ᐅ Are High Ceilings Economically Inefficient?

Hello everyone,

we are currently planning a new build (KFW 55 standard) in the style of an urban villa with a hipped roof and are considering removing the intermediate floor between the upper floor and attic in some or all rooms to create a loft-like space, possibly with multiple levels. In this case, I would invest more in the roof insulation since we would save money by omitting the intermediate floor 😀
But how significant is the temperature difference in a well-insulated new build? Will I have a sauna-like warmth at the ceiling and cold feet on the floor??? 😕 Should I expect a considerable increase in heating costs, or is this less of an issue nowadays?

I would really appreciate your help and experiences.

Best regards
Judyyy

This design decision primarily affects the structural engineering of the house. Eliminating ceilings as bracing elements—shear wall effect—increases the buckling load on wall panels. The horizontal bracing of the building can also become more complex due to the partial absence of ceiling diaphragms. All of this is feasible but may result in significant additional effort for the structural design and shell construction, in the form of reinforcing concrete components. A standard prefabricated home supplier, aiming to sell their standard models, will charge a high premium for such variations—if they are even willing to accommodate them. If you hire an architect for a custom design, this is more achievable and will mostly be limited by your budget.

Yes, we are planning the house with an architect.
Therefore, there are essentially no limitations for us.

(I hope my text doesn’t look strange to you as well; I’m currently only using my phone to access the internet =) )

Regarding heat distribution: This may work better in new buildings, but in existing buildings, such high rooms can be difficult to heat properly. In winter, you have to heat the house thoroughly to keep the lower levels warm, and then it actually gets like a sauna upstairs... which is especially inconvenient when the bedrooms are located upstairs...

Yes, but a new build doesn’t override the laws of physics (heat rises upwards) =)

I also don’t want to include major disadvantages that I might regret later.

Best regards
Judyyy

It depends on the type of heating used... with underfloor heating, it will also be comfortably warm at floor level... with radiators, you get the described sauna effect.