ᐅ Saving Space with Ceiling Installation?

Hello!

We are planning a townhouse without a basement, with just under 130 m² (1400 sq ft). On the ground floor, we have planned a small utility room (7.10 m² / 76 sq ft). This room is intended to house the district heating heat exchanger, a chest freezer, a refrigerator, the washing machine, the dryer, and possibly a shelf. The controlled mechanical ventilation system was originally planned for the unfinished attic.

Now we are being told that this isn’t straightforward because the attic would then need to be insulated right up to the ridge (which makes sense), and a more expensive roof structure than a standard truss roof would be required. For this reason, the controlled mechanical ventilation system is now planned to be installed in the 7 m² (75 sq ft) utility room.

Does anyone know if a ceiling-mounted ventilation unit can save enough space to keep all of the above appliances in the utility room? A shelf is not essential, as we also have a pantry under the stairs. I don’t want to completely redesign the layout or move the refrigerator and/or freezer to the garage.

Good luck

Hello,

RFR schrieb:

Now it is said that this is not easily possible because the attic has to be insulated all the way to the ridge (which makes sense) and that a rafter roof would not be used, but a more expensive variant would have to be installed. For this reason, the controlled mechanical ventilation system is planned to be included in the 7 m² (75 sq ft) utility room.

After signing the contract, right?

RFR schrieb:

Does anyone know if a ceiling-mounted unit can save enough space so that the above-mentioned devices can remain in the utility room? A shelving unit is not a must-have since we have a pantry under the stairs. I don't want to completely redo the plans or put the refrigerator and/or freezer in the garage.

What exactly do you mean by "ceiling-mounted unit"?

Best regards, Bauexperte

Hi RFR,

Like you, after signing the contract, I decided to go with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. BUT my seller advised me against it. However, during the shell construction phase, I decided to go for it after all. I insulated the roof for that purpose. Apart from the storage space available in the roof (of course, a cold roof without an attic ladder was originally planned), it wasn’t really a problem to insulate the roof against frost. I’m not familiar with the ventilation systems you mentioned, but just the silencers and pipes of my system take up quite a bit of space. I’m glad we did it the way we did!

Hello Perlenmann,

thank you for your reply. I had the mechanical ventilation system planned in the attic before signing. The insulation of the roof apex is not the issue. The problem is the truss roof, which in a hip roof has many, many, many braces. Because of this, the attic is not usable and therefore a mechanical ventilation system cannot be installed.

Regards
RFR

Hello,

RFR schrieb:

The problem is the truss roof, which in a hip roof has many, many, many braces. Because of this, the attic is not usable and therefore no mechanical ventilation system can be installed.

That’s not entirely correct; even with a truss roof design, you have a fairly central brace-free area.

Regards, Bauexperte

I am just a complete layperson, but I looked it up online.
From the pictures, it doesn't seem like there wouldn't be room for a system there.