ᐅ Gable Roof Used as Usable Space

We have an insulated roof (additional cost around 2000 compared to an insulated ceiling), 25° pitch without a knee wall, a retractable attic ladder, and a simple wooden floor. We are very happy with this. The heating system with a buffer tank is installed there in a basin, and with 5 people, we have stored a lot of clutter that we don't want in the living area and wouldn't have had space for in the garage either, which is already full...

Where is the vapor barrier installed?

Do you have a pyramid roof or a gable roof, and how do you organize storage? In boxes, shelves, etc.?

The home builders always recommend insulating the ceiling of the upper floor. If the roof is insulated instead, the space needs to be heated or it will increase the heating load. Difficult situation …..

Our old house is 10m (33 feet) wide, has a 45-degree roof pitch with a half-hipped roof, and a knee wall height of 90cm (35 inches) above the finished floor level. We access the attic via a relatively narrow but otherwise full staircase. Along the entire length on both sides, there are built-in cupboards. At the bottom, there is always a huge drawer measuring 1m (3.3 feet) deep and 1m (3.3 feet) wide, above that a cabinet with 1m (3.3 feet) height and two shelves. On top of that, there is still a 30cm (12 inches) storage surface. We have 12 of these on each side. Most basements offer less storage space. We can hardly fill it ourselves. Additionally, on the gable ends, there are built-in wardrobes with three doors and 1.5m (5 feet) width. We also dry our laundry there.

The roof is insulated, but the attic is not heated. Still, it is never cold there, even in winter.

The floor is just OSB. For me, this attic has tremendous functional value. The new house is only 9m (30 feet) wide, and upstairs we now have a higher ceiling height. That makes a huge difference.

Edit: Just insulate the floor slab between the floors and then do the roof work yourself. That way, your heating load upstairs won’t increase. That's how we do it as well.

Gable roof. With a hip roof, it is hardly worth it. At the moment, there are boxes everywhere. Shelves will be difficult to install, and if at all, only low ones will fit. There are windows on both gable ends. The vapor barrier can be seen directly, followed by the insulation between the rafters made of Isofloc.

I don’t have a better picture right now, but I think you can get an idea.