ᐅ New Construction: Is the Attic Suitable for Conversion or Not?
Created on: 9 Apr 2017 09:35
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Thomas1980
Hi,
we are planning to build a single-family house with two full floors plus a pitched roof (as a third floor) without a basement (due to groundwater).
So far, we have planned the attic as an unheated roof space without knee walls, with a roof pitch of 35 degrees (roof pitches must be at least 35 degrees according to the development plan, and knee walls are allowed up to 1.20 meters (4 feet)).
The upper floor ceiling will be made of wood – insulation will be installed there. The attic will be designed to withstand loads up to 2 kN/sqm (42 psf), so it can be used well for storage of non-sensitive items.
We are covering about 100 sqm (1,076 sq ft) of ground area and will have approximately 165 sqm (1,776 sq ft) of living space spread over the two floors. That is actually sufficient for our needs.
However, we are now reconsidering whether it might be better to design the attic so that it can be used as living space:
* Upper floor ceiling made of concrete
* Underfloor heating installed / electrical provisions made
* Insulation in the pitched roof
* Knee walls installed
* Roof pitch increased from 35 to 38 degrees
We probably would not have this option later on.
We do not urgently need the space right now, but we could imagine setting up a “relaxation/leisure area” there. In addition, this would create space where our heating system could be relocated, and it would provide genuine storage (storing things in an unheated attic is quite difficult).
Thanks for your thoughts/opinions on this question.
we are planning to build a single-family house with two full floors plus a pitched roof (as a third floor) without a basement (due to groundwater).
So far, we have planned the attic as an unheated roof space without knee walls, with a roof pitch of 35 degrees (roof pitches must be at least 35 degrees according to the development plan, and knee walls are allowed up to 1.20 meters (4 feet)).
The upper floor ceiling will be made of wood – insulation will be installed there. The attic will be designed to withstand loads up to 2 kN/sqm (42 psf), so it can be used well for storage of non-sensitive items.
We are covering about 100 sqm (1,076 sq ft) of ground area and will have approximately 165 sqm (1,776 sq ft) of living space spread over the two floors. That is actually sufficient for our needs.
However, we are now reconsidering whether it might be better to design the attic so that it can be used as living space:
* Upper floor ceiling made of concrete
* Underfloor heating installed / electrical provisions made
* Insulation in the pitched roof
* Knee walls installed
* Roof pitch increased from 35 to 38 degrees
We probably would not have this option later on.
We do not urgently need the space right now, but we could imagine setting up a “relaxation/leisure area” there. In addition, this would create space where our heating system could be relocated, and it would provide genuine storage (storing things in an unheated attic is quite difficult).
Thanks for your thoughts/opinions on this question.
A 38° instead of 35° roof pitch with a 10 m (9 yards) house depth provides 40.5 cm (16 inches) more ridge height (36.5 cm (14 inches) at 9 m (10 yards))—and that’s not just enough space to stand up, but also for the house itself! The 2 m (6.5 ft) height line moves about 30 cm (12 inches) closer to the exterior wall. With a 1.20 m (4 ft) knee wall, the 2 m (6.5 ft) height line at 38° roof pitch is about 1.02 m (3 ft 4 inches) away from the wall. For a 10 m (9 yards) house depth, this means an almost 7.95 m (26 ft) deep two-meter zone, which is effectively the trigger for a full storey!
This makes me want to calculate whether the attic could simply be considered a full upper floor with a 40° roof pitch.
I consider underfloor heating in a space where a few dumbbells and workout clothes for the next New Year’s resolution are lying around unnecessary.
At least if you want a knee wall for more usable space, a roof structure that limits headroom does not seem suitable to me.
Depending on the maximum allowed building height on the plot, I would first clarify how much of that is “used up” by adapting the building to the terrain. Often, the knee wall then ends up as just a little knee wall.
The more uses you want for the attic beyond just storing Christmas decorations, the more it makes sense to install a full staircase. If that’s done by extending the stairs from the upper floor and you don’t want the attic layout to dictate the stair position, the necessary headroom can be created with a dormer, so the entire roof doesn’t need to have a knee wall.
Non-living spaces offer a lot of potential for DIY work—drywall panels, insulation wedges, and the like are favorites among homebuilders.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
This makes me want to calculate whether the attic could simply be considered a full upper floor with a 40° roof pitch.
I consider underfloor heating in a space where a few dumbbells and workout clothes for the next New Year’s resolution are lying around unnecessary.
At least if you want a knee wall for more usable space, a roof structure that limits headroom does not seem suitable to me.
Depending on the maximum allowed building height on the plot, I would first clarify how much of that is “used up” by adapting the building to the terrain. Often, the knee wall then ends up as just a little knee wall.
The more uses you want for the attic beyond just storing Christmas decorations, the more it makes sense to install a full staircase. If that’s done by extending the stairs from the upper floor and you don’t want the attic layout to dictate the stair position, the necessary headroom can be created with a dormer, so the entire roof doesn’t need to have a knee wall.
Non-living spaces offer a lot of potential for DIY work—drywall panels, insulation wedges, and the like are favorites among homebuilders.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
T
Thomas198014 May 2017 15:27There are no height restrictions in this development area. Only the number of floors is limited to three, with the third floor required to be within the roof.
From a living space perspective, two full floors are sufficient for us. We plan to use the attic on the third floor as more comfortable storage space and possibly a hobby room. (We do not have a basement.)
@11ant: Do I understand you correctly – in our situation, you would prefer a roof pitch of 38 degrees instead of 35 degrees? (We have already dismissed the additional effort of a knee wall.)
From a living space perspective, two full floors are sufficient for us. We plan to use the attic on the third floor as more comfortable storage space and possibly a hobby room. (We do not have a basement.)
@11ant: Do I understand you correctly – in our situation, you would prefer a roof pitch of 38 degrees instead of 35 degrees? (We have already dismissed the additional effort of a knee wall.)
T
Thomas198014 May 2017 15:39We are a bit hesitant about the fixed staircase to the attic because it would require creating a small hallway with a climate door on the upper floor. The pull-down ladder is probably a more cost-effective option.
Thomas1980 schrieb:
We are a bit hesitant about a fixed staircase to the attic because it would require creating a small hallway with a climate door on the top floor. The pull-down attic ladder is probably a more cost-effective option.A pull-down attic ladder is absolutely fine for an unheated roof space – but since you’re planning to insulate the storage room in the attic to convert it into a living area (with a radiator), your advisor might be working with outdated or incorrect assumptions, or perhaps there’s some confusion (or maybe I’m just missing the logic).
I’m not an expert, but if the room is going to be heated, you really don’t need a hallway.
However, since you plan to take care of this later, a closed staircase leading upstairs might not be a bad idea?! [emoji848]
... I’m no professional!
It could be quite annoying if the pull-down attic ladder blocks the hallway on the upper floor when the room is in use. People tend to avoid using it... before moving anything upstairs, they often leave it in the hallway.
Whether the room will actually be used as a living space then is questionable.
Best regards, Yvonne
Regarding the costs. For a roof pitch of 38 degrees instead of 25 degrees, prefabricated trusses, a fixed beech wood staircase, no hallway, one Velux window upstairs, and an attic with nailed boarding but no insulation, we ended up paying an additional 9,000 net for a floor area of 13.5 by 10 meters (44 by 33 feet). That is quite reasonable, considering the amount of extra storage space you gain. So feel free to ask about the cost of the staircase solution. If you only need storage space, prefabricated trusses are fine. I’m skipping insulating the attic. I thought about what would be stored there: boat cushions, ropes and sails during winter, garden furniture possibly with cushions, Christmas decorations, and winter jackets in summer. All these things just need to stay dry. Whether cold or warm doesn’t matter. And if I get enthusiastic about DIY, I’ll insulate it myself eventually. Karsten
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