When choosing a plan for a future home, one of the main questions is to determine the design of the roof and its shape. It is worth paying attention to the designs of houses with a mansard roof, as this option is very rational.
Choosing a project with a mansard roof is a great opportunity to make optimal use of the attic space. And, in general, the attic is a very attractive part of any structure. In such a room, as a rule, there is a lot of light and air.
A floor can rightfully be called an attic floor if it is located on the territory of the attic space, and its facade (partially or even completely) is formed by the surface of a broken or sloping roof.
According to the requirements of building codes, the line of intersection of the roof and the facade should be located at a level of no more than one and a half meters from the floor level of the attic floor.
If these conditions are not met, the room will not be an attic, but simply a used attic.
Advice! The minimum height of a vertical wall must be at least 1.4 meters, in which case a person can sit on a chair against the wall.
It should be noted that mansard roof projects decorate almost any house. Particularly attractive is the attic, to which is attached a canopy in the form of a pergola.
This option is possible if the house has a straight roof with unequal slopes.
In the event that the layout of the interior does not fit into a triangular shape, mansard roofs are chosen, in which there are broken slopes.
The advantage of a house with a mansard roof is that the length of the foundation for it is relatively small. That is, the territory of the site allocated for capital construction is saved.
Thus, such a project modern roofing is the most economical option for obtaining additional living quarters.
So, if there is a house with a non-residential attic, then investing in a roof device will not add a single meter of living space.
If the choice is made in favor of the attic, then the costs, of course, will increase significantly, but the investment will allow you to get an additional floor for equipping residential premises.
Varieties of roofs for the construction of attic floors
The shape of the attic, as a rule, depends on the type of roof. Attic floors can be triangular, broken, asymmetrical, located above the entire house or only above its part.
In what case can a roof with an attic be built?
- A pitched roof is the simplest type of roofing. Such a roof has the form of an inclined plane fixed on load-bearing walls of various heights. This version of the roof is very rarely used for the construction of the attic.
- Gable or gable roof. Such a roof is assembled from two slopes, which are directed in opposite directions. This roof is the most common option for an attic device, as it is easy to install and quite reliable.
- A sloping roof is a subspecies of a gable roof. This version of the roof is often used on small houses, it is perfect for building an attic.
- Hip and half-hip roofs are varieties of hipped roofs. It should be noted that mansard broken hipped roofs make it possible to use the space of attic rooms very efficiently, although the broken silhouette is not as expressive as the classic gable roof.
- Domed, pyramidal and conical roofs are used for buildings with rounded or polygonal outlines. Creating an attic under such a roof is a rather complicated process, but it is quite possible.
Benefits of attics
Modern roof projects with an attic have significant advantages, among them:
- Possibility to increase the area suitable for residential premises;
- Giving the building a beautiful silhouette;
- Increasing building density;
- The ability to expand the area of an already finished and in operation house, and without the need to evict residents;
- Short construction time;
- Relatively low cost (when compared with the construction of a new building).
Varieties of mansard roofs
So, what are the types of mansard roofs?
- Single-level attic in combination with a gable or sloping roof;
- Single-level attic with installation of remote consoles;
- A two-level attic, for the construction of which mixed-type supports were used.
When choosing the type of roof, it is necessary to take into account the type and intensity of loads that will be applied to the coating.
Advice! The simplest design is a triangular shape with a rectilinear outline.
In any case, a roof project with an attic is created on the basis of engineering calculations. In this case, all loads that will be placed on the floor must be taken into account.
As for the style of roofing, then you can make any choice, of course, if it does not contradict the operational and design requirements.
The device of mansard roofs
When planning to build a house with a mansard roof, it is better to entrust the design and installation work to professional engineers and builders.
Without relevant experience, it is extremely difficult to perform such a responsible job without errors. And such errors can result in additional and very significant costs.
When drawing up a project, the layout of the base building, its shape, lines, and roof geometry are necessarily analyzed. If you plan to build mansard roof on an already operated building, an obligatory stage of work is an expert assessment of the state of the foundation and load-bearing walls.
These data are necessary to calculate the loads on the load-bearing structures of the house.
When choosing a building material and a construction scheme, one should proceed from the requirement that the structure should have a minimum weight.
Therefore, mansard roof units, as a rule, are made of wooden beams treated with flame retardants and antiseptics, or a light metal profile. Stone, mortar and other heavy building materials are not used for the construction of attics.
Features of mansard roofs
The following requirements apply to any form of mansard roofs:
- Roof covering should be light. You can use metal tiles, metal sheets, etc.
- Facing inside the premises and the construction of internal partitions is carried out using drywall and light profiles.
- Since the attic is stronger than the main floors, subject to heat loss, it is necessary to carry out roof insulation. As a rule, mineral wool or other effective insulation is used for these purposes. Also, it is necessary to install vapor and waterproofing.
Use of attic floors
It should be noted that in the attic under the roof you can equip any living space. It can be a bedroom, an office, a children's room or a room for installing exercise equipment and sports activities.
And if extensive glazing is provided, then the attic floor can be used as a room for a winter garden.
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