Ceiling support

Hello! Can anyone give me some info on a type of roof support called a 'Tom'? I want to knock down two small walls in my kitchen, but have been told that I have one of these supports on the corner of these two walls and it's basically holding the whole roof up?? I can't find anything on the net about them. Thanks!

Otherwise known as a strut supporting an underpurlin.
https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/toolbox/ ... purlin.gif
They usually go down onto a wall like yours do but sometimes if that isn't possible the load can be taken by a beam that transfers it onto the walls as in that image I link to.
It's not a big job to change how the underpurlin is supported but that depends a lot on the configuration of your existing roof and walls.

Stewie

Thanks Stewie, so I could just move the strut? I thought the position of it was odd... it's on the corner of two walls that make up a pantry and oven stack - it doesn't seem like it would be a sturdy spot? (But I know nothing !)

As long as you move it so that the underpurlin is still supported and the base of the strut is bearing over a wall plate and stud then you could move it ( with certain caveats ). A photo of the strut and underpurlin in question plus the top plates of the wall would help.

Stewie