ᐅ Planning an Attic Conversion in a New Build – Heating, Ventilation, Insulation?
Created on: 3 Apr 2014 18:37
K
Kazazi
Hello,
our attic is planned to be used as additional living space in the short to medium term and should be included from the start within the thermal envelope (a standard staircase up to the attic).
We are currently in contract negotiations and I am still unclear about many aspects. Maybe someone can help?
1) Insulation: As I understand it now, insulation should be done in the attic from the beginning—right? The general contractor has suggested 20–24 cm (8–10 inches) of insulation between the rafters so far, but we have already received some advice to increase this to at least 26 cm (10 inches). What would be the best and most cost-effective way to do this? Adding extra insulation boards on the inside of the rafters? Or on the outside? Or differently? And which parts could/should we (as complete novices) possibly do ourselves? Any experience?
2) Ventilation: If we have a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, should it also ventilate the attic from the start? And what difference does a centralized versus decentralized mechanical ventilation system make in this context?
3) Heating: The current offer includes a radiator for the attic; the rest of the house will have underfloor heating. We were already warned against an additional heating circuit, but we were also advised against underfloor heating in the attic due to costs and structural concerns. What recommendations do you have, or based on which criteria can I find the most suitable solution for us?
What else should I consider to prepare the attic use later on as cost-efficiently as possible? The current offer includes insulation, drywall, floorboards, radiator, staircase, and a partition wall with a door.
Thank you in advance for your advice and best regards, Kazazi
our attic is planned to be used as additional living space in the short to medium term and should be included from the start within the thermal envelope (a standard staircase up to the attic).
We are currently in contract negotiations and I am still unclear about many aspects. Maybe someone can help?
1) Insulation: As I understand it now, insulation should be done in the attic from the beginning—right? The general contractor has suggested 20–24 cm (8–10 inches) of insulation between the rafters so far, but we have already received some advice to increase this to at least 26 cm (10 inches). What would be the best and most cost-effective way to do this? Adding extra insulation boards on the inside of the rafters? Or on the outside? Or differently? And which parts could/should we (as complete novices) possibly do ourselves? Any experience?
2) Ventilation: If we have a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, should it also ventilate the attic from the start? And what difference does a centralized versus decentralized mechanical ventilation system make in this context?
3) Heating: The current offer includes a radiator for the attic; the rest of the house will have underfloor heating. We were already warned against an additional heating circuit, but we were also advised against underfloor heating in the attic due to costs and structural concerns. What recommendations do you have, or based on which criteria can I find the most suitable solution for us?
What else should I consider to prepare the attic use later on as cost-efficiently as possible? The current offer includes insulation, drywall, floorboards, radiator, staircase, and a partition wall with a door.
Thank you in advance for your advice and best regards, Kazazi
How far along is your house planning?
The finished height of your floor will already be determined before construction begins! The staircase, stair treads, and so on will be based on this. It would be problematic if your stairs ended up 10cm (4 inches) higher than your finished floor. So I don’t understand your requirement. Of course, there is still the question of whether it’s screed or just insulation with a floor covering, but the height of the finished floor isn’t flexible, right?
The structural engineering should also already be calculated. Why would a screed floor with underfloor heating cause problems there? Sorry, but if that’s an issue, I wouldn’t trust the house. If anything, do it properly and design the structure so that the floor assembly can also accommodate underfloor heating and screed.
If you’re planning a bathroom in the attic, make sure the supply lines are routed up there (including shut-off valves so you can flush the lines every few days).
The finished height of your floor will already be determined before construction begins! The staircase, stair treads, and so on will be based on this. It would be problematic if your stairs ended up 10cm (4 inches) higher than your finished floor. So I don’t understand your requirement. Of course, there is still the question of whether it’s screed or just insulation with a floor covering, but the height of the finished floor isn’t flexible, right?
The structural engineering should also already be calculated. Why would a screed floor with underfloor heating cause problems there? Sorry, but if that’s an issue, I wouldn’t trust the house. If anything, do it properly and design the structure so that the floor assembly can also accommodate underfloor heating and screed.
If you’re planning a bathroom in the attic, make sure the supply lines are routed up there (including shut-off valves so you can flush the lines every few days).
Bauexperte schrieb:
Hello,
Don’t forget to adjust the heating system’s capacity! The supply and return pipes should be routed all the way to the attic and capped there with blind plugs to allow for future on-site installation. The same applies to the electrical wiring. I have a question regarding this point, Bauexperte: If the attic is planned to be within the thermal envelope as in our case and is either not separated or only separated from the rest of the house by a drywall partition, do I need to heat it from the start? Otherwise, won’t the warm, moist air condense up there during the drying-out phase of the construction, potentially causing mold or damage to the building structure?
Thank you very much, Kazazi
The attic will primarily be used as a study and guest room, possibly also as a TV room or, if the kids want, maybe as a bedroom. In that case, the extra room on the ground floor or the smaller room in the upper floor will be used for work/guest/TV purposes. This means the attic room should be just as usable as the other smaller rooms. For now, we do not plan to add a bathroom up there!
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