ᐅ General Floor Plan Discussion / Situation of the Staircase to the Attic / Dormers
Created on: 25 Mar 2026 13:35
P
phibe1005
Hello everyone,
based on a user’s suggestion, I would like to share our current planning status. We are currently struggling with the situation regarding the dormers and the staircase to the attic. But first, here are all the key details according to the questionnaire.
Development plan / restrictions
Lower Saxony, Emsland district
approximately 342.2 sqm (3,683 sq ft)
no slope on the site
approximately 130 sqm (1,399 sq ft) of living space
two full floors plus attic
terrace house construction, therefore direct building boundary alignment
1 parking space under the carport, one in front of the carport
gable roof with a 45-degree pitch
orientation according to plan
eaves height 6 - 6.5 m (20 - 21 feet)
floor height 10 m (33 feet)
top edge of the finished floor level of the ground floor at a height of at least 20.00 m above sea level (NHN)
Owners’ requirements
terrace house
about 130 sqm (1,399 sq ft)
open-plan living-dining area with kitchen, one office/guest room, master bedroom, one child’s room, utility room, guest toilet without shower
family with one child, a second child planned for the future
if the second child is born, we would partially convert the attic to create an additional room
occasional overnight guests (sofa bed in the office)
open kitchen
number of dining seats: 6
no fireplace
no music or stereo wall
no balcony or roof terrace
carport
House design
Who designed the plan:
- planner from a regional builder who delivers turnkey homes
What do you particularly like? Why?
--> The plot / terrace house development does not allow for too much flexibility. The house’s shape is therefore simple, which we like. We want about 130 sqm (1,399 sq ft) of living space. That was the requirement.
What do you not like? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 385,000 based on the standard construction description with fully finished attic (which is not planned for now, but nevertheless included in the price), EXCLUDING carport, exterior landscaping, painting, flooring, kitchen, photovoltaic system, and controlled mechanical ventilation
We don’t like the two dormers. They are currently necessary due to the height situation of the staircase.
Also, it does not have to be a full concrete staircase. We would like to use the attic for a second child’s room or an office in the future. Otherwise, it should serve as storage space. Therefore, we can imagine a space-saving staircase. However, we are missing ideas on how to solve this.
Budget expectations: We want to save as much as possible.
preferred heating system: air-source heat pump with underfloor heating
If you have to give up something, which details/extensions
- can you give up: full staircase to the attic
- cannot give up: conversion option for the attic
Thank you very much for your feedback and ideas on how to improve the situation for the staircase access to the attic.
based on a user’s suggestion, I would like to share our current planning status. We are currently struggling with the situation regarding the dormers and the staircase to the attic. But first, here are all the key details according to the questionnaire.
Development plan / restrictions
Lower Saxony, Emsland district
approximately 342.2 sqm (3,683 sq ft)
no slope on the site
approximately 130 sqm (1,399 sq ft) of living space
two full floors plus attic
terrace house construction, therefore direct building boundary alignment
1 parking space under the carport, one in front of the carport
gable roof with a 45-degree pitch
orientation according to plan
eaves height 6 - 6.5 m (20 - 21 feet)
floor height 10 m (33 feet)
top edge of the finished floor level of the ground floor at a height of at least 20.00 m above sea level (NHN)
Owners’ requirements
terrace house
about 130 sqm (1,399 sq ft)
open-plan living-dining area with kitchen, one office/guest room, master bedroom, one child’s room, utility room, guest toilet without shower
family with one child, a second child planned for the future
if the second child is born, we would partially convert the attic to create an additional room
occasional overnight guests (sofa bed in the office)
open kitchen
number of dining seats: 6
no fireplace
no music or stereo wall
no balcony or roof terrace
carport
House design
Who designed the plan:
- planner from a regional builder who delivers turnkey homes
What do you particularly like? Why?
--> The plot / terrace house development does not allow for too much flexibility. The house’s shape is therefore simple, which we like. We want about 130 sqm (1,399 sq ft) of living space. That was the requirement.
What do you not like? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 385,000 based on the standard construction description with fully finished attic (which is not planned for now, but nevertheless included in the price), EXCLUDING carport, exterior landscaping, painting, flooring, kitchen, photovoltaic system, and controlled mechanical ventilation
We don’t like the two dormers. They are currently necessary due to the height situation of the staircase.
Also, it does not have to be a full concrete staircase. We would like to use the attic for a second child’s room or an office in the future. Otherwise, it should serve as storage space. Therefore, we can imagine a space-saving staircase. However, we are missing ideas on how to solve this.
Budget expectations: We want to save as much as possible.
preferred heating system: air-source heat pump with underfloor heating
If you have to give up something, which details/extensions
- can you give up: full staircase to the attic
- cannot give up: conversion option for the attic
Thank you very much for your feedback and ideas on how to improve the situation for the staircase access to the attic.
phibe1005 schrieb:
Thank you for your assessment and ideas on how to improve the situation for the staircase leading to the attic. Is there no further feedback? If not, I will delete the draft.
P
phibe10054 Apr 2026 13:25Sorry for the delayed response.
Missing information:
We are both 35 years old and have a 10-month-old child. A second child is hopefully planned in the next few years. My wife is a teacher, so a home office is needed.
We had a very constructive conversation with a builder.
We are not considering attic conversion, even as an option. We want to build the row house cost-effectively and keep the living space around 130 sqm (1,400 sqft).
With an attic conversion, we would easily be around 165 sqm (1,776 sqft). We questioned whether we even need that much space.
The current plan for the top floor is as follows. It is our own sketch.
We are at 385,000 euros including carport, storage room, floor work, and painting. Photovoltaic system with battery storage is additional.
Looking forward to feedback.
Missing information:
We are both 35 years old and have a 10-month-old child. A second child is hopefully planned in the next few years. My wife is a teacher, so a home office is needed.
We had a very constructive conversation with a builder.
We are not considering attic conversion, even as an option. We want to build the row house cost-effectively and keep the living space around 130 sqm (1,400 sqft).
With an attic conversion, we would easily be around 165 sqm (1,776 sqft). We questioned whether we even need that much space.
The current plan for the top floor is as follows. It is our own sketch.
We are at 385,000 euros including carport, storage room, floor work, and painting. Photovoltaic system with battery storage is additional.
Looking forward to feedback.
If I were your wife, I would find a door in the wall to the office practical. And with the new builder, I would immediately address the rightsizing of the massive castle walls.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
I wouldn’t make too big a deal out of the repeatedly mentioned topic of "walls being too thick." A thickness of 49cm (19 inches) is completely common when we’re talking about a two-shell solid masonry wall. In our region of West Münsterland, this is the absolute standard – just drive through any existing or new housing area and you’ll see this type of masonry in about 95% of the cases. Building monolithically or with exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) is probably cheaper here as well, but in my opinion, it doesn’t make as much of a difference as it does in other parts of Germany.
The window setup wouldn’t work for me. A peephole in the office. A desk in front of the door in each of the children’s rooms. Having a door in the bathroom is also not ideal. Rotate one door by 90 degrees and turn it into a window, make the window in the office twice as wide, and light will enter the rooms.
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