Dear Forum,
Please excuse my lack of knowledge – I have read through many threads but often feel completely lost, and I’m worried that local companies here might not give the best advice, as the roofers in our area generally don’t have a great reputation. So, before the first appointment, I would at least like to be prepared to ask all the right questions.
Here’s the situation: We have a 160 m² (1,722 sq ft) attic with a cold roof. OSB boards are installed, and there is a vapor barrier. The thermal separation from the living space is through an attic hatch that can be pulled down from below. We have been thinking: Since I’m starting my own business, we actually need a room in the house to use as an office. Therefore, we considered partially insulating the cold roof to create an office space. Is there any practical solution for this, or would it be equivalent to a full conversion that would cost a fortune? I have also attached a few photos.
Thank you for any information!
Best regards, David
Please excuse my lack of knowledge – I have read through many threads but often feel completely lost, and I’m worried that local companies here might not give the best advice, as the roofers in our area generally don’t have a great reputation. So, before the first appointment, I would at least like to be prepared to ask all the right questions.
Here’s the situation: We have a 160 m² (1,722 sq ft) attic with a cold roof. OSB boards are installed, and there is a vapor barrier. The thermal separation from the living space is through an attic hatch that can be pulled down from below. We have been thinking: Since I’m starting my own business, we actually need a room in the house to use as an office. Therefore, we considered partially insulating the cold roof to create an office space. Is there any practical solution for this, or would it be equivalent to a full conversion that would cost a fortune? I have also attached a few photos.
Thank you for any information!
Best regards, David
B
Bauherr0017 Dec 2022 22:04i_b_n_a_n schrieb:
What exactly do you mean by "partially"? Separating a room with drywall and insulating it? Or a bit of insulation everywhere?
And insulation alone won’t make it warm by itself; it only helps retain the heat longer or better within the building envelope. Is there a heating system or at least an option for one (other than electric) available?
Insulating the attic yourself is generally not a problem, but the (well-executed) cold roof construction makes retrofitting insulation tricky :-( due to the missing vapor barrier.
Can you share the details of the roof structure? That’s exactly how I pictured it. We have underfloor heating downstairs and ceiling heating/cooling via a horizontal ground loop... So I guess there is no option but to install an electric heater, unfortunately, or just let the heat rise from below through the attic hatch?! But that wouldn’t really be a proper solution. The window wouldn’t be a big issue in my opinion; I marked it in the attachment, and it can be installed there quite easily. Photos of the attic construction are attached; instead of EPS, the OSB boards are already laid.
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Oberhäslich7 Dec 2022 22:12You should also check whether the attic is suitable for heavier loads. Our general contractor specifically points out everywhere that there is an extra cost if you want a reinforced attic. So, a few boxes are fine, but a desk and office equipment also weigh quite a bit in specific spots...
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Bauherr0017 Dec 2022 22:17Tolentino schrieb:
Excuse me, you left out the insulation under the OSB?On top of the insulation boards*, not instead of them, I believe, as far as I remember... An independent expert of mine was on site, and I think he would have definitely objected; he was extremely thorough.Thanks, I will ask about the load issue.
Bauherr001 schrieb:
except for having to connect an electric heater, unfortunatelyDo you have a sufficiently rated electrical cable running upward? Usually, there is only a single cable for a light and at most one outlet.
Additionally, you will need internet in the office. There is no network cable installed in the attic, right?
How will the access be arranged? If the attic ladder is open, it will probably be in the way somehow, right?
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