cut one (no more, but if your joists are like mine that should be plenty big enough).

You should really get a structural engineer in to advise, but the answer's likely to be noggins either side of the hatch and sistering the joists either side of the one you cut. If your joists are like mine they'll be old size (mine are 63 x 175) which is overspecced so you can use 47mm C24 carcassing instead. I had a structural engineer round on Friday and he said that was AOK (and joist hangers for your noggins > skew nailing).