We offer you a photo review of beautiful mansard roofs, in which we will tell you about the types of mansard roofs, the features of their shape and new trends in the architecture of private houses with attics.
Houses with an attic in the French style
The attic got its name in honor of the French architect Francois Mansarou, who in the 17th century was the first to propose the use of under-roof space for living rooms. Therefore, the mansard roof is associated with the architecture of French houses - provincial cottages, Mediterranean chateaus and Alpine chalets. It is interesting that different regions of France have their own special forms of mansard roofs, and both the approach to design and the materials used differ.
Homes in Normandy are as architecturally austere as the climate of this region of France, but the gabled mansard roofs with half-timbered gables and dormers bring a touch of French sophistication to their design.
An interesting roof of complex configuration, an attic over the garage, a large mass of glazing - modern Norman houses are beautiful and functional at the same time.
Unlike the stone architecture of Normandy, Alpine chalets are built of wood, and their gable roof with an attic is usually complemented not only by a window, but also by a balcony.
The interior space of the attic under the chalet roof looks very colorful due to the visible rafters and plank cladding.
A characteristic feature of the attic roofs of alpine houses is long slopes that facilitate snow melting, large windows and fairly spacious balconies.
In the Mediterranean provinces of France, compact chateaus usually have a multi-gable roof with several attics.
French houses with a mansard roof are usually one-story buildings, “flat out” in width rather than upward. With a small area of the house, a garage with an attic is usually provided.
Victorian houses with attics
England is another European country besides France in which the construction of houses with attics has acquired an unprecedented scale. Despite their apparent stiffness, English cottages look very cozy, and this effect is achieved to a greater extent thanks to the beautiful design of mansard roofs with windows.
A characteristic feature of Victorian attic houses is the asymmetrical and slightly curved roof line at the gable, as well as large dormer windows.
Often the British arrange an exit from the attic to the balcony, which utilizes the under-roof space of the terrace roof.
A nice flavor to provincial English houses is given by the color scheme of the facade decoration and wooden shutters of a contrasting color on the attic windows.
A distinctive feature of English houses with an attic is the large slope of the roof slopes and several asymmetrically located gables. The unusualness of this architecture is enhanced by the blue color of the facade decoration in combination with the gray roofing.
A modern interpretation of Victorian architecture - a house with a hip roof and an attic with small balconies.
New trends in the construction of houses with an attic
Despite the established traditions in the construction of houses with attics, architects are always in search of fresh ideas. New technologies and structural materials greatly expand the capabilities of designers and make it possible to implement the most daring and even daring concepts.
An extremely modern trend in construction that came to us from Denmark is attic houses with a hipped roof, lined with the same material as the facades. Moreover, the color of the finish should be as close as possible to black - the color that best absorbs heat.
Another trend from the Nordic countries is a cottage, consisting of several residential volumes in the form of small houses with attics.
Not only in Europe, but also in other countries, the popularity of cottages lined with one material, without the use of special roofing coverings, is growing.
Such houses usually have a small area, so the issue of using the under-roof space and arranging an attic with windows is relevant.
A fashionable trend in European architecture is compact private houses with an attic under a pitched roof. In the photo you see how interesting this option is played out with the help of a dynamic roof line.
The construction of a minimalist cottage under a pitched attic roof is one of the cost-effective options for arranging private housing.
A large number of windows give this modern cottage with a pitched roof an unusual look, but the main thing is the maximum use of the usable area of the attic space.
Western architects offer many unusual solutions, one of them is a private house with an asymmetrical gable roof and an attic.
An effective element of the architecture of a country house with a sloping mansard roof will be the continuous glazing of the pediment and the arrangement of the balcony.
Numerous projects of wooden country and country houses with a large mass of glazing and an attic are another attempt by architects to make housing more eco-friendly and comfortable.
The fully glazed facade of the house with a mansard roof is a bold attempt by German architects to create housing that is as harmonious as possible with the environment.
The desire to make a home energy-saving and environmentally friendly is giving rise to an increasing number of projects with attic roofs equipped with solar panels.
Beautiful mansard roofs made of reeds
The surge of interest in environmentally friendly materials has played a role in the revival of the popularity of reed and thatched roofs in European countries. The most important arguments in favor of reed roofs were their excellent ability to retain precipitation and maintain warmth, naturalness and original appearance.
Natural beige and smoky shades of reed roofs look unusual, but at the same time they naturally blend into the color scheme of the landscape design and organically complement it.
Half-timbered houses with an attic under a roof made of natural material are a traditional type of buildings in Northern Europe.
The reed roofs with an attic and round dormer windows, as if “grown” from the thickness of the roof covering, are unusually beautiful.
Creating an attic roof from reeds is a unique art - in the photo you can see how delicately the decor of the attic dormer window is carved.
The plasticity of reed stems allows you to create roofs of complex shapes, especially if the house has an attic floor with several rooms.
Reed and reed are ideal materials for forming rounded roofs. Such a mushroom-shaped roof with miniature attic windows will become a colorful element of the architecture of a private house made of timber or logs.
Only houses of provincial architecture are perfectly combined with a reed roof; cottages of modern design can also be successfully equipped with such a roof. In the photo you see a non-trivial solution - the roof covering goes from the roof to the facades of the building, due to which the house looks more comfortable and, importantly, warmer.
The undeniable “advantages” of reed roofs include their ability to maintain a stable temperature inside the house both in hot and cold weather and at the same time provide sufficient ventilation in the attic and other rooms. A significant “minus” of reed roofing is its high flammability, but modern fire-retardant impregnations can improve its fire-fighting properties. In addition, the arrangement of such a roof will cost a considerable amount.
Country cottages with mansard roofs from Ondulin
Unlike tiles, flexible roofing and natural coverings, Ondulin roofs are distinguished by an affordable price with a fairly high safety margin. Europeans have long appreciated the practicality of Euro slate and are actively using it for arranging mansard-type roofs.
A palette of natural colors, as close as possible to natural shades, allows you to organically fit a country house into any landscape.
Hip roofs from Ondulin harmoniously emphasize the architectural features of a house in any style, including classical.
If there is a high wind load in your region, a hipped mansard roof coated with Ondulin will be optimal.
Beautiful mansard roofs of private houses: photos, design examples
Photo examples of attic roofs of private houses. Types of design. Interesting shapes and finishing options.
Cozy house with an attic: projects, photos of interiors and useful tips
Buildings with an attic floor are a practical and very attractive idea for an individual plot. The costs of arranging a residential attic are less than the construction of a full floor; additional square meters will appear in the house. For a summer cottage, the best option is a house with an attic. Projects, photos of successful interiors and recommendations from experienced builders are in our material.
Even a small attic will transform the facade of the house and make it unique
Definition of attic
The attic refers to the living space under the roof. The roof for a residential attic must have a double slope, such that the height of the attic space is no less than human height at the highest point.
The optimal height is two meters and twenty centimeters
The outer wall of a residential attic consists of two planes: inclined and vertical. The vertical part is built from the main material of the house, the inclined part consists of blood rafters and internal lining.
The ratio of the vertical and inclined part depends on the project
When building a private house, many owners think about the question: should they prefer a full floor or an attic?
Advantages and disadvantages of country houses with an attic: projects with a full floor or a residential attic?
The main argument in favor of the attic floor is always the low cost of its arrangement. Is this really true? The cost reduction is due to the use of a frame roof structure. In practice, the larger the roof and, accordingly, the larger the frame area for cladding, the more profitable the attic.
But you should remember, no matter how spacious the attic is, in any case it occupies less usable space than the actual floor. It turns out that in order to make the attic room suitable for living, it is necessary to provide such an area of the first floor so that it is at least twice as large as the attic space.
Another point that complicates the task: a residential attic requires the installation of a complex roof configuration and the installation of special attic windows
In order to create a normal microclimate in the attic room, it is necessary to provide a ventilation system with forced air supply. All these costs will create an additional burden during construction. And in reality the savings will not be that significant.
Supporters of attic construction note that houses with such “curly” roofs look attractive. And the designers add that the arrangement of a residential attic has many original solutions.
One such solution, for example, is installing large windows directly in the sloping part of the roof. If you place a bedroom in such a room, at night you can admire the starry sky without getting out of bed
Thrifty owners do not like it when something goes to waste. Including the attic space. Some people turn it into a dumping ground for unnecessary things. But in fact, it can accommodate a full-fledged office, workshop, bedroom or even a children's room.
Opponents of such diligence remind us that active use of the space under the roof worsens the condition of the roof structure and significantly complicates its repair.
For your information! Psychologists warn that low attic ceilings make a person feel in a confined space, adversely affecting his psyche. Particularly impressionable people may even feel bouts of suffocation due to low ceilings and sloping walls. It is worth thinking about this fact when planning a children's room in the attic.
Supporters of a full second floor make the following comparison:
Despite all these disputes and disagreements, projects of country houses with an attic and a veranda or garage are very popular. This is not surprising, because frame construction, which is gaining immense popularity, offers many options for just such buildings, with a large usable area and a variety of layouts. Let's look at photo projects of houses with attics in more detail.
Projects of country houses for 6 acres. Photo examples of beautiful and compact country houses with recommendations for choosing a layout are in a separate publication on our portal.
Tips for building a one-story house with an attic: photos of original ideas
Owners of small country cottages are most often concerned with arranging a residential attic. Before deciding on such a project, ask to stay with your friends who own a similar design. What if you suddenly feel an attack of claustrophobia or, on the contrary, find yourself impressed by attic windows through which you can see the clouds?
If you doubt the advisability of organizing living rooms in this place, think about alternative options
Here, if desired, you can place a wardrobe, a creative workshop, a boiler room, and a gym.
Here are the options for organizing the attic space:
The project of a one-story house with a garage and an attic is in particular demand. This layout is extremely convenient. This option will be especially appreciated by residents of the northern regions, who know what it’s like to warm up a car on a frosty day. When the garage is under the same roof as the house, even if it does not have central heating, the temperature will be significantly higher than outside. And the car itself will be reliably protected from all the vagaries of the weather.
When constructing such a project, it is necessary to provide all safety measures: the presence of a vestibule and a high-quality ventilation system
What do house designs with an attic made of foam blocks look like?
Projects of houses with an attic made of foam blocks, photos of which are presented to you, are very popular among developers of individual housing. The reasons for this demand are that houses made of this material are very functional and look solid and luxurious. The cost of constructing such a structure is lower than the cost of building a brick house.
Due to the attic floor, the usable area of the house increases significantly and at the same time the costs are generally lower than for the construction of a full second floor from foam blocks
Advantages of foam block structures:
- the ideal geometric shapes of the blocks allow you to create strong and even masonry with minimal seams of a few millimeters;
- the size of the blocks exceeds the size of the brick, so construction will be carried out at an accelerated pace;
- foamed concrete has high energy saving rates and does not require additional insulation;
- the material does not emit compounds toxic to the human body;
- foam concrete is not flammable, does not support the development of mold and is not afraid of insects;
- the blocks do not deform from exposure to moisture or temperature changes;
- the material has a long service life.
The technology for constructing structures with an attic has some distinctive features. First of all, the attic frame is made of carefully dried wood.
High-quality wood material does not deform during operation
It is important to choose the right insulation. Mineral wool or basalt slabs are suitable for attics. These insulation materials have proven themselves well in practice.
The roof is sheathed externally and internally with different materials. Metal tiles or soft roofing are laid outside. The inside of the frame is sheathed with plywood or OSB boards.
For your information! Standard projects are very convenient and cost less than individual ones. But within the framework of individual design, many nuances can be provided for: for example, arranging comfortable stairs for the elderly and disabled, or placing a winter garden or study in the attic.
Typical projects rarely include decorative treatment of the facade.
The developer himself decides how to decorate the walls.
Foam blocks can simply be painted, plastered or used for finishing facade materials: tiles, siding, stone.
The best designs of houses with an attic: photos with drawings
A good residential building design must take into account many factors:
- climate of the area in which construction will take place;
- features of the soil and landscape of the site;
- combination of the decoration of the house with the surrounding buildings and terrain;
- organizing the most comfortable living conditions for all family members, taking into account their age and individual needs.
The finished project of a house with an attic is developed by professional architects with the participation of specialized specialists. It is important to think through not only the location of the rooms, but also the features of the placement of utility networks.
For a summer cottage, projects of a small area, 36 - 40 square meters, are suitable. This space is quite enough to accommodate a kitchen and a spacious living room on the ground floor and two compact bedrooms or a study in the attic. Houses with an area of over 60 square meters include a spacious living room, bedroom and kitchen on the ground floor and rooms on the second.
An example of a house project with an area of 70 square meters
For large houses, it would be ideal to build a terrace that can be accessed from the attic floor. From the top you will have a magnificent view of nature.
Here you can relax comfortably and use the covered terrace for family dinners or friendly gatherings
Country house with attic: 6x6 layout
Planning a house with a minimum area is not easy. The project of a 6x6 country house with an attic is the best choice. In this case, you have not 36, but at least 50 square meters of usable area.
Example of a 6x6 house layout
If the dacha is needed only for seasonal visits, such space is quite enough for a small family. Over time, an extension can be made to the house if the number of family members increases. What should be considered in the design of a house with a 6x6 attic:
- maximum use of every centimeter of space;
- the number of people visiting the house at the same time;
- age of family members;
- frequency of visits to the summer cottage.
When planning a 6 by 6 house with an attic, it is important to use all the space to maximum advantage. Traditionally, a spacious living room is located in the center, with access to a bathroom and kitchen. All these rooms will completely occupy the first floor. To avoid crowding, select compact furniture.
The optimal choice would be transformable items that can easily turn into sleeping places. If guests at your dacha are late, it won’t be difficult to accommodate them for the night.
The kitchen should have two entrances: from the room and from the yard. Setting a table in a summer gazebo will be greatly simplified, and it will be easier to cook on a hot day by opening the exit to the garden wide open.
The bedrooms in this option are located in the attic. Here you can make two full bedrooms for the owners and children.
Four square meters is enough for a bathroom. If the dacha is visited only in the summer, a summer shower can be organized in the yard. Those who like to take a steam bath set up a bathhouse on the site. If you do not provide a shower or bath in the house, you can leave three square meters for the toilet. The washing machine is installed in the kitchen.
Frame houses with an attic (6x6 projects) do not provide internal stairs. They are placed outside. This technique also allows you to significantly save space. To store things in the house, compact mezzanines should be provided.
Here is an approximate plan of a house with a 6 by 6 attic:
Specifics of the layout of 9 by 9 houses with an attic: photos of successful solutions
A house with a total area of eighty square meters is a popular project. The builders note that this project has an optimal balance between cost and living comfort. The classic layout includes a bedroom, kitchen, living room and bathroom on the ground floor and two or three more rooms in the attic. They can be used as additional bedrooms or used as an office, creative workshop and spacious wardrobe.
An example of a classic 9x9 house layout
Another option for the arrangement of rooms is in the layout of an 8 by 10 house with an attic. Photo example of such a layout:
House layout 8x10
What you should know about the layout of a 10 by 10 house with an attic: photos of the best ideas
One hundred square meters on the first floor and another seventy on the second - a large family can permanently live in such a house. There is room here for separate rooms for children, a bedroom for parents, a study, a spacious living room and a kitchen. From the outside the house does not look huge. Projects of a 10x10 house with a foam block attic impress with its compact placement on the site. But this is precisely the case when external impressions are deceptive.
There is enough space here not only to place bathrooms on each floor, but even to organize a sauna or bathhouse right in the house. A convenient staircase with a wide passage will allow you to easily lift bulky furniture.
The space under the stairs should be used for storing things
In such a house there is usually a separate room for the boiler. If a house made of foam blocks has a basement, the laundry room, heating appliances, and a storage room for storing equipment and household items are located here.
House layout 10x10
Projects of frame houses. In the article we will look in detail at the advantages of these structures, types of technologies, average construction prices, original designs, useful tips and much more.
Examples of interior design of houses with an attic inside: photo
Even a small attic can be furnished so that everything you need can fit in it. The inclined planes of the ceilings partially hide the total area, but you can use them to stylishly decorate the room.
If you paint the rafters in contrasting colors, they will become a stylish interior detail.
Projects of small houses with an attic usually involve placing a bedroom on the second floor. In the country house version, it is logical to use natural wood trim.
To prevent the room from seeming dark, place light-colored furniture and use light-colored accessories and textiles
If the attic occupies a significant area, the task is simplified. Niches between the rafters can be used as zoning elements. In one - place a bed, in the other - a work desk by the window or a sofa for relaxing. The issue of placing a children's room on the attic floor should be approached especially carefully.
Let us remind you that sloping ceilings can cause discomfort in a child. This factor should be compensated as much as possible through the skillful use of colors and materials.
If there will be a study in the attic, it is important to think about the lighting.
Maximum natural light and comfortable furniture will be an additional stimulus for creativity.
Another idea for planning a house with an attic (photo below) is the placement of a wardrobe. Here you can build compact and convenient storage systems.
Dressing room in the attic
House with an attic: photos, projects and main conclusions
So, we examined in detail all the features of the design with an attic floor. What are their advantages? The attic can be equipped after the first floor has been built and occupied. When planning construction, simply provide a roof of the required shape. This could be a foundation for the future.
The attic floor can be added at any time
The use of high-quality materials and proven insulation is the key to success. The attic floor will increase the usable area of the house by at least one and a half times. Here you can place rooms with different purposes. Agree, it is better to use this space usefully than to turn it into a dusty attic!
Construction project with a mansard roof: features of the device, design, interior
Any person who wants to optimize the space in their home will certainly use the attic space for some purpose. Of course, so much space created due to the design features of the roof should not be wasted. That is why mansard roof projects have been and will always be in demand.
Distinctive features and advantages of attics
First, we should define what exactly we call an attic: a room in the attic area, the facade of which is formed by the surface of a pitched roof. This part of the building is very attractive due to the large amount of light and air. In addition, the attic gives the house a finished, beautiful look.
A project with an attic floor is the most profitable and economical if you want to get additional living space without resorting to unnecessary costs. Also, the construction time for an attic is much shorter than a full floor.
With the help of attic floors, you can increase the living space of the house without moving out of it. That is, the operation of the building does not stop even during the active stage of construction.
With a competent approach to arrangement, the attic can significantly reduce the heat loss of the building as a whole.
Modern building codes require that the intersection of the roof and the facade be located at least 1.5 meters from the floor level of the attic floor. If this condition is not met, then the room can officially be called only an attic, but not an attic.
Projects of houses with a mansard roof make it possible to increase the building density, which is important for areas with a limited amount of land allocated for residential areas.
Roof type and attic arrangement
The shape of the attic itself usually depends on the type of roof. Attic floors are triangular, broken, with an asymmetrical shape; can be located both above the entire house and over part of it.
Main types of roofs:
- Single-pitch. The simplest roofing option. Such a roof is made in the form of an inclined plane fixed on the load-bearing walls. In this case, attics are installed very rarely.
- Gable (double slope). Easy to install and very reliable. The roof has two slopes directed in opposite directions. It is on such roofs that attics are most often made
- Broken. It is a subspecies of a gable roof. It is used most often in small buildings, well suited for arranging an attic.
- Hip and half-hip. Subtypes of hipped roofs. Although broken lines are not as expressive as the classic gable silhouette, attic floors do not suffer from this, but only benefit.
- Dome, pyramidal, conical. Used for structures with rounded, polygonal outlines. Building an attic in this case will be very problematic, but still possible.
Types of mansard roof designs
The main types of attics are as follows:
- single-level with a gable or sloping roof;
- single-level with installation of remote consoles;
- two-level with supports of mixed type.
When choosing a roof type, consider the intensity of the load that will affect the roofing.
If we talk about the style of roof finishing, then it’s up to you, there are no restrictions. The main thing is that the choice does not contradict the operational requirements.
The design of a triangular attic roof with a rectilinear outline is the easiest to construct.
Attic roof installation
Attics, in relation to the walls, can be located in alignment or cross their outer boundaries. The outer walls of the attic floors can be insulated either completely or without going beyond the boundaries of the heated premises. The choice of an architectural system in the form of an attic involves the use of lightweight structures and materials.
When designing an attic, consider the following points:
- the design diagram, material for enclosing structures, parts are determined taking into account the architectural parameters of the building as a whole;
- the shape and dimensions of the premises are important, therefore the choice of translucent fences (vertical, inclined windows) and their installation should take into account the interior and appearance of the building;
- the choice of attic plan option must be made based on the entire layout of the building;
- attics equipped with a steeply pitched roof require careful selection of roofing material, thermal insulation, waterproofing and sealing.
In the under-rafter space, sidewalls inevitably form that are unsuitable for full-fledged housing. They appear when installing vertical walls. With proper design, these areas can be used for different needs (pantry, built-in wardrobes, etc.).
The width of the building for the installation of an attic must be more than 4.5 m. In addition, the area of the attic floor cannot be less than 7 m2, and the height/floor area ratio is 1:2.
Attics with a broken slope are suitable if its dimensions do not fit into the triangular shape. Thanks to this technique, the area of the sidewalls is reduced. The attic space can be used most optimally. Unfortunately, the installation diagram of a sloping roof is much more complicated, and its construction is more expensive. If the required proportions of the house are observed, the height of the attic floor premises with a sloping roof is noticeably lower. In addition, useful attic space is lost under the sloping roof.
Houses with a middle load-bearing wall also use a mansard roof truss system. The drawings are given below. The lower chord, supported at the center of the load, is often made lighter. The ceiling height of attic residential premises must be at least 2.5 m, but this may also include a part of the room with a lower height. The area of the zone with a lower height is subject to strict regulation. It is worth considering that the greater the slope of the roof slopes, the more spacious the under-roof space. Accordingly, with a slope of 30 degrees, the minimum height is approximately 1.2 m, with a slope of 45-60 degrees - 0.8 m, more than 60 - is no longer standardized. The width of the room must be at least 2.4 m.
The optimal angle of inclination of the rafters should be in the range from 45 to 60 degrees. If the roof has a slope of 45 degrees, use a conventional rafter system. In this case, the ceilings in the attic floor are sloping. If the project provides for a roof with a slope of 60 degrees, long beams and boards are used as rafters. Because of this, the amount of material needed increases sharply.
Attic construction
The simplest roofing arrangement for an attic roof comes down to creating the following layers:
Directly protects the building from external conditions. You should approach its purchase with special care. There is a wide range of such materials on the market: metal tiles, bitumen shingles, slate, corrugated sheets, etc. In order not to make a mistake in your choice, take into account all possible factors (size of the house, climate, material capabilities);
Necessary to protect the internal insulation and the entire rafter system. Its choice directly depends on the type and properties of the insulation used;
There is no way to do without a layer of waterproofing material, because it is thanks to it that moisture does not penetrate into the house.
These are already parts of the roof itself. It is due to them that the roof is held together. Made from wooden beams. The rafters distribute the load from the weight of the roof along the walls;
All of the above levels are required when building a house with such an addition as an attic roof. The drawings are shown on our website. You can familiarize yourself with them to better understand the installation.
Ventilation gap for roof
There is one nuance in the design of the attic - the need for a ventilation gap. It is best to make two of them: one - directly above the insulation, the second - immediately under the roofing. With the help of the first, the formed steam will escape, which somehow penetrated the insulation layer, and thanks to the other, the moisture that has accumulated under the roofing materials will evaporate. The air should come from the base of the roof and leave through the roof in the ridge area.
When constructing an attic, remember that the structure should be as light as possible. Wood or lightweight metal profiles should be used. Avoid heavy materials such as stone, concrete, etc.
The design of a roof with an attic must be carefully thought out and drawn up by professionals, since the slightest miscalculation can lead to the destruction of the structure.
Also, do not forget that wooden rafters have a certain margin of safety, and it is not advisable to use intermediate posts. To cope with this problem, the following most common techniques are used: construction of wooden or metal-wood trusses.
All wooden elements of the rafter roof must be made of excellent quality wood with a permissible humidity of no more than 22%, treated with antiseptic substances and fire retardants.
Floors in the attic floor are made using standard technologies used to create floor coverings on interfloor ceilings. Here 2 layers will be needed: vapor barrier and insulation. Thanks to them, not only a comfortable temperature regime in the house will be provided, but also sound insulation.
Briefly about roof trusses
Wooden trusses are usually made of round timber, beams, and boards. To connect the elements of wooden rafters, the following are used: notches, bolts, nails, toothed ring keys.
Recently, along with purely wooden trusses for spans over 16 m, trusses with iron posts have become widespread.
Assembling a wooden truss requires significant labor costs. Metal-wood trusses are easier to install. In such structures, all stretched elements and the lower belt are made of metal, making them very easy to install in production.
Dormer windows
The requirements for skylights are often higher than for ordinary windows. This is explained by the fact that it is installed in the roof slope, at an angle, and therefore is subject to a more intense influence of negative factors than the vertical one we are accustomed to.
The main feature of attic windows is large access to light and heat. With the help of which you can create light compositions in rooms. Such windows allow you to maximize the time of access of sunlight to the house. That is why it is advisable to equip libraries, children's rooms, etc. in the attic. With the help of skylights, far corners are additionally illuminated.
When constructing an attic, the following translucent structures are used: facade end windows, domers, stained glass, combined systems, special attic windows. Projects of houses with a mansard roof are very diverse in the use of such structures.
Roof window
A large load is placed on dormer windows, because they are full-fledged elements of the roof, and therefore are exposed to the same influences: strong wind, rain, hail, UV radiation, snow, etc. Under such conditions, the window frame must maintain sufficient tightness, thermophysical parameters, and rigidity , dimensional accuracy.
The traditional frame material is wood-laminated laminated timber. This material ensures long-term operation of the structure; it is not afraid of temperature changes and humidity. Recently, plastic elements have become increasingly used. Common windows made from PVC profile. Less popular are frames made of warm aluminum profiles supplemented with plastic inserts.
The window frame protects the glass and removes precipitation from the surface. The frames are made of aluminum coated with special light-resistant paints; from copper. Visually, the flashing is almost invisible, since its sides are partially hidden under the roofing material. Using specialized frames, windows are combined into groups: horizontal, vertical or combined.
The translucent element should have increased strength, but it should not be very heavy. Most often, single-chamber double-glazed windows are installed. For additional safety, glass is tempered in factories in a special way. Glass with low-emissivity heat-reflecting coating or double-layer impact-resistant glass can also be built-in. Some double-glazed windows are filled with inert gas, due to which the heat-saving characteristics of the structure are increased.
The flashings of roof windows immediately take into account hydro- and vapor barrier, which makes work easier, improves the quality of installation, and ensures a hermetic joint between the window and the roof.
Opening systems for roof windows are varied: hinged, combined, axially rotating, etc. The choice depends only on your preferences and capabilities. One condition is that it is desirable to have a rotating mechanism.
Roof windows must have ventilation. In some models it consists of ventilation valves, in others it is a special device with a filter and an anti-condensation system.
Basic rules for choosing a roof window:
- First of all, determine the slope of the roof, the distance between the rafters, and the area of the illuminated room. The lower the roof slope, the longer the window should be.
- 1:10 – this is how the area of the window should correlate with the area of the floor.
- The best window height is approximately 1.1 - 1.3 m from the floor.
- Consider the functional purpose of the attic floor.
- The roof window must be combined with the roofing material.
A little about the interior of attic rooms
Projects of houses with a mansard roof are very diverse and different from each other. But, in any case, they fit certain canons of interior design.
The first and most important rule: take into account the height of the ceilings in the room. If the height is less than 1.6 m, it will be problematic to use it for living.
The second point: do not clutter the attic rooms under any circumstances, and make the design light. Otherwise, the room will create a depressing impression. In addition, the predominance of light and bright colors will visually increase the space. Use local lighting in the attic. This will add romance.
And the third rule: maintain a consistent style. Furniture and all materials used in decoration should be similar in color.
Use as many wooden elements as possible. This will increase the level of comfort in the room and also provide excellent sound insulation.
The attic roof project for a private house is an excellent choice for a large family. Children will especially enjoy living in a room in the attic. In addition, you can arrange a cozy workshop under the roof.
Attic roof projects: drawings of the attic rafter system diagram
Typical options and designs of mansard roofs. The main rules for designing an attic floor. Drawings of the attic rafter system diagram.
A house with an attic is not only an additional living space, but also a respectable appearance for the entire building. Even if the room under the roof is made unheated and is used only in the summer, it still creates a powerful “air cushion” that helps retain heat inside the entire building.
And about that - read on our portal.
Attic project
When drawing up a diagram for the construction of an attic, it is best to do this in different projections in order to see and understand the placement of all elements of the rafter system. It is very important to correctly calculate the height of the roof ridge, since the size of the area under it will directly depend on it.
When drawing up a design diagram for the construction of an attic roof, you need to calculate the height of the ridge, ceiling and total area of the room.
The minimum height from the floor to the ridge should be 2.5-2.7 m, but if this distance is less, then the room is not an attic, it can only be called an attic. This parameter is established by SNIP standards.
In order for all the elements to be drawn accurately and have the desired location in the overall system, you need to start from a figure with right angles, that is, a rectangle or square - a section of the attic room being created. Based on the sides (height and width of the future room), it will be almost impossible to make a mistake with the magnitude of the angles at which the roof slopes are located, with the location of the ridge, rafters and all supporting elements. When determining these parameters, they must immediately be entered into the drawing.
First you need to find the middle of the width of the front wall. Starting from this point, the parameters of the height of the ridge, the future ceiling of the attic, the location of the wall studs and the size of the eaves overhang are determined.
Due to the fact that each of the structures has a certain number of connecting nodes, which have different configurations, it would be a good idea to draw each of these connections separately in order to understand their features of connecting all the elements together at this point.
Any rafter system consists of basic elements and additional ones, which may not be present in every structure. The main components of an attic roof include:
- Floor beams, which are the basis for the remaining elements of the rafter system. They are laid on the main walls of the building.
- A rafter leg, straight in a gable roof system or consisting of two sections - in a broken pattern. In this case, the top rafter is called the ridge rafter, since it forms the highest point of the roof - and the rafters that form the walls of the attic are called side rafters.
- A ridge board or beam is a mandatory element for a gable roof, but is not always used when installing a broken roof model.
- Mauerlat is a powerful beam attached to the main side walls of the building. Rafter legs are installed on this element.
- Racks are the supporting elements necessary to strengthen a gable and broken structure. In the latter case, the ridge and side rafters are attached to it, and in the first, the stand is a reliable support for a long rafter. In addition, the racks serve as a frame for insulating and covering the walls of the attic.
- Diagonal bracing members or bevels additionally secure posts or longitudinal beams and rafters, making the structure more durable.
- Attic floor beams are used in all versions of the attic - they connect the racks, and they also serve as the frame for the ceiling.
- Inter-rafter purlins are installed in a broken roof for structural rigidity.
To be sure that the prepared project is developed correctly, you need to show it to a specialist. Only he will be able to determine whether the attic parameters are correctly selected for the width and length of the walls of the building.
Video: professional calculation of a mansard roof using special software
Material parameters for the construction of an attic roof
If the graphic design is ready, then, based on the dimensions marked on it, you can calculate the amount of materials required for the construction of the attic roof. Materials must be selected according to their characteristics, which must meet fire and environmental safety requirements. For wood, it is necessary to provide special treatment with fire retardants, which will reduce the flammability of the material. So, for construction you will need:
- Boards for rafter legs. Their cross section is selected based on the results of special calculations - this will be discussed in more detail below.
- A beam with a cross-section of 100×150 or 150×200 mm is for floor beams, depending on the chosen rafter system and the width between the load-bearing walls, as well as for purlins, diagonal legs or valleys - if they are provided for in the design.
- Beam with a cross section of 100×150 mm or 150×150 mm for laying the Mauerlat.
- For racks, timber 100 × 100 or 150 × 150 mm is usually used.
- Unedged board for laying the subfloor and some fasteners.
- Annealed steel wire with a diameter of 3-4 mm - for fastening some parts together.
- Nails, bolts, staples of various sizes, angles of various configurations and other fasteners.
- A metal sheet with a thickness of at least 1 mm is for cutting out overlays.
- Lumber for sheathing and counter-lattens for roofing material - depending on the type of roof chosen.
- – for thermal insulation of the roof.
- Waterproofing and vapor barrier membranes.
- Roofing material and fastening elements for it.
What section of rafters are required?
Rafters are roofing elements that will bear the main external loads, so the requirements for their cross-section are quite special.
The size of the required lumber will depend on many parameters - on the step between the rafter legs, on the length of these legs between the support points, on the snow and wind load that falls on them.
The geometric parameters of the rafter system design are easy to determine in the drawing. But with the remaining parameters, you will have to refer to the reference material and make some calculations.
Snow load is not the same for different regions of our country. The figure below shows a map on which the entire territory of Russia is divided into zones according to the intensity of the snow load.
There are eight such zones in total (the last, eighth, is rather extreme and can not be considered for the construction of an attic roof).
Now you can accurately determine the snow load, which will depend on the angle of the roof slope. For this there is the following formula:
S = Sg × μ
Sg– table value – see the map and the table attached to it
μ — correction factor depending on the steepness of the roof slope.
- If the slope angle is me 25°, then μ=1.0
- With a slope from 25 to 60° - μ=0.7
- If the roof is steeper than 60°, then it is considered that snow does not linger on it, and the snow load is not taken into account at all.
It is typical that if the attic roof has a broken structure, then for different sections of it the load can have different values.
The slope angle of the roof can always be determined either with a protractor - according to the drawing, or by a simple ratio of the height and base of the triangle (usually half the span width):
Wind load also mainly depends on the region in which the building was built and on the characteristics of its surroundings and the height of the roof.
And again, for the calculation, the initial data on the map and the table attached to it are first determined:
The calculation for a specific building will be carried out according to the formula:
Wp = W × k × c
W– table value, depending on the region
k– coefficient taking into account the height of the building and its location (see table)
The following zones are indicated by letters in the table:
- zone A - open areas, steppes, forest-steppes, deserts, tundra or forest-tundra, windswept sea coasts, large lakes and reservoirs.
- zone B – urban areas, wooded areas, areas with frequent wind obstacles, relief or artificial, at least 10 meters high.
- zone IN– dense urban development with an average building height above 25 meters.
With– coefficient depending on the predominant wind direction (wind rose of the region) and on the angle of inclination of the roof slopes.
With this coefficient the situation is somewhat more complicated, since the wind can have a dual effect on the roof slopes. So, it has a direct, overturning effect directly on the roof slopes. But at small angles, the aerodynamic effect of the wind takes on special importance - it tries to raise the plane of the slope due to the resulting lifting forces.
The drawings, diagrams and tables attached to them indicate areas of the roof exposed to maximum wind loads, and indicate the corresponding coefficients for calculation.
It is characteristic that at slope angles of up to 30 degrees (and this is quite possible in the area of ridge rafters), the coefficients are indicated both with a plus sign and negative, that is, directed upward. They somewhat dampen the frontal wind load (this is taken into account in calculations), and in order to neutralize the effect of lifting forces, it will be necessary to very carefully secure the rafter system and roofing material in this area, using additional connections, for example, using annealed steel wire.
Once the wind and snow loads have been calculated, they can be summed up and, taking into account the design features of the system being created, the cross-section of the rafter boards can be determined.
Please note that the data is given for the most commonly used coniferous material (pine, spruce, cedar or larch). The table shows the maximum length of the rafters between the support points, the section of the board depending on the grade of the material, and on the pitch between the rafters.
The value of the total load is indicated in kPa (Kilopascals). Converting this value into more familiar kilograms per square meter is not difficult. With completely acceptable rounding we can accept: 1 kPa ≈ 100 kg/m².
The dimensions of the board along its cross-section are rounded up to standard lumber sizes.
| rafter section (mm) | Distance between adjacent rafters (mm) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 600 | 900 | 300 | 600 | 900 | ||
| 1.0 kPa | 1.5 kPa | ||||||
| higher | 40×89 | 3.22 | 2.92 | 2.55 | 2.81 | 2.55 | 2.23 |
| 40×140 | 5.06 | 4.60 | 4.02 | 4.42 | 4.02 | 3.54 | |
| 50×184 | 6.65 | 6.05 | 5.28 | 5.81 | 5.28 | 4.61 | |
| 50×235 | 8.50 | 7.72 | 6.74 | 7.42 | 6.74 | 5.89 | |
| 50×286 | 10.34 | 9.40 | 8.21 | 9.03 | 8.21 | 7.17 | |
| 1 or 2 | 40×89 | 3.11 | 2.83 | 2.47 | 2.72 | 2.47 | 2.16 |
| 40×140 | 4.90 | 4.45 | 3.89 | 4.28 | 3.89 | 3.40 | |
| 50×184 | 6.44 | 5.85 | 5.11 | 5.62 | 5.11 | 4.41 | |
| 50×235 | 8.22 | 7.47 | 6.50 | 7.18 | 6.52 | 5.39 | |
| 50×286 | 10.00 | 9.06 | 7.40 | 8.74 | 7.66 | 6.25 | |
| 3 | 40×89 | 3.06 | 2.78 | 2.31 | 2.67 | 2.39 | 1.95 |
| 40×140 | 4.67 | 4.04 | 3.30 | 3.95 | 3.42 | 2.79 | |
| 50×184 | 5.68 | 4.92 | 4.02 | 4.80 | 4.16 | 3.40 | |
| 50×235 | 6.95 | 6.02 | 4.91 | 5.87 | 5.08 | 4.15 | |
| 50×286 | 8.06 | 6.98 | 6.70 | 6.81 | 5.90 | 4.82 | |
| total snow and wind load | 2.0 kPa | 2.5 kPa | |||||
| higher | 40×89 | 4.02 | 3.65 | 3.19 | 3.73 | 3.39 | 2.96 |
| 40×140 | 5.28 | 4.80 | 4.19 | 4.90 | 4.45 | 3.89 | |
| 50×184 | 6.74 | 6.13 | 5.35 | 6.26 | 5.69 | 4.97 | |
| 50×235 | 8.21 | 7.46 | 6.52 | 7.62 | 6.92 | 5.90 | |
| 50×286 | 2.47 | 2.24 | 1.96 | 2.29 | 2.08 | 1.82 | |
| 1 or 2 | 40×89 | 3.89 | 3.53 | 3.08 | 3.61 | 3.28 | 2.86 |
| 40×140 | 5.11 | 4.64 | 3.89 | 4.74 | 4.31 | 3.52 | |
| 50×184 | 6.52 | 5.82 | 4.75 | 6.06 | 5.27 | 4.30 | |
| 50×235 | 7.80 | 6.76 | 5.52 | 7.06 | 6.11 | 4.99 | |
| 50×286 | 2.43 | 2.11 | 1.72 | 2.21 | 1.91 | 1.56 | |
| 3 | 40×89 | 3.48 | 3.01 | 2.46 | 3.15 | 2.73 | 2.23 |
| 40×140 | 4.23 | 3.67 | 2.99 | 3.83 | 3.32 | 2.71 | |
| 50×184 | 5.18 | 4.48 | 3.66 | 4.68 | 4.06 | 3.31 | |
| 50×235 | 6.01 | 5.20 | 4.25 | 5.43 | 4.71 | 3.84 | |
| 50×286 | 6.52 | 5.82 | 4.75 | 6.06 | 5.27 | 4.30 | |
Tools
Naturally, during work you cannot do without tools, the list of which includes:
- Electric drill, screwdriver.
- Building level and plumb line, tape measure, square.
- Axe, chisel, chisel, hammer
- Circular saw, jigsaw, hacksaw.
- Carpenter's knife.
Installation will be accelerated if the tools for the work are of high quality, and the work will be carried out with competent mentors and assistants, carefully and step by step.
Installation stages
It is necessary to strictly follow the sequence of work - only under this condition the structure will be reliable and durable.
Mounting the Mauerlat
Installation of any rafter system begins with securing a powerful supporting structure to the end of the side walls of the building. timber - mauerlat, on which it will be convenient to install rafter legs. The Mauerlat is made from high-quality timber with a cross-section of at least 100 × 150 mm. It must be laid on roofing felt waterproofing laid along the upper end of the wall (regardless of the material).
Due to the Mauerlat, the load will be evenly distributed over the walls and transferred to the foundation of the building.
The Mauerlat is secured to the wall using metal pins, which are pre-embedded in a concrete belt or crown running along the upper edge of the wall, or with anchor bolts with a diameter of 12 mm. They must go into the wall at least 150 — 170 mm. If the Mauerlat is installed on a wooden wall, then the beams are attached to it using wooden dowels.
Installation of truss structure
- Installation of the rafter system begins with the installation of floor beams. They can be attached to the mauerlat from above if the beams are planned to be moved outside the perimeter of the building and thereby increase the area of the attic. In this design, the rafter legs are fixed to the floor beams.
Floor beams fixed on top of the Mauerlat (Fig. A) - In another case, they can be stacked on waterproofed walls and fastened with corners or staples to the inner edge of the Mauerlat. This option is used when the rafter legs are planned to be attached directly to the mauerlat.
Another option is that only the rafter legs are attached to the mauerlat - Next, you need to find the middle of the floor beam, since this mark will become a guideline for determining the location of the support posts and the ridge.
- The racks should be located at the same distance from the marked middle of the floor beam. They will subsequently determine the location of the walls of the attic room, that is, its width.
- The bars for the racks must have a cross-section equal to the size of the floor beams. The constructions are attached to the beams using special corners and wooden overlays. However, to begin with, they are first nailed, then carefully leveled using a building level and a plumb line, and only then they are thoroughly secured, taking into account future loads.
- When the first pair of racks is installed, they are fastened together from above with a bar, which is called a tie. This tightening is also connected to the racks using special metal corners.
- After securing the tie, you will get a U-shaped structure. Layered rafters are installed on its sides, the second end of which is attached to the floor beam or placed on the mauerlat.
- A special recess (groove) is cut into the installed supports for the timber or in the rafters. With its use The rafters are tightly installed on the Mauerlat beam and secured with metal brackets.
- To provide rigidity to the structure, additional struts can be installed from the base of the rack to the middle of the installed side rafters. If this does not seem enough, and saving material is not in the foreground, then you can strengthen the overall structure with additional racks and contractions (they are indicated in the drawing, Fig. A, with translucent lines).
- Next, while tightening, the middle is calculated - the headstock will be attached to this place, supporting the ridge connection of the upper hanging subsystem of the rafters.
- The next step is to install the ridge rafters, which can be fastened together with various connections - this can be a metal plate or powerful bolts with metal plates or washers.
- After installing them, the headstock is attached to the ridge and the middle of the tightening.
- Having completed work on one part of the rafter system, you need to make all the rest according to the same principle. The distance between adjacent rafters in such a system should be no more than 900 — 950 mm, but the optimal interval would probably still be 600 mm - this will provide the necessary rigidity and stability of the structure, and will be convenient for insulation using standard mineral wool mats. True, this makes the structure heavier and will require more materials.
- First, the side parts of the system assembly are installed, and then the intermediate parts. They are connected to each other by purlins, which are installed between the upper ends of the racks and act as spacers. Thus, you will get a rigid structure of the attic rafters, in which the frame for wall cladding will already be ready.
Prices for various types of fasteners for rafters
Rafter fasteners
Waterproofing attic roof
When the rafter system is built, you can proceed to finishing it and accompanying materials.
- The first coating that should be fixed directly on top of the rafters will be a waterproofing and windproof film. it is attached to the rafters using staples and a stapler, starting from the cornice. The canvases are laid with an overlap of 150 — 200 mm, and then the joints are glued together with waterproof tape.
- On top of the waterproofing, a counter-lattice is placed on the rafters, which will more reliably fix the film on the surface and create the necessary ventilation distance between the windproof and roofing material. The counter-lattice is usually made of boards 100 wide — 150 mm and thickness 50 — 70 mm.
- The sheathing is fixed perpendicular to the counter-lattice, on which the roofing material will then be laid. The pitch between the slats must be calculated depending on the type and size of the sheet roofing material, taking into account the overlap required for it
- If a soft roof is chosen, then plywood sheets are most often fixed to the counter-lattice.
Roofing installation
The roofing material is attached to the prepared sheathing or plywood. Its installation usually starts from the roof eaves and proceeds in rows, from one of the edges - depending on the type of roof. Roofing sheets are mounted with an overlap. If a metal profile or metal tile is used for the coating, then such material is secured with special self-tapping screws with elastic gaskets. Fastening elements are usually matched in color to the roofing material.
The most difficult thing in covering an attic sloping roof is the transition from layered side rafters to hanging ridge rafters. There may be certain difficulties if the roof has projections for installing roofs over balconies or windows.
In addition, if a chimney pipe goes onto the roof, it requires a separate design of the hole inside the rafter system and an insulating layer, and on the roof, reliable waterproofing must be installed around the pipe.
You can find out in detail how and what is the best way to cover the roof on our portal; there is a whole section where you can find answers to many questions, including recommendations for reliable insulation of the attic space.
Prices for popular types of corrugated sheets
Corrugated sheet
Video: detailed video tutorial on building a mansard roof
It should be noted that the work of constructing any roof, and especially one as complex as an attic roof, is not only responsible, but also quite dangerous and requires special, increased safety measures. If you have no experience in carrying out such construction processes, then it is better to entrust their implementation to professionals or perform all actions under the supervision of an experienced craftsman, and with the utmost care and precision.
The attic design provides the opportunity to significantly expand the living space of the house and add originality to the structure. It is relatively easy to build an attic roof with your own hands, provided that construction technologies are followed. There are several options for attic design.
Advantages and Disadvantages
A house with a mansard roof usually has a complex roof structure. The upper segment is usually flat, while the lower segment is steeper. This ensures the convenience and comfort of the interior. The latter can be used both for economic purposes and for permanent residence.
This design has a number of positive qualities:
- a house with an attic will cost less to build than a full 2 floors;
- unlike two-story construction, the load on the foundation is reduced, which allows for savings;
- the house looks aesthetically pleasing and original;
- if properly arranged, it will be very comfortable to be on the attic floor;
- the attic significantly expands the living space;
- the construction is not complicated, all work can be done by hand;
- During the installation process, the attic roof must be insulated, which significantly improves the thermal insulation characteristics of the house.
However, there are some disadvantages:
- the ceilings have a sloping configuration, so the walls are low, which leads to difficulties in selecting furniture;
- it is necessary to use high-quality heat and waterproofing materials, the cost of which is relatively high;
- building an attic is somewhat more difficult than a traditional gable roof.
Design features
An attic can be built in almost any private house, be it a large cottage or a small country house. The shape of the structure can be different - triangular, broken, symmetrical or asymmetrical. The attic part can be located either over the entire area of the house or part of it.
The dimensions of the attic are limited by the perimeter of the house. When drawing up drawings of an attic roof, it is necessary to take into account the load-bearing capacity of the walls and foundation.
The structure may protrude slightly beyond the external walls. In this situation, it is necessary to move the ceilings to an appropriate distance. The latter will serve as support for the attic roof. You can make a large extension, but you will have to build supports.
The minimum height of the attic roof is 2.5 m. If the structure is lower, it will not be possible to create a comfortable living space.
Increased demands are placed on windows. They must have a high-strength frame and double-glazed windows made of tempered glass. This entails additional costs.
You can insulate the entire attic, or only that part of it that is used for residential purposes and is heated. The rafter system of the attic roof must have a high load-bearing capacity. Therefore, you need to use strong rafters, the cross-section of which is determined based on the angle of inclination of the slopes.
But, the minimum cross-section is 50x150 mm for a step of 1 m. If the angle of inclination is 45°, you can use a step of 1.4 m. In this case, climatic conditions must be taken into account. If heavy rainfall is typical in winter, the rafter pitch should not exceed 0.8 m.
Varieties
All mansard roofs can be classified into 4 categories, each with different designs. Moreover, such attics can be single-level or two-level. It is easier to build a one-level attic. As a rule, this design involves the construction of an ordinary gable or sloping roof.
Two-level attics are more difficult to construct. This design involves the construction of 2 rooms at different levels. In this case, the method of combining supports is used.
In the photo of the attic roof you can clearly see the design options for such structures. Additionally, a balcony can be provided. It is constructed by analogy with a window opening.
But this possibility depends on the load-bearing capacity of the walls. If this is not enough, a balcony can be built using additional supports.
Rafter system
There are two types of rafter systems for the attic - hanging or layered. The type of rafters must be determined based on the installation method on the walls of the building.
The easiest way to secure hanging structures. This is the optimal solution for houses in which only the external walls perform the load-bearing function. The latter act as a supporting structure.
There are no intermediate support elements. In such a situation, you should not make the distance between the walls too large (more than 6 m). If it is necessary to increase the size of the span (more than 9 m), it is necessary to construct struts and headstocks.
Layered rafters, as a rule, are used if the structure of the house includes 2 spans (in the middle there is another wall that performs a load-bearing function). This option assumes 3 support points for the rafter system - 2 external and 1 internal wall.
Construction technology
To build an attic, you need to install rafters, lay thermal insulation and waterproofing materials, make sheathing and carry out roofing work. Key steps and procedure for making a mansard roof:
- After constructing the load-bearing walls, a rafter system should be constructed.
- If the house is frame, it is recommended to assemble the roof structure at the bottom, and then lift it up and mount it on the walls.
- The beams corresponding to the height of the room in length must be secured to the lower beam according to the marks made according to the dimensions of the structure.
- Next, a block is mounted that performs the ceiling function.
- The middle of the ceiling beam is determined where the rafter support is mounted.
- On the vertical block you need to mark the middle and mount the rafters that protrude from the roof slopes. Next you need to make the roof ridge.
- We need to mount the resulting structure at one of the ends of the house. Using a similar technology, you need to assemble the remaining elements of the rafter system, installing them in accordance with a predetermined and marked step.
- The frame must be covered with waterproofing material.
- The waterproofing layer is fixed to the rafters with beams.
- Insulation material is laid on top (usually mineral wool is used).
- An additional waterproofing layer is laid on top of the insulation.
- The entire roof structure is covered with OSB boards or other building materials. The main task is to level the surface.
- Roofing material is being laid.
At this point, the construction of the attic is considered complete. Next, you can proceed to the installation of the ceiling (attic floor), if it has not been completed in advance, and finishing work.
Photo of the attic roof
During the construction of a private house, everyone wants their house to be beautiful in appearance, unlike others. At the same time, you need to take into account the functionality of the house and its convenience, because you need to live in it. Ideally, such a building should not be very expensive, since not everyone can afford a huge castle. A mansard roof allows you to solve all these problems at once. Externally, the house will have an attractive appearance, it will be interesting, and by combining several roofing coverings you can make it unique.
Cost of building an attic
Creating an attic floor is considered a relatively inexpensive pleasure, since there is no need to construct and erect walls, but this is only partially true.
First of all, you need to spend a lot of money on creating a rafter system. Its price directly depends on the type of attic roof, as well as the cost of lumber. Secondly, the lion's share of financial costs will be taken up by thermal insulation and vapor barrier of the roof. It is logical that the roofing material is not enough to provide the required air condition for the living space. 
If the attic is residential, then it must be properly insulated using a thick layer of heat-insulating material. On average for Russia, the layer of mineral wool should be at least 20 centimeters; if these are cooler regions, then even more. In addition, you must not forget about the waterproofing and vapor barrier layers. 
Thirdly, expensive skylights. If the windows are made dormer, then you need to build a special rafter system, which will also lead to an increase in financial costs for materials and their installation. Also, the window can be located in the plane of the roof, in which case it must be carefully sealed so that snow or rain does not penetrate into the attic. Because of this, the cost of roof windows is twice as expensive as regular ones, and their installation will also cost a pretty penny. Dormer windows must have a more complex structure, their frame must be stronger. Reinforced glass is used to cope with loads, and the frame is rotating. In total, there are two types of skylights - those in the roof and vertical. 
A popular and inexpensive roofing option is a metal-based material, such as corrugated sheeting or metal tiles. However, it is worth noting that all of them are not suitable for covering an attic roof and here’s why:
- These coatings have high thermal conductivity. Metal easily transmits heat, which means you will have to increase the thickness of the thermal insulation layer. If this is not done, then in winter it will be too cold here, and in summer it will be unbearably hot.
- Noisy. During precipitation in the form of rain it will be very noisy here, because the roof will beat like a drum. Inside, this problem can be overcome with high-quality sound insulation, but outside this problem cannot be eliminated, so it is best to abandon metal-based materials. In addition, if the house is located in close proximity to neighbors, they may be unhappy with the constant noise, which can subsequently lead to disputes and conflicts.
If you calculate all the costs of increasing the layers of thermal insulation and sound insulation, then it turns out that there was no financial benefit in building an attic, so it is better not to use such roofing material. It is better to initially buy a more expensive coating so that in the end it turns out to be more profitable. That is why you need to calculate all the pros and cons even before roofing work.
Advantages of building an attic floor:
- The lightness of the attic floor. Thanks to this, there is no need to build an overly powerful foundation, which will save money in the initial stages.
- If there is not enough money, then the construction of the attic and its insulation can be postponed for some time until new funds become available. It is also worth noting the fact that such a delay will be useful. During construction, wood species with high humidity are used. If the insulation process begins immediately, the moisture will be absorbed into the thermal insulation layer. If the “pie” is made correctly, then the moisture will leave correctly. If there are violations, there may be problems, so a short pause will even be useful, because the material will be able to dry out a little, losing excess moisture.
- Using the attic floor you can create an original and even unique building. In general, a private house with an attic always has an interesting appearance and is able to express the individuality of the owner and his decisions.
Roof types
An attic roof can have different design options; any type of roof, except a flat one, is suitable for an attic floor.
Houses with a pitched roof will always look original and non-standard. The installation and installation of such a roof is quite simple; the bevel is carried out using different heights of the walls. The slope angle ranges from 30-45%; this range is very easily explained. If you make the angle of inclination smaller, then snow will accumulate on the roof, and this will create a load on the roof and supports; additional supports will have to be created, which will reduce the space of the attic floor. If the angle is greater, then difficulties will arise in installing the roof, and its strength will decrease significantly. In general, using such a roof is the simplest and most affordable option.
The most popular is the gable roof; the cost of its construction is not very high, and externally such a structure looks quite attractive. When building such a roof, you need to take into account the functional feature of the attic, whether it will be residential or not. It is necessary to calculate the height of the roof so that it does not interfere with free movement in the attic. In general, there are two types of gable roofs: symmetrical and asymmetrical. 
A sloping roof is a type of gable roof; the only difference is that one plane is divided into two, having different angles of inclination. When building such a roof, there is no need to erect walls, and the space will be only 15-20% less than on the 1st floor of the house. The rafter system here is much more complex and needs to be given special attention.
A hip roof is a complex option that requires calculations. The roof surface is larger than in previous options, which means costs increase significantly. The advantage lies in its high resistance to winds and other “whims” of nature, as well as in its original appearance, which is considered the most attractive.
Construction of a spacious private house often involves the construction of an attic. This allows you to make every square meter of space functional. At the same time, roofs differ in their features, appearance and construction technology.
What is an attic and how did it appear?
In the 17th century, the French architect Francois Mansart began to use high roofs in the development of projects. This made it possible to achieve the necessary visual effects and create a beautiful building design. The room under the high roof turned out to be quite spacious and the architect suggested using it as a room for not too eminent guests or staff. In the 18th century, attics became widespread in Russia, for example, in St. Petersburg, many buildings were equipped with spacious attics and complex-shaped roofs. Subsequently, the advantages of such designs became more popular.
The attic makes the building more functional
An attic is a residential attic space located under a high roof. This area most often occupies all the free space under the roof, but options are also possible in which the room is located only in a certain part of the attic. The height of the walls of the sloping ceiling often does not exceed 1.5 m, and then the angle of the roof slope begins. The designs may be different, but the attic always requires a certain arrangement, which involves insulation and equipment for the living area.
When you can’t and when you can make an attic
A furnished and comfortable attic is an additional living space in the house. At the same time, there are situations when it is impossible to make the attic a residential and cozy space. In such cases, significant problems arise and the room may be inconvenient to use.
The attic can be very small, but for the arrangement it is important to take into account certain requirements Creating a living space in the attic is complicated or impossible in the following situations:
- if the ceiling height at the highest point is less than 2.4 m;
- the location of the horizontal ties of the rafter system is too low, making it difficult to move;
- if the rafter system and ceilings are too light and not suitable for arranging a living space in the attic;
- arrangement of an attic in an already finished house, which requires dismantling the roof.
The best option is to design a house with an attic. This allows you to provide for all the features of the attic living space and make a roof with optimal parameters. If the house has already been built, and the roof is of sufficient height and made of durable materials, then you can make an attic in the finished building. In this case, there is no specific arrangement option, since everything depends on the individual characteristics of the finished roof, the strength of the attic floors and other factors.
Design Features
To build an attic in a house under construction, the roof must be properly equipped. In this case, the attic structure consists of load-bearing elements of the roof and attic floor, and insulation, waterproofing and finishing work are carried out for complete arrangement.
Arrangement of the attic as an attic requires care In order for the attic space to become a comfortable living room, it is important to ensure that the roof structure contains all the necessary layers. When constructing a roof, the following layers must be placed:
- vapor barrier, which is necessary to remove excess moisture from the room to the outside. For this, a special film is used, which is attached to the sheathing fixed to the rafter system;
- insulation that ensures heat retention inside the room. The material must be non-flammable, durable and practical to use;
- waterproofing, which performs the function of protecting the room and load-bearing elements from moisture coming from outside;
- a ventilation gap is necessary to preserve the roof and prevent rotting. The height of the ventilation gap is 45–50 mm, and this ventilation space is located between the waterproofing and the external roofing material.
Before building a house with a residential attic space, a project is created that contains all the important information about the future structure. The project requires a detailed drawing of the entire house and the attic in particular. Additional information contains data on the materials used and room parameters.
For any attic you need a detailed project plan Many factors are taken into account when designing. For example, the option of heating the attic space, climatic conditions, purpose of the room. This allows you to create an attic that best suits operating conditions and meets modern comfort requirements.
Advantages and disadvantages of a mansard roof
Arranging an attic space for living space is a complex process that requires knowledge of all the features of the house. To do this, it is worth finding out the advantages and disadvantages of the attic that characterize this design.
The attic is characterized by a set of features that should be taken into account during construction The main advantage of arranging an attic space is the maximum rational use of the space under the roof. The attic also has the following advantages:
- aesthetic appearance of the house from the outside;
- the possibility of creating an original interior inside the attic;
- reducing heat loss through the roof;
- possibility of arranging an additional functional room.
Even a small attic can be used rationally The disadvantages of the attic are expressed in the complexity of arranging the room. To create optimal living conditions in the attic, thermal and waterproofing materials of the highest quality and safety are required. It is especially important to properly design the roof, install special windows and ensure high-quality ventilation of the under-roof space.
Attic options
Since the introduction of attics into architecture, many variants of such structures have appeared. They all differ in appearance, construction technology, and operating features, but they always allow for rational use of the attic area.
Different types of attics allow you to create a variety of interiors Multi-gable roofing is one of the most complex roofing design options. On the outside, the roof is a complex of angular projections, and on the inside, the ceiling has a complex shape.
Many protrusions make the design original Multi-gable roofing has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of this design are expressed as follows:
- unusual appearance of the roof;
- rapid precipitation;
- reliability of the rafter system;
- stability under significant loads.
The disadvantages of the mansard roof are expressed in the complexity of the design and the mandatory careful calculation of the parameters of the structure. Therefore, before construction, a professional project is created, taking into account all the design features. Otherwise, the roof may be unreliable or uneven, which will negatively affect the performance of the building.
Multi-gable roofing can be quite simple, but reliable An attic can be made under an asymmetrical roof. This design differs in that it has sides with different parameters. The asymmetrical type roof is a triangle, the refraction of which occurs not at the top corner, but at the base. As a result, different angles and sides are formed, the area of one slope is larger than the area of the other.
The asymmetrical roof has an interesting appearance The main advantage of an asymmetrical roof is that the windows will be vertical rather than slanted. This helps prevent moisture from entering the room. The attic under such a roof is more spacious and provides comfortable living. When constructing an asymmetrical roof, it is important to correctly calculate the load on each side, because the reliability of the roof and the comfort inside the attic depend on this.
Roof load calculations are carried out by professional specialists For a residential building with a perimeter with equal sides, a hip roof is suitable. The design assumes the presence of slopes with the same parameters and therefore the shape of the building should be square. A hip roof can be domed, conical or pyramidal. The latter option is more practical and often decorates residential buildings.
The hip roof has a fairly simple design The hip roof provides ample attic space. The structure has 4 slopes, 2 of which are often larger than the 2 surfaces located at the end of the building. A hip roof allows you to get a spacious attic room, the area of which is larger than with a pitched roof.
The attic under the hip roof has a large area A cuckoo roof is a roof that has a small triangular or other shaped projection in which a dormer window is often located. The shape of such structures can be hip, arched, single- or gable. The ledge has its own rafter system, connected to the main one. A cuckoo roof allows you to get a larger attic area than a simple pitched roof. Several cuckoos may be present on the surface.
The cuckoo roof allows you to get a spacious attic Shed roofs
To create a simple and large attic, shed roofs are often constructed. In the attic there is one full wall, and the other is an inclined surface. In this case, the windows are often located obliquely, but it is possible to install a cuckoo or place the windows on the main wall of the attic.
A pitched roof is easy to install, but requires precise calculation of parameters The most convenient angle is 40°, which allows you to create an attic in the attic. During installation, the ramp is placed on the leeward side. The presence of one corner of the roof helps to increase the usable area of the attic, above which you can place a small attic space for storing things.
Gable roof with attic
A roof with two slopes allows you to create an attic with a uniform rise in the ceiling. On both sides the roof is located at the same angle to the walls. Where the ceiling meets the walls, an area is formed whose functionality is minimal. To create a spacious attic space, it is enough to make a roof with an angle of 45°, which is optimal for houses whose width is no more than 6 m.
The attic can be built immediately after the construction of the walls Arranging an attic under a gable roof is a popular and effective option for rational use of attic space. Often the attic is equipped with a balcony located at the end of the building. When designing, it is necessary to calculate all parameters and determine the location of windows.
Broken roof
One of the varieties of gable roofing is a broken shape. This design has two slopes, but each of them is constructed in such a way that it consists of two parts. This feature allows you to reduce the angle of the roof and increase the height of the attic walls. As a result, the attic space becomes more functional and is used much more efficiently.
The broken shape allows you to create a spacious attic The broken shape requires the correct construction of the roof truss system. The load on the roof is low, since the presence of double slopes facilitates the rapid removal of precipitation.
Hip roofs with attic
The peculiarity of the attic, equipped under a hipped roof, is that all 4 walls are small in height. The ceiling rises obliquely on all 4 sides and therefore the usable area of the attic under such a roof is quite small. A simple hip roof is practical to use, since precipitation quickly flows down the roof.
The hip roof is convenient and practical Hip roof designs can be more complex. For example, multi-level options, including several inclined surfaces located at different levels.
Attic roof options
Roof designs that allow you to create an attic in the attic space are varied. When designing, special attention should be paid to the roofing material, which is selected depending on climatic conditions, design features, personal preferences and building design.
Metal tiles
Steel or aluminum metal tiles are in demand as roof coverings with an attic. Materials can be of any color, but when choosing, you should pay attention to the following features:
- geometry and depth of the insole;
- type of color coating;
- material thickness;
- technical characteristics.
Metal tiles can be of different colors, but an important factor in the choice is the characteristics of the material Metal tiles are reliable and provide comfort in the attic. For arranging under the attic roof, it is worth choosing strong, durable structures that are resistant to climatic influences.
Attic with glass roof
Glass is rarely used for roofing and is especially unsuitable for harsh climates. In very warm climates, it is possible to make an attic with a glass roof, using especially durable materials and developing an accurate design design.
The glass roof is suitable for mild climates and requires careful maintenance When designing an attic with a transparent roof, it is important to carefully calculate the load on the roof, determine the parameters of the walls, and the angle of inclination. To create the roof, durable materials are used that are resistant to temperature changes and mechanical stress.
SIP panels for roof
Special construction panels made from pressed wood chips and polystyrene foam can be used to create an attic roof. This material has the following features:
- high thermal insulation effect;
- accessibility and low cost;
- fire resistance and non-toxic;
- simple installation;
When using SIP panels for roofing, it is important to ensure good waterproofing of the structure to protect the material from moisture.
SIP panels are practical to use and provide sound insulation Corrugated sheeting for attic roofing
To equip a roof with an attic, you can use any roofing materials that provide reliable protection for the load-bearing structural elements. Corrugated sheeting is one of the popular and affordable options. Metal sheets with a polymer coating can be of any color, and when choosing, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the material must be intended for roofing.
It is quite easy to cover a roof with an attic with corrugated sheets How to make a mansard roof
Construction of a roof with an attic involves determining a design option. Only after this does the design stage begin, during which materials, parameters, and architectural features of the structure are selected. The main stages of construction are:
A separate stage of the work is the creation and installation of roof windows. Plastic modern designs are a common and practical option. The production of small or complexly shaped windows is carried out to order. The structures are mounted in a special opening, which should be provided when installing the roof rafter system. Windows can be located at the ends of the roof, cuckoo or obliquely on the roof.
Photo gallery: interior options for attics
In a spacious attic it is easy to create a cozy atmosphere with a minimum amount of furniture Large windows provide good lighting A cozy office can be easily set up in the attic In a small space you need to properly delimit zones Windows for the attic can be quite large and tall A small space requires a minimum amount of furniture
Video: features of attic finishing
The attic space can perform any function, but it is always important at the stage of construction and design of the house to determine the type of construction, parameters and materials for the construction of the attic.
