The roof, according to the laws of architecture, must always fit harmoniously into the overall concept of the building. But beauty does not necessarily mean practicality, therefore, the convenience of living in a house largely depends on the owner.
Roof planning
Properly selected coating and type of roof will maximize the use of useful additional area. If high-quality insulation of the attic roof is made, in the future it is possible to turn this space into a utility room, or even a living space.
Popular roof types
- The second floor is an attic.
- Residential second tier and attic roof.
- Residential second floor and mansard roof.
- Combined type.
In most cases, roofs have from two to several slopes. The shed type is found mainly in sheds, sheds and outbuildings. The most popular among small and medium-sized houses can be called a gable variety. According to the design features, the roofs are divided into two main types - separate (attic) and combined (without an attic).
In the first case, between the ceiling and the roof there is a non-residential space - an attic. In the second, the supporting structures play the role of overlapping the upper floor. The angle of inclination of the slopes is different, the larger it is, the more extensive the space under the roofing. Accordingly, the usable area will be easier to use.
What to consider when choosing a design
- Decide on plans for the future. As a rule, attic roofs are equipped for utility space, but then it is possible to complete the room, adapting it to living space.
- If you want to use the attic to your advantage, do not design it to be less than 2.5 meters high.. Above 3.5 meters, too, it is not advisable to do.
- Consider the distance to neighboring buildings. Too high a building near them can at least obscure the area bordering you, and this is fraught with trouble.
Note!
A little trick from the legal side - an attic, with an attic (residential or non-residential), is not regarded by law as a full-fledged second floor.
Therefore, if it is impossible to officially build on another floor, equip an attic space, and the neighbors will not be able to make claims to you.
- Pay attention to windows. It is not necessary to make them standard, you can get by with small sizes, but take quantity. Typically, the instruction recommends making the ratio of window area to floor area as 1/5. You can mount a window in the roof slope, then you can admire the starry sky.
Details about the types of attic roofs
Each type of roof has its pros and cons.
Attic floor
A fairly common type, especially in holiday villages. The usable space is located directly under the roof, and its slopes act as walls. Typically, the height of the roof to the ridge ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 meters, which allows you to create comfortable conditions inside.
But despite the seeming convenience, there are also disadvantages.
- It is possible for an adult to stand at full height inside only in the middle of the room. In the corners, the bevels will not let you straighten up, you will have to bend.
- Standard windows will not suit you, you will have to purchase dormers, the price of which is higher than for conventional counterparts. Their installation will also cost almost twice as much.Of course, this justifies the quality, because the designs use tempered glass and reliable mechanisms. But for a low-budget house, such pleasure is not always permissible.
- Dormer and ventilation windows are also difficult to install, plus a special frame will have to be mounted under them, and this is an additional cost.
- Additional protection against steam and water will be required so that the attic coating does not leak.
- Good insulation is also required. Failure to follow the sequence in laying the "pie" will lead to an early repair, which is not easy to perform in such a room.
- The metal finish will get very hot in summer. This can be prevented by making a rather thick roofing cake (up to 30 cm), due to the insulation. You can use reflective material, but it is quite expensive.
Note!
You will not be able to build a normal second floor in the future without dismantling the attic.
In any case, you will have to invite an architect who will calculate the weight and strength of the frame for a full-fledged additional floor.
A full-fledged second tier with an attic roof
This is a real additional floor, with self-supporting, as well as load-bearing walls, on which the entire roof system rests. The attic in this case, as a rule, is not heated, and the second floor is a living space.
The attic space serves as a layer between the dwelling and the outside world, while its effectiveness will be greatest if the gap has a height of at least 140 cm. The residential floor itself is made with a ceiling height of 2.5 / 3.5 m.
The advantages include the ease of repairing the roof if necessary.You can complete another floor quite quickly by dismantling the roofing system and then restoring it.
Therefore, this type of roof is very popular, despite a number of the following disadvantages.
- The second floor, however, will have to be built by erecting walls. This will increase costs by about 15/20% compared to mansard roof type.
- Care of the attic (ventilation, cleaning of ventilation gaps, maintaining the desired microclimate) is a rather laborious process.
- You will have to make an exit upward in the form of a staircase from the second floor, as well as a hatch. This is quite doable with your own hands, but you can also purchase a ready-made, attic staircase.
Full second floor with mansard roof
This is a combination of the previous varieties. It is a residential second floor with no overlap between the attic and the living space. This significantly reduces the cost of building materials. This design creates a lot of air due to the high ceiling, additional skylights will provide light access to the room. It is possible to use the space to create a rest room, a bedroom, a winter garden and much more. Everything will depend on the design ideas and your wishes. It is worth considering that the second floor, combined with the attic, has a significant mass with a light frame, therefore, the load-bearing walls of the house must be especially strong.
However, there are downsides here as well.
- More energy and heating costs will be spent. You will have to provide heat for a fairly high room, up to the roof mark.
- The subceiling space can no longer be used, it will only serve as an image in the form of a high ceiling.
- For good illumination, it is necessary to buy and install attic window blocks, this will not be cheap.
- An additional spread of the roof is needed to give rigidity and reliability to the overall structure.
Combined variant
It is a hybrid in any combination of all previous types. Let's say you wanted to make an attic roof over the entire building, and over an office or bedroom - a mansard.
This means that a common roofing pie will be made above the first part, and all layers (insulation, vapor barrier, waterproofing, and so on) will be separated above the second. The rafter section in different parts of the roof can also become different.
Note!
In the case of such a roof, a professionally thought-out and executed project is required, taking into account all the nuances of the architectural solution.
You also need to take into account all the quality work roof insulation and insulation.
Roofs of this category are convenient if you have a garage or storage room planned as an extension to the main, two-story house. At the same time, in the main building, the roof will be attic, and above the attached part, attic.
Conclusion
Each type is good and convenient in its own way, but in specific cases. The attic variety is a fairly inexpensive and comfortable option, the attic and combined are the most functional analogues, and the residential second floor combined with the attic is an infrequent, but original solution. Choose based on your preferences and based on circumstances and conditions.
The video in this article will tell a lot of useful things, in it you will receive the most detailed information, as a visual aid.
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