Hello everyone,
Last year, we had a new house built. The house has a pitched roof, and the top floor ceiling is properly insulated, of course. The attic above, with a height of 1.6m (5 feet 3 inches), is uninsulated. Due to the limited height and the absence of windows, this attic will never be used as living space. However, it is our only real storage area since we have no other storage rooms or similar spaces. So, everything we don’t need regularly downstairs will be stored up there.
I have been wondering whether it might be beneficial to add insulation between the rafters in the attic. My idea was that it might not get so extremely cold up there in winter, which could help protect our stored items. On the other hand, in summer it obviously gets very hot up there, and there’s no way to ventilate the space.
Insulating with mineral wool and attaching OSB boards would cost approximately 1000 euros.
What do you think about such a measure? Completely pointless? Maybe still worthwhile?
Please help me figure this out, since there are other projects where the money might be better invested. What are your thoughts?
Best regards and happy holidays!
Kind regards
Last year, we had a new house built. The house has a pitched roof, and the top floor ceiling is properly insulated, of course. The attic above, with a height of 1.6m (5 feet 3 inches), is uninsulated. Due to the limited height and the absence of windows, this attic will never be used as living space. However, it is our only real storage area since we have no other storage rooms or similar spaces. So, everything we don’t need regularly downstairs will be stored up there.
I have been wondering whether it might be beneficial to add insulation between the rafters in the attic. My idea was that it might not get so extremely cold up there in winter, which could help protect our stored items. On the other hand, in summer it obviously gets very hot up there, and there’s no way to ventilate the space.
Insulating with mineral wool and attaching OSB boards would cost approximately 1000 euros.
What do you think about such a measure? Completely pointless? Maybe still worthwhile?
Please help me figure this out, since there are other projects where the money might be better invested. What are your thoughts?
Best regards and happy holidays!
Kind regards
Ps: just to emphasize again. My concern is not whether it will pay off in x years. It won’t, because the ceiling between floors is already very well insulated.
For me, the question is whether it makes sense to install insulation in the attic purely for storage purposes, considering the temperatures and/or humidity.
If yes, what would you recommend?
For me, the question is whether it makes sense to install insulation in the attic purely for storage purposes, considering the temperatures and/or humidity.
If yes, what would you recommend?
H
hausbauer24 Dec 2019 10:03I had a very similar project, except that in my case the insulation was installed between the rafters first:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/zusätzliche-Dämmung-des-dachbodens-im-Neubau-sinnvoll.32760/
@Nordlys shared a really good solution.
However, I now have some concerns, because if moisture from the living space rises into the then semi-cold attic, mold could potentially develop there. The attic hatch must be *very* airtight, or you need to ensure ventilation of the insulated cold attic.
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/zusätzliche-Dämmung-des-dachbodens-im-Neubau-sinnvoll.32760/
@Nordlys shared a really good solution.
However, I now have some concerns, because if moisture from the living space rises into the then semi-cold attic, mold could potentially develop there. The attic hatch must be *very* airtight, or you need to ensure ventilation of the insulated cold attic.
The attic should ideally have a Velux window, like ours. This allows for proper ventilation. Mold is not an issue this way. And the door—ours is an actual door to the attic with stairs, not just a hatch. It’s a double-glazed PVC patio door. It’s airtight. So, pay attention to the surrounding details, and it will work out.
@Hausbauer
Yes, I read your topic, but your starting point was that the roof was insulated (or supposed to be insulated), and you wanted to know if it might be financially worthwhile to do it differently!?
No, we actually don’t have any hatch or window at all. Only at the ridge, the vapor control membrane (I think that’s what it’s called) is turned over. If you reach in there with your hand, you can basically touch the top tiles. So the air can escape there.
... So as long as this ventilation is maintained, which can also be ensured with the insulation, there’s nothing against it, right?
Would you do it that way too if it were the only storage space?
Yes, I read your topic, but your starting point was that the roof was insulated (or supposed to be insulated), and you wanted to know if it might be financially worthwhile to do it differently!?
No, we actually don’t have any hatch or window at all. Only at the ridge, the vapor control membrane (I think that’s what it’s called) is turned over. If you reach in there with your hand, you can basically touch the top tiles. So the air can escape there.
... So as long as this ventilation is maintained, which can also be ensured with the insulation, there’s nothing against it, right?
Would you do it that way too if it were the only storage space?
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