An attic is a significant savings on building materials and work for the construction of a full-fledged second floor, additional living space, an office, a children's or guest room. The attic space is used rationally and does not require special investments for the construction of walls, ceilings and interior decoration.
A private house with an attic is a unique interior design and original appearance. Favorable construction solution in relation to material costs. After all, residential square meters are increasing, and the construction of additional capital walls is not required. Also, savings are obvious if the land is small. The main thing is a properly created project.
Advantages of the attic
The attic adds residential meters to the house, through the use of an additional level. The room can be a great place for a workshop or a smoking room, which are not always appropriate in the main part of the house. Subject to all the necessary technical rules, the attic reduces the heat loss of the building through the roof. The room can be decorated in an interesting, individual style, different from the main composition of the house.
But there are also difficulties. Dormer windows are not cheap, and the angle of inclination and floor beams require an experienced designer's eye, otherwise it will not be a very comfortable room. In addition, with the accumulation of snow drifts, it will not be so easy to clean windows if they are built into a pitched roof. However, there are still more advantages, and technological issues can always be solved.
Features of the construction of a one-story house with an attic
A simple one-story house with an attic can be built both from foam blocks and using bricks or timber. Considering that the roof will be subject to the negative impact of climatic factors from the outside and a certain influence from the inside, it is necessary to take care of high-quality hydro, heat, sound and vapor barrier. Ventilation must be sufficiently functional, for which free space must be left between the thermal insulation and the roof.
Be sure to have a solid truss system. The supporting structure is made of wood or metal profiles (stone and concrete should not be used, this will create a high load on the ceiling). The rafters are placed at an angle of 30-60 degrees.
All elements of the attic must be strong, but light. The roof is best covered with soft or metal tiles, slate sheets. Since metal conducts heat too well, in cold weather the room will not be protected from serious heat loss. It is recommended to use mineral wool as a heater. Finish the fences with drywall. For internal partitions, plywood or drywall sheets are suitable.
Even in small houses, the attic can always be arranged in a very original and stylish way: make windows in the roof, add decorative beams. Projects where the roof has a different angle of inclination (but not less than 38 degrees) look especially advantageous, this allows you to zone the room.
Which attic is better for a private house
How exactly to arrange the attic, what size it should be and what materials will be needed, depends on several factors:
- how many people will live in the room;
- purpose of the attic: office, playroom, bedroom;
- period of operation: year-round or only in the warm season;
- how the roof is designed (gable, domed, half-hip or hip);
- what the building itself is built from (brick house, foam block, cinder block, etc.);
- material used for flooring.
The fastest and easiest will be a single-level attic under a gable roof. A minimum of additional structural elements is required. Gables in this case are used as a place for installing vertical windows.
However, most of the area remains unused, so it is more profitable to equip an attic under a sloping roof. This will complicate the design and construction work, but all the space will be used as efficiently as possible.
The most preferable attic is under a hipped (four-pitched) roof. The design is strong enough, does not deform under the influence of external factors, is resistant to winds and snow. But if the building is very small, it will not work to equip a comfortable attic.
Projects of houses with an attic
The attic can become a decoration of the entire private house or be its functional addition. How the floor will be arranged and located depends on the wishes of the owners and the design of the building itself.
House with a gable roof. The first floor is represented by one large room, all the space above it is reserved for the attic. This is the simplest and most budgetary solution if there is enough light through the windows and no additional daylight sources are required in the roof. The staircase in this case is taken out of the house, which saves space. This option is suitable for a country house without a garage.
House with attic and terrace. It can be considered both as an option for a country holiday, and as a full-fledged residential building. In this case, the terrace does not have to be located on the attic floor. Drawing in the photo below.
But the terrace will also look good as an element of the attic floor.
A fairly simple project to combine an attic over a garage. Ergonomic, convenient, and does not take up extra square meters of land. The ladder can be installed both in the garage and in the main part of the house. In the first case, the owner of the car receives full autonomy, which is important if you rent out a house. But the design of such a building requires the advice of a professional architect in order to correctly distribute the weight on all structural elements.
Mansards in cottages from a bar. Such houses are indispensable for a large family. Or even several couples.
If desired, you can combine everything: an attic above the first floor and a terrace above the garage.
The project might look like this.
Technical requirements for attics
The roof covering should be strong, but light, so it is better to choose ondulin or metal tiles.
The attic tier is more prone to heat loss and condensation, which means that you should not save on heat, waterproofing and good ventilation.
It is preferable to make internal partitions of the attic from drywall, wood and metal profiles in order to reduce the load on the floor.
Whatever material the roof is made of, soundproofing will require a lot of money. Sell cheap and the sounds of rain, wind and falling snow will be heard quite strongly.
The line of intersections of sloping or broken roofs and the facade should be located at a level of about 150 cm relative to the attic floor. With the recommended “half-ceiling” distance of at least 2.5 m for residential premises, in the attic floor the space with such parameters should be 50% or more of the entire room.
In general, an attic can be built in any one-story house, but it is better to design its location in advance, even at the stage of creating a plan for the future building.
Project for a house with an attic and a garage
A beautiful project of a house with an attic and a garage will not be too expensive if you first decide on the construction plan and the necessary quadrature of all rooms.
If you build a house with a total area of 111.9 m 2 and residential - 70.60 m 2, plus a garage - 17.80 m 2, you will need to spend 10-25 thousand rubles on the development of an individual project.
Depending on the purpose, the attic can be built only above the garage or the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe box of the house can be used. What are the projects of one-story houses with an attic, the photo is given below. Ready-made plan with an attic without taking into account the territory allocated for the garage and in the absence of a basement:
Projection of the first floor
Projection of the attic floor
In this case, the entire load falls only on the load-bearing walls of the house box.
The angle of inclination of the roof with such a layout is 42-43 degrees, the height of the ridge is 8.0 m. The size of the attic is 32 m 2, which can be divided into three rooms, a staircase, a bathroom, a pantry and a front room.
Project for a simple one-story house
For a foam block house with an area of 139-140 m 2, without a garage and basement, basements and basements, the attic floor project can look modest and unpretentious, saving free space as much as possible for any purpose.
In small houses, in order to have more additional living space, it is possible to equip an attic space for a comfortable stay both above the box of the house and above the garage. The only exception is vast basements. Then it is better to limit yourself to only that part of the structure where they do not exist.
The device of the truss system for a house made of timber with a gable roof
First of all, the slope of the roof must correspond to the climatic conditions of the region. Where heavy precipitation often falls, the roof should have a sharp slope of 50-80 degrees.
In areas with high intensity winds, on the contrary, sloping roofs are suitable, which will help reduce the pressure on the roof structure.
For truss systems under the attic, it is necessary to install Mauerlats. These are bars 10x10 cm, which ensure the distribution of the load of the roof over the entire surface that it covers. Mauerlats are placed under the rafter leg or installed along the length of the entire building. Wooden structures are usually used, but if the roof is supposed to be made of metal roofing, metal profile Mauerlats must be used.
The cross section of the beam is shown in the photo below.
All that is required to build an attic is to determine the size of the room and its purpose, develop a project, study the necessary materials, their quantity, and you can begin construction.
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Buildings with - a practical and very attractive idea for an individual site. The cost of equipping a residential attic is less than the construction of a full-fledged floor, additional square meters will appear in the house. For a summer cottage, the best option is. 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.
The attic refers to the living space under the roof. The roof for the arrangement of a residential attic must have a double slope, such that the height of the attic space is not less than human height at the highest point.
Important! A high ceiling should occupy at least half of the area. Smaller sizes will cause discomfort in a person.
The outer wall of the 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 inner lining.
Note! The attic in urban planning standards is considered a residential floor.
When building a private house, many owners think about the question: give preference to a full-fledged 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 cheapness of its arrangement. Is it really? The reduction in costs is due to the use of a frame structure of the roof. In practice, the larger the roof and, accordingly, the larger the area of \u200b\u200bthe frame for sheathing, the more profitable the attic.
But it should be remembered, no matter how spacious the attic is, in any case it occupies less usable area than the real floor. It turns out that in order to make the attic room suitable for living, it is necessary to provide for such an area of \u200b\u200bthe first floor that it exceeds the attic at least twice.
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 form an additional burden during construction. And in fact, the savings will not be so significant.
Proponents 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.
Prudent owners do not like it when something goes to waste. Including attic space. Some turn it into a dump of unnecessary things. But in fact, it can accommodate a full-fledged office, workshop, bedroom or even a children's room.
Opponents of such prudence remind that the active exploitation of the space under the roof worsens the condition of the roof structure and greatly complicates its repair.
Expert point of view
Yaroslav Galaiko
Lead Designer and Head of Ecologica Interiors Studio
Ask a Question“Psychologists warn that the low ceilings of the attic make a person feel in a confined space, adversely affecting his psyche. Particularly impressionable natures can even feel suffocation due to low ceilings and sloping walls. It is worth thinking about this fact when planning a children's room in the attic.
Proponents of a full-fledged second floor give the following comparison:
| Attic | Second floor |
|---|---|
|  |
| Limited in layout to inclined structures | Has full layout options |
| Difficulties with arranging full-fledged windows | Lack of problems with the organization of natural lighting |
| The design of the walls and ceiling of the attic does not allow you to easily repair the roof | Maintainability of the roof and simplicity of roof construction |
| The need for complex roofing | Use of a simple shaped roof |
| The need for forced ventilation | Use of natural ventilation |
| Strong room heating on hot days | Preservation of optimal temperature due to the presence of attic space |
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 various layouts. Consider photo projects of houses with attics in more detail.
Related article:
The best projects of houses with an attic: photos with drawings
A good residential building design should take into account many factors:
- the climate of the area in which the construction will be carried out;
- features of the soil and landscape of the site;
- a combination of home decoration with surrounding buildings and terrain;
- organization of 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 specialists of a narrow profile. It is important to consider not only the location of the rooms, but also the features of the placement of engineering networks.
Projects of a small area, 36 - 40 square meters, are suitable for a summer cottage. This space is quite enough to accommodate a kitchen and a spacious living room on the ground floor and two compact bedrooms or an office in the attic. Houses with an area of more than 60 square meters contain a spacious living room, bedroom and kitchen on the ground floor and rooms on the second.
For large houses, it would be ideal to build a terrace, which can be accessed from the attic floor. From the top there will be a magnificent view of nature.
Idea! If the house is intended for year-round use, part of the roof can be glazed and the area can be used for a winter garden.
Country house with an attic: layout 6x6
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.
If the cottage is needed only for a seasonal visit, 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 project of a house with an attic 6x6:
- maximum use of each centimeter of area;
- the number of people visiting the house at the same time;
- age of family members;
- frequency of visiting the suburban area.
When planning a 6 by 6 house with an attic, it is important to use all the space with maximum benefit. Traditionally, in the center there is a spacious living room with access to the bathroom and kitchen. All these rooms will completely occupy the first floor. In order not to be crowded, they select compact furniture.
The kitchen should have two entrances: from the room and from the yard. Table setting in the summer gazebo will be greatly simplified, and it will be easier to cook on a hot day by opening wide the exit to the garden.
In this option, they are located in the attic. Here you can make two full bedrooms for the owners and children.
For a bathroom, four square meters is enough. If the cottage is visited only in summer, an outdoor shower can be arranged in the yard. Those who like to take a steam bath put a bathhouse on the site. If you do not provide a shower or bathroom 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 (projects 6x6) do not provide for internal stairs. They are placed outside. This technique also saves a lot of space. For storage of things in the house, compact mezzanines should be provided.
Here is an approximate plan of a house with an attic 6 by 6:
The specifics of the layout of houses 9 by 9 with an attic: photos of successful solutions
The house with a total area of eighty square meters is a popular project. Builders note that this project has an optimal ratio of costs and comfort of living. The classic layout includes a bedroom, a kitchen, a living room and a bathroom on the ground floor and two or three more rooms in the attic. They can be used as additional bedrooms or organize an office, a creative workshop and a spacious wardrobe in them.
Another option for arranging rooms is in the layout of the house 8 by 10 with an attic. Photo example of such a layout:
What you should know about planning 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 live in such a house permanently. There is a place for separate rooms for children, a bedroom for parents, an office, 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 compact placement on the site. But this is just the case when the external impression is deceptive.
There is enough space not only for placing bathrooms on each floor, but even for organizing or bathing right in the house. A convenient ladder with a wide passage will allow you to easily lift bulky furniture.
In such a house, a separate room for the boiler is usually provided. If the foam block house has a basement, a laundry room, heating appliances, a pantry for storing inventory and home seams are located here.
Layout example:
Related article:
In the article, we will consider in detail what are the advantages of these structures, types of technologies, average construction prices, original projects, 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. Inclined ceiling planes partially hide the total area, but you can use them to stylishly decorate the room.
Projects of small houses with an attic usually involve placing a bedroom on the second floor. In the country version, it is logical to use natural wood trim.
If the attic occupies a significant area, the task is simplified. Niches between rafters can be used as zoning elements. In one - to place a bed, in the other - a desktop by the window or a sofa for relaxation. The issue of placing a children's room on the attic floor should be approached especially carefully.
If an office is located in the attic, it is important to consider lighting.
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.
Tips for building a one-story house with an attic: photos of original ideas
The arrangement of a residential attic is most often concerned about the owners of small country cottages. Before deciding on such a project, ask to stay with your friends, owners of a similar design. Do you suddenly feel claustrophobic or, on the contrary, find yourself under the impression of attic windows through which you can watch the clouds?
Here, if desired, you can place a wardrobe, a creative workshop, a boiler room, a gym.
Here are options for organizing attic space:
Especially in demand with a garage and an attic. This layout is extremely convenient. Especially this option will be appreciated by residents of the northern regions, who know what it is 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 much higher than outside. And the car itself will be reliably protected from all the vagaries of the weather.
What do projects of houses with an attic of foam blocks look like?
Projects of houses with an attic made of foam blocks, the photos of which are presented to you, are very popular with 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 building such a structure is lower than the cost of building a brick house.
The embodiment and synonym of home comfort for many is a comfortable country cottage. And if an attic and a terrace are attached to the house, then this is just a dream of a real romantic. If in the old days the attic space was not at all considered elite and served as a warehouse, now modern attics in country houses are being equipped according to exclusive design projects.
Such buildings will be an excellent option for owners of small plots. By making a floor under the roof, you get additional living space, which means that you need a smaller place for the foundation.
photos
In addition, the attic floor and the terrace will help to “unload” the room functionally, as you can use these additional meters for games, feasts, gatherings with friends or storing clothes.
Peculiarities
Why do summer residents, as a rule, choose the projects of houses with a veranda and an attic? Such a covered structure is not only good for outdoor meetings, but also provides additional shade. In addition, on the terrace in rain or heat, you can carry out various daily activities or prepare in the fall.
In the view of the summer resident, it is the presence of a terrace or attic that adds coziness to a country cottage. Meanwhile, not every project is as easy to do as it looks in the drawings and diagrams. Of great importance here will be practical experience in designing complex, from a geometric point of view, structures.
An important feature of the attic is a pointed roof, the ceilings of which hang over the head of a person standing inside. In order to be comfortable in the attic area, the height of the ceilings at the highest point should be at least 2-2.5 meters. And the steeper the angle of the slope, the easier it will be under the roof. The way out of this situation can also be a sloping roof, which will free up the maximum space of the attic.
Houses with an attic and a terrace differ from the usual ones not only in their design features and unusual architecture, but also in their “stuffing”. Since the floor under the roof is subject to temperature changes, it is especially carefully insulated and insulated both from the inside and outside. As for the interior decoration, it is a free layout with a minimum of partitions. And the role of zoning may well be played by lighting, of which there should be a lot in the attic. Originally, you can beat the windows of an unusual shape.
As for the features of the terrace, it is better to combine its construction with the construction of a house so that there is a single foundation. And if you attach a veranda later, pay special attention to the quality of the fastening of the walls - so that the base does not crack when the terrace shrinks, and the walls do not diverge.
Advantages and disadvantages
Houses with an attic and a terrace have both advantages and disadvantages, pay attention to this when planning a building.
The pros are as follows:
- the attic makes the interior more original;
- high functionality of the attic space;
- opportunity to save on building materials;
- reduction of heat loss through the roof;
- the possibility of arranging non-residential premises.
Among the shortcomings can be noted:
- inaccurate compliance with construction technology can lead to condensation and the presence of moisture in the attic room;
- the complex geometry of the attic and, accordingly, the considerable cost of custom-made windows, which, moreover, should be many if you want to end up building a sunny attic, and not a gloomy attic.
Projects
Projects of ready-made country cottages with an attic and a terrace, in principle, allow the use of different styles and layouts. Attic-type buildings are built of wood, brick, timber, foam blocks. There are also stone houses and cottages built according to Finnish technology (they are compact and at the same time economical and practical in organizing living space).
It is by including the attic in the general plan that it is possible to increase the internal volume of the premises.. And the additional extension of the terrace will not only increase the usable area of the house, but also make the design unique and inimitable.
If you plan to use the terrace during the cold season, think over the heating system for the extension. Of course, verandas without heating will cost less, but you won’t be able to make a living room or a winter garden on them. Such open terraces will serve for summer gatherings.
Each professionally made country house project takes into account the following factors:
- climatic features;
- features of the soil and landscape (for example, a house is located on a flat area or on a slope);
- options for combining home design with the environment;
- the possibility of organizing the most convenient space, taking into account the age of family members and their individual characteristics.
Even at the design stage of the cottage, the location of rooms, engineering networks and all communications is thought out. As a budget option, as a rule, a house project with an attic and a veranda measuring 6x6 square meters is chosen. m. This area and 2-3 floors is enough to accommodate all the necessary living quarters. For such a house, it is preferable to make a sloping attic roof so that the room under the roof is more spacious.
Compact and small country house 6x6 sq. m includes everything you need: living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Such a project implies that you will receive not 36, but at least 50 square meters. m usable area. And if this is not enough, then you can always make an extension or convert the existing terrace into a living space. In the center there is a living room with access to the kitchen, and separate bedrooms for adults and children - in the attic.
In order not to be crowded in such a mini-house, buy folding furniture that will help save maximum usable space.
You can also choose a rectangular house project 6x8 square meters. m, when the facade is designed on the longer side. This is necessary so that the attic does not turn into a "tunnel" and acquires a large width. The terrace is designed from the front side of the building, which is well lit.
In a house measuring 9x9 square meters. m even more opportunities for planning functional premises. The kitchen and dining room can be combined with the living room. A small hallway leads to the bedroom and bathroom. And in the attic floor you can place a bedroom, a gym, a nursery, a wine cellar, a dressing room or a relaxation room - in general, what you need most of all.
For an oblong house with dimensions of 8x10 square meters. m is characterized by the placement of living rooms along the corridor. The advantage of such a project is that there will be a bedroom on both floors, which means that you will be provided with a place for guests to relax.
Spacious house 10x10 sq. m will be an ideal solution for a large family with children. There are several bathrooms, as well as a spacious dining room and kitchen. In the attic, you can place several zones at once: a bedroom, a nursery, a dressing room or a guest room.
The terrace in all projects is attached to the house or is planned initially on a common foundation. It depends on the method of its fencing and the presence of a roof. If you want to use the terrace for cooking (for example, barbecue or barbecue), it is worth making a common foundation that will be durable and withstand the maximum load. If the terrace space is planned to be used for recreation, games, or will perform a purely aesthetic function of decorating the house, then you can get by with a simple and light wooden structure on piles or poles.
Of course, standard projects are cheaper than exclusive and personal ones, but with individual orders, designers and architects provide for all sorts of nuances that will improve the quality of life outside the city, for example, equipping special comfortable stairs for the elderly or equipping a luxurious winter garden on the terrace or in the attic.
materials
Now let's talk about the materials used for construction.
Wood
The most popular and environmentally friendly version of a country house among our compatriots is made of wood. Wood is a safe and even healthy material, but rather difficult to use.. It is necessary to carefully observe not only the technology of building a house, but also take care of the special processing of wood with compounds that protect it from external influences.
A wooden house is an ideal choice for the northern regions of the country, because this material perfectly retains heat, so you don’t even need to build an additional fireplace. The only drawback is that when building an eco-house, you will have to wait six months due to the shrinkage of the log house, and only then you can start finishing work.
Of the advantages of wooden construction, we also note that the tree absorbs moisture, and when the air is too dry, on the contrary, it releases it. Therefore, an ideal microclimate for the human body will reign in a wooden house. And there is no need to talk about the coniferous smell - it is healing for those who have problems with the lungs, and it is also a simple disease prevention for healthy people.
Such material is also suitable for those who are allergic to dust, because the tree does not accumulate it.
Frame elements
The frame version is suitable for small and simple, in terms of architectural solutions, houses. Frame elements are easy to assemble, so it will take you a minimum of time to build a country house. Domestic companies produce frames made of wood and metal, ready-made or in the form of a collapsible structure. And the walls of such structures are made of PVC, chipboard and insulation. Thus, with minimal financial and time costs, you will receive a mini-house for a good rest in the bosom of nature.
Brick
Among the advantages of such a building material as brick, we note its reliability and durability - the service life of such a house will be at least 100 years, and even more with careful use. A brick house is durable, fireproof and resistant to negative environmental influences.
Nowadays, more and more country houses are being built according to the drawings, which provide for an attic. In order to competently complete the arrangement of the attic, it is necessary to foresee which rooms will be located in it.
Attic floor design and interior design project
It could be:
- bedroom;
- cabinet;
- miniature hotel;
- children's room;
- gym.
For each such room, a specific project is drawn up, which is then embodied in the drawing. Some owners of country houses download such drawings from the Internet absolutely free. Moreover, these materials provide detailed information. Each such room of a country house must have powerful lighting. To supply fresh air, the project drawings provide for built-in ventilation. Large windows are installed for natural light.
In principle, the area of the attic floor can be very different. It all depends on the size of the house. However, one rule remains common: regardless of the area of \u200b\u200bthe houses, the attic floor should not go beyond the base building.
Detailed scheme of the design of the attic
The layout of the attic floor can be very different. Each such room has its own design and configuration. You can make such a layout for free with the help of special planning programs. They will help you with all your requirements.
Reasons for building an attic
Such popularity of attic projects in the construction of country houses is due to a number of characteristic reasons.
The layout of the attic allows you to slightly increase the available living space, while seriously saving free space. When an attic floor is indicated on the drawing instead of an attic, this means that heat loss will be seriously reduced in a house made of timber. Typically, heat escapes through the roof, which is 10%. To get a free project of an attic room in a log house, it is enough to download from the Internet a complete set of necessary drawings. 
Subject to the technological process of construction in the house of the attic floor, the cost of repairing the roof is much reduced.
- thermal insulation;
- vapor barrier;
- waterproofing.
Since the attic floor has the largest area of contact with the outside world, it needs a roof that has the highest quality thermal insulation.
Detailed attic insulation scheme
You can read about the types of thermal insulation for free on Internet sites. On the pages of the Web, you can get acquainted with the varieties of heat-insulating material for a house made of timber.
In recent years, the owners of private houses are trying to create an attic. Changes are taken into account in the design documentation, appropriate adjustments are made to. If the house was bought old, with a regular attic, the new owners are rebuilding it. For such work, it is necessary to create drawings that show the arrangement of the attic.
What should be shown on the drawing
Of course, each alteration of the layout requires accurate reflection in the drawings. If the project has a detailed drawing, reflecting all the nuances, it becomes much easier to estimate the necessary construction costs. In order for the construction of the attic to be done correctly, you must first calculate the design of the rafters. How to make such a calculation, you can see for free in the reference literature presented on the pages of specialized sites.
Specially developed building codes prescribe specific dimensions of the beam, depending on two parameters:
- step;
- length.
Most suitable for a sloping roof with two slopes. For it, the required number of rafters is made from a bar, which are installed inside, relying on the load-bearing internal walls of the house. Otherwise, the roof may not be very reliable.
Drawing of a gable attic
For the attic, especially when the house is very old, the construction of a Mauerlat is required. It is made at the base of the roof, passing the entire perimeter of the house. Such a closed design will reduce the pressure on the walls. This is of great importance if hanging rafters are used. In this case, the rafters should form a kind of triangle, leaning at one end into the transverse beam, and at the other into the Mauerlat.
All changes in the project must be reflected in the drawing. The new rafter system should be clearly shown, the section of the rafter beam should be indicated.
A separate drawing shows the device of the ventilation system. An ordinary attic with insulation has ventilation that is not suitable for an attic floor. Attic ventilation should provide air circulation in such a way that the room is never stuffy, so that it is not blown by strong winds.
What should an attic layout look like?
The design of the roof dictates the future layout of the room.
Layout of a two-level attic
The usable floor area depends on the shape of the roof. For example, the side bevel of the roof will need to be separated by a partition. It is very difficult to move freely in such a space. Therefore, it has a slight advantage. Such an attic has only one sidewall, which will make it possible to increase the size of the usable area.
However, the height of the ceiling will limit the freedom of movement, you will need to bend down all the time. The slope facing north is considered ideal. Unfortunately, this doesn't always work out. An excellent option is considered a gable roof, which has a broken shape. It is distinguished by a lower, very steep slope. In such an attic, the area increases, its layout becomes much simpler.
On the attic floor, you can optionally equip a living room. Attics with a slight roof slope look much more comfortable. They are best suited for bedroom arrangement. On such an area you can arrange an office.
Interior and design of an attic office
The highest point of the attic ceiling must necessarily exceed 220 cm. This will allow anyone to move around in the room without tilting their heads. When arranging a bedroom, it is better to place a bed in the attic next to the slope. In this place, the height of the room should exceed 180 cm. With a sharp rise from the bed at such a height, a head hit on the ceiling is excluded.
When planning the attic interior, it is necessary to take into account several important nuances in the project:
To begin with, it is worth understanding what an attic is and how it differs from an attic. Both of these rooms in the house are located under the roof. Many often confuse them, because they do not see the difference. The attic floor is the last in the house, it is located directly under the roof, but is designed for people to live at any time of the year. It must be insulated, supplied with electricity, water and heating. The facades of the attic and attic are completely or partially formed by the roof. The main difference between the premises and the second or third floor in a cottage or a country house is the height of the walls. It means the distance from the floor to the intersection of the facade with the roof. It should not exceed 1.5 m, according to the conditions prescribed in SNiP. If the height is a little more, then this is already a full-fledged floor.
The attic is a cold, non-residential area. It can be equipped for summer holidays, but it is not possible to winter in such a room. Usually in attics they equip storages of unnecessary things. However, the practice of warehousing trash is gradually fading away. If the room is intended for the location of communications, a boiler room, engineering equipment, then the attic is called a technical floor. They are more common in apartment buildings. Another important difference between the attic and the attic is the presence of large windows, sometimes even built into the roof. For non-residential premises, lighting is not of great importance. Projects of houses with an attic can be purchased ready-made from design bureaus. The only way to get a free plan is to prepare it yourself, which will require a certain amount of knowledge. Let's talk about the design features of the attic floors, options for their arrangement and popular styles that embody under the roofs of houses.
Features of attic floors
The project of a house with an attic is ideal for those who want to use the area of the building to the maximum. In this respect, the additional living space is similar to the basement. Previously, basements were used exclusively for storing trash and equipment. Now basements are equipped with game rooms, home cinemas, garages, saunas or laundries (as in typical American houses). It is impossible to build an attic without a plan-drawing. Everyone can really cope with construction work, although even here they often turn to companies that practice the construction of turnkey facilities. But to correctly calculate the loads on the foundation, think over the location of all structural elements, calculate the consumption of materials, only a professional who has experience and a baggage of specialized knowledge can do it.
Before construction, several draft sketches are prepared - in section and from different viewpoints, and at the same time indicate the scale. The drawing must mark the location of window openings, staircase-entrance, communication lines, indicate the shape and indicate the dimensions. The most popular configuration among attics is rectangular or square. A simple task seems only in words. Getting down to business, the layman is lost and does not even know where to start. The attic attracts with an abundance of light and fresh air. Its outer "box" includes two components:
- Vertical (frontal) walls. They are usually made from the same material as the facade of the house, as they are its logical continuation.
- Inclined wall (side). It “starts” from a vertical surface (attic wall), and then the roof truss system serves as its frame. The roof acts as the outer skin of the ceiling. To increase the attic area, change the angle of the roof and increase the height of the attic walls.
In log houses, vertical walls are built of wood. If the building is brick, then brick is also used for the attic. Sometimes vertical walls are sheathed with decorative materials to match the rest of the facade. This is necessary in cases where it is necessary to update the exterior in order to fit it into the landscape design of the summer cottage, or when the building itself has an unsightly appearance. For example, it was erected from expanded clay concrete, gas silicate, expanded clay, cinder blocks or gas blocks. Such materials have an unattractive appearance and are necessarily masked under a layer of finishing. For these purposes, use porcelain stoneware, siding, decorative panels "under the brick" or stone. Sometimes the outside walls are trimmed with wood. The material looks very beautiful, but it is less practical than more durable counterparts. Insulation becomes a prerequisite for arranging an attic. Part of the task of keeping the heat in the room lies with the decorative cladding that protects the walls from the outside. Inside, they are covered with heat and vapor barrier, between the layers of which mineral wool and polystyrene are placed. Then communications are carried out and finishing is carried out. Further, the design and distribution of functional areas on the attic floor, furniture placement, and decoration come into play.
There is also such a thing as a half-attic. This is originally a residential floor, which is combined with the roof. The design has expressive architecture and original appearance. The semi-mansard floor is also used for permanent residence. The height of its walls does not exceed 0.8 m.
Advantages and disadvantages of houses with an attic
The attic floor has both a number of advantages and a small list of disadvantages. The advantages include the following aspects:
- If the arrangement of the attic was not originally included in the plans during the construction of the house, then due to it the living area can be increased even without leaving the dacha or cottage. The construction will proceed on its own, and the rest of the rooms can still be used, that is, the construction is carried out independently. This practice is quite common when the family grows and housing becomes too cramped over time. This, perhaps, is the main advantage of the additional mezzanine.
- Properly equipped attic will help reduce the heat loss of the building. This will lead to a reduction in the load on the heating system and more economical energy consumption.
- The original architectonics of the ceiling is ideal for unusual modern trends, where the configuration is the basis of the composition.
- The best insolation. Since the attic is a priori higher than any other room in the house, it receives more light. If the windows are built into the roof, then the sun's rays enter the room directly even at noon.
- The attic opens up wide possibilities for space planning. Initially, the floor does not have internal walls, so the decision on the placement of rooms, their dimensions (width and length) is made only by the owners of the house. The layout does not require the demolition of partitions or significant changes. You can create zoning literally from scratch.
- Good ventilation. The height at which the attic is located contributes to rapid air exchange.
The disadvantages include the following factors:
- The need for air conditioning in hot summers. The roof heats up very quickly and gives off heat to the attic, located closer to the rest of the rooms. Unfortunately, in hot weather, in the absence of air conditioning, there will be a real “steam room”, like in a bathhouse.
- Some psychologists believe that not having a traditional "smooth" ceiling over their heads, many people may experience discomfort. The complex architecture of a sloping roof looks very unusual and beautiful, however, an excessive pile of details can really cause irritation over time. The configuration is easy to correct with the help of a special finish, decor, color scheme.
- The high cost of special skylights, which will have to be bought for spacious rooms, where openings on the gables alone will not be enough.
- With mistakes in construction, decoration, thermal insulation, you can get a “cold” attic, which even the most powerful heating boiler will not save in winter.
- The accumulation of snow in winter on the glass of skylights, which will create an obstacle for light to enter the room.
- No type of soundproofing will completely eliminate rain "rustles" - the sounds of drops colliding with the roof. And it does not matter what type of coating is chosen (soft or hard). Although psychologists believe that the sound of water has a healing, calming effect, sometimes it can be very annoying.
By the way, another advantage can be considered simplicity when placing a fireplace or stove. Furnace heating can also be considered as an option. So it will be possible to save on the consumption of other resources (gas, electricity) and create comfortable conditions in the attic in the winter with the help of "live fire" from coal or firewood.
Attic floor device
To properly plan, you need to consider a number of the following factors:
- Living space. Its dimensions directly depend on the type of roof. Some varieties create too many zones that cannot be used appropriately. The hip roof is considered the most economical option. Its truss system, in contrast to the gable system, allows you to use every meter of the attic without "deaf" zones.
- Budget. If it is very modest, then you will have to be content with a shed roof, as it is one of the cheapest options.
- Snow and wind load. Precipitation should slide freely from the roof, and not accumulate on it. In this case, slope matters. If it is calculated incorrectly, then precipitation will create an additional load on the roof, which it may not withstand.
- Choosing the right material for the truss system. Many mistakenly believe that wood falls under the taboo. In fact, SNiP allows the use of a tree if it has been properly processed beforehand. Here, the condition regarding the maximum height of the building is also observed - no more than 75 m, that is, an increased number of storeys. Of course, for private households, such figures are considered sky-high. On average, even for every three-story house there are more than twenty ordinary one-story buildings.
- Condition of the foundation and facade. It takes into account not only the material from which the house was built, but also the terms of its operation, additional loads, general appearance (presence of cracks or other damage). Based on this, a specific truss system and material for the roof are chosen.
- Loads on the walls of the house and the foundation. Some types of roofs (single-pitched) distribute loads unevenly, that is, one side of the building may need to be further strengthened. Without knowledge in this area, it is easy to make a mistake that threatens to turn into a collapse.
All these nuances must be taken into account when designing an attic. Additional floors with bay windows or terraces look luxurious. In the second case, the home has access to the open air overlooking the courtyard, securely protected by a canopy. Such verandas are sometimes glazed. Bay windows most often repeat similar protrusions on the lower floors in shape.
roof trusses
A truss truss is a truss system on which a roof is supported. In fact, this is the “backbone”, the skeleton of the attic, on which layers of roofing, thermal insulation, communication lines, and interior decoration are “put on”. The truss truss consists of a number of components, the competent combination of which allows you to evenly distribute the load on the load-bearing walls of the house:
- Mauerlat. It is a log or beam, which is laid on a load-bearing wall. In fact, this is the "foundation" of the truss truss.
- Skate and side runs. These are beams that are horizontal. The first is placed directly under the ridge, and the rest are slightly lower, perpendicular to the rafter "legs".
- Struts, struts, diagonal connections - a system of communicative elements.
- Overhead and hanging rafters.
Since the loads on the mansard roof are quite large, the truss truss must have a margin of safety. It provides a high-quality connection between the individual components of the system. Most often, bolts, screws, welding or the groove-comb type are used for these purposes. The frame scheme of the truss truss is chosen depending on the type of roof that will cover the attic floor. Also take into account the distance between the outer load-bearing walls. If it does not exceed the value of 6.5 m, then layered rafters are chosen. In other cases, resort to hanging supports. They are mounted on a puff and on a Mauerlat. If necessary, the structure is reinforced with additional connecting links.
Roof construction
The shape of the attic directly depends on the type of roof. The additional floors themselves can be rectangular, broken, triangular, asymmetric. Attics can be located above the entire house or only above part of it. Roofs, depending on the shape, are classified into the following types:
- Shed.
- Gable.
- Tri-slope.
- Dome (conical, pyramidal).
- Four-slope.
Tri-slope and domed in the attic are very rare due to the complex architecture. The former were popular back in Tsarist Russia, when the exquisite design of the house was an indicator of the family's prosperity. Domed ones are a very complex structure with no less "tangled" truss truss. Greenhouses in wealthy mansions used to be hidden under round roofs made of transparent materials. Judging by the sophistication of architecture, such a roof is a grandiose structure, impressive and eye-catching. From a material point of view, such construction will be very expensive, and therefore is not always justified. Four-sided are classified into four subspecies:
- Hip.
- Tent.
- Half hip
- Hip-pediment.
In the tent ridge is completely absent. Attics under the roofs of the three remaining types have a broken architectonics, which is not as pronounced as in gable roofs. For this reason, this nuance can be attributed to advantages, not disadvantages.
Shed
The design of a shed roof is considered the simplest. The roof is fixed on the load-bearing walls at an angle. This roof architecture is laconic and even borders on primitivism. For single-sided options, the angle of inclination is of great importance. If it is calculated incorrectly, then precipitation will accumulate, and the load on the roof will increase. Mansards under shed roofs are not equipped very often. The room will have an asymmetrical shape due to the different heights of the opposite walls. On the other hand, windows that look very neat and consistent in the same row are easily integrated into a pitched roof.
gable
Gable or gable roofs are quite easy to install and are considered a classic option for arranging attic floors. As the name implies, such structures have two slopes that intersect at the top and abut against the ridge. Both planes "look" in different directions. Gable roofs are classified into three subspecies:
- Symmetrical. The slopes diverge at the same angles and are mirror images of each other. The pediment has a simple configuration of an isosceles triangle, and the ridge is located in the center of the structure.
- Asymmetrical. The ridge of such roofs is displaced relative to the conventional center of the house. The slopes are of equal length. Sometimes they are also called: "offset ridge" roofs.
- With broken slopes. This type of roof was specially designed for attics and attics. Broken slopes allow you to increase the area of \u200b\u200bthe under-roof space.
The most popular version of a gable roof is a “convex” one with broken slopes. The ridge is located strictly in the center, and the pediment has the shape of an irregular but symmetrical pentagon.
Roof selection
The range of roofing materials is truly amazing. If earlier they managed with traditional slate laid on roofing material, now the layman's eyes run wide at the sight of a wide choice. Depending on the rigidity, materials are classified into two types:
- Soft (bituminous tiles).
- Rigid (slate, metal tile).
When choosing a material, also pay attention to the configuration of the roof. Not every type of roof is suitable for complex, broken structures. The most durable and beautiful option will be natural tiles, which are made from clay by firing. The material will be very expensive, but the service life - more than 150 years - fully pays for the cost. The second place in popularity is shared by asbestos-cement slate and metal tiles. The first is a mixture of a cement base with asbestos reinforcing fibers. Although many competitors have emerged in recent years, it still occupies a leading position in the market. Slate can be flat or wavy. Its classic color is gray, but some manufacturers color the material in bright shades. The average service life of slate is 30 years. Metal tile is an imitation of the ceramic material of the same name, made of galvanized steel, which is covered with a protective polymer film on both sides. The texture and coloring of the material mimics the original in detail. The average service life of a metal tile is 15 years. It is fireproof, easy to install, durable and inexpensive. Slightly less popular are ondulin, corrugated steel sheets and piece composite, slate, bituminous, cement-sand tiles. For roofs of complex configuration, it is better to use soft roofing material.
Windows and how to open them
On the attic floors, both ordinary vertical windows (built into gables) and special inclined windows are used. They are located on the roof. Windows are called "mansard" windows. They literally look "at the sky" and give an indescribable feeling during the rain or starry nights when you can fall asleep admiring the magnificent landscape. They are distinguished by the type of opening. The usual tilt or turn-and-turn mechanism is not found in skylights. The only exception will be the "hatches" in the roof. Due to the specifics of the location (at an angle), more often such double-glazed windows are equipped only with folding or sliding systems. Panoramic windows located on the gables look luxurious in the attics. There are also miniature "balconies" equipped with a folding mechanism. They open access to a small porch with a fence, a kind of mini-terrace.
