Good evening,
I am currently planning the conversion of the attic in the extension. I want to cover the walls with a stud frame and drywall panels and separate the upper tip as a storage area. In addition, I would like to replace the gable construction with a masonry solution. But before I start, I thought I would first present my idea to people who may have done something similar and have some related experience.
First, I will describe the current situation and then explain my ideas. I would like to add some pictures later, but it is a bit dark up there at the moment.
The first important detail is that this is a semi-detached house, and the attic is divided so that each side has one masonry wall and one rafter side. So it forms a triangle with a 90° angle (90°) in one corner.
First, I would like to install a sort of intermediate ceiling to create storage space at the upper tip for miscellaneous items like Christmas decorations and similar things. My idea was to simply build a wooden stud frame on one side and create a basic structure with cross beams between this frame and the roof rafters. I would cover the top with an OSB board and finish the ceiling of the attic from below with a batten and drywall construction. For access to this area, I plan to install 2–3 inspection hatches measuring approximately 60 x 60 cm (24 x 24 inches).
Now to my "problems" with this part of the project: Should I insulate the rafter spaces all the way up to the top and thus avoid insulating the intermediate structure, or does that make less sense? The second issue is, when building the partition wall (between the neighboring house and ours) as a drywall partition (basically a non-load-bearing wall), do I need to include a vapor barrier, or can I just install the stud frame, fill it with insulation wool (which also reduces sound), and cover it with drywall panels?
Now to another task, the gable side. At the moment, it is a wooden construction insulated with mineral wool and covered on the outside with panels (likely fiber cement or similar [I know this might contain asbestos]). I am considering how to best design this area. I would like to install a window there to add an extra light source (in addition to the roof window on the rafter side).
My two ideas are:
A: I remove the panels, insulation, and so on from the outside. I check whether the beams are properly positioned for my purposes and in good condition, create space for the window if necessary by making some modifications, then apply a weatherproof membrane on the outside and seal it on three sides to the beams, install the window, and build a basic structure from battens to cover the side with wooden cladding (I cannot recall the correct term for exterior cladding on some houses). Afterwards, I insulate the inside again with mineral wool, apply another layer of membrane, mount battens on the beams, and finish by drywalling the interior with drywall panels.
B: I remove the entire existing construction and build the gable wall in masonry with bricks or blocks, apply insulation on the outside, reinforce with mesh to avoid cracks, and then plaster with a textured render or similar. On the inside, I would simply mount battens on the masonry and fix drywall panels to them, which would make it easy to run cables behind.
I hope this wasn’t too much information at once. If it’s easier, I could split the topics into two separate threads (intermediate ceiling and gable).
The whole project is still in the preliminary planning stage. So it will be some time before implementation. But I would like to start collecting ideas first.
Michael
I am currently planning the conversion of the attic in the extension. I want to cover the walls with a stud frame and drywall panels and separate the upper tip as a storage area. In addition, I would like to replace the gable construction with a masonry solution. But before I start, I thought I would first present my idea to people who may have done something similar and have some related experience.
First, I will describe the current situation and then explain my ideas. I would like to add some pictures later, but it is a bit dark up there at the moment.
The first important detail is that this is a semi-detached house, and the attic is divided so that each side has one masonry wall and one rafter side. So it forms a triangle with a 90° angle (90°) in one corner.
First, I would like to install a sort of intermediate ceiling to create storage space at the upper tip for miscellaneous items like Christmas decorations and similar things. My idea was to simply build a wooden stud frame on one side and create a basic structure with cross beams between this frame and the roof rafters. I would cover the top with an OSB board and finish the ceiling of the attic from below with a batten and drywall construction. For access to this area, I plan to install 2–3 inspection hatches measuring approximately 60 x 60 cm (24 x 24 inches).
Now to my "problems" with this part of the project: Should I insulate the rafter spaces all the way up to the top and thus avoid insulating the intermediate structure, or does that make less sense? The second issue is, when building the partition wall (between the neighboring house and ours) as a drywall partition (basically a non-load-bearing wall), do I need to include a vapor barrier, or can I just install the stud frame, fill it with insulation wool (which also reduces sound), and cover it with drywall panels?
Now to another task, the gable side. At the moment, it is a wooden construction insulated with mineral wool and covered on the outside with panels (likely fiber cement or similar [I know this might contain asbestos]). I am considering how to best design this area. I would like to install a window there to add an extra light source (in addition to the roof window on the rafter side).
My two ideas are:
A: I remove the panels, insulation, and so on from the outside. I check whether the beams are properly positioned for my purposes and in good condition, create space for the window if necessary by making some modifications, then apply a weatherproof membrane on the outside and seal it on three sides to the beams, install the window, and build a basic structure from battens to cover the side with wooden cladding (I cannot recall the correct term for exterior cladding on some houses). Afterwards, I insulate the inside again with mineral wool, apply another layer of membrane, mount battens on the beams, and finish by drywalling the interior with drywall panels.
B: I remove the entire existing construction and build the gable wall in masonry with bricks or blocks, apply insulation on the outside, reinforce with mesh to avoid cracks, and then plaster with a textured render or similar. On the inside, I would simply mount battens on the masonry and fix drywall panels to them, which would make it easy to run cables behind.
I hope this wasn’t too much information at once. If it’s easier, I could split the topics into two separate threads (intermediate ceiling and gable).
The whole project is still in the preliminary planning stage. So it will be some time before implementation. But I would like to start collecting ideas first.
Michael
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