How to make a mansard roof of various types - rafter schemes. Insulation, vapor barrier and waterproofing of the attic and its construction with drawings and visual photos

There is the only real opportunity to inexpensively increase the living square meters of a private house. It is in the attic to organize an attic. In this article we will talk about how to properly build an attic so that it is inexpensive. We will analyze two options: when a house with an attic is already in operation, when a house is just being built. Let's consider the entire technological chain: from the choice of materials to the finishing of new premises.

Rules for organizing an attic in an old house

What is an attic. This is under the roof of the house. That is, there is nothing above it, except for the roof structure. Therefore, the attic can be organized in any attic, regardless of what type of roof it is located under. The main task is to create all the conditions for a comfortable stay in the attic room. That is, it should be not only beautiful and comfortable, but warm in winter and cool in summer, not to mention the presence of the necessary communication networks.

To make an attic on an old wooden or brick house, you need to think carefully about everything. Firstly, it is necessary to solve the issue of constructing a solid floor with laying a floor base. Secondly, the issue of roof insulation. These are the two main tasks. After that, you can engage in the laying of heating systems, plumbing and sewerage, install air conditioning, and carry out the finishing of new premises.

Floors in the attic

If we are talking about a wooden house, then the floors in it are formed by load-bearing beams from timber, on which boards are stuffed. Wooden flooring must be insulated. The same design is often found in brick houses. But in most cases, concrete floor slabs are used with brick buildings, which are also insulated.

How to quickly make floors in the attic along the floor beams.

On the laid beams along their lower edges, the so-called tiled bars.

across at them stacking boards close to each other.

Laying waterproofing film, which will perform the functions of protecting the insulation from moist air vapor emanating from the rooms of a private house.

Between the beams on the waterproofing layer lay insulation(mineral wool or polystyrene foam boards).

over the beams lay the vapor barrier.

Top across installing plank floor from grooved boards. You can use plywood or OSB boards, on which the flooring (laminate, linoleum, tile, etc.) will subsequently be laid.

The main task of the manufacturer of works is to make the floor even, durable, and heat-resistant.

If the floor of the house is reinforced concrete slabs, then the insulation is carried out in the following order. It all depends on what thermal insulation material will be used. For example, expanded clay:

overlap leveled with concrete screed small thickness (3-5 cm);

after drying of the latter, the entire area of ​​​​the floor base covered with waterproofing film in the form of strips, which I overlap with each other with an offset of 10-15 cm and are closed with adhesive tape;

around the perimeter of the attic stack the bars section 70x70 or 100x100 mm, they are attached to the concrete floor with anchors;

in the longitudinal or transverse direction stack the same bars with a step of 1-1.5 m;

into the resulting cellular structure expanded clay falls asleep medium or fine fraction;

on top the crate is covered vapor barrier membrane;

on top of the heat-insulating cake along the laid bars boarded floor or slab, sheet material.

If slab heat-insulating materials are used as a heater, then everything is done in exactly the same way. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the tight pressing of the insulation boards to the elements of the floor crate so that there are no cold bridges.

Roof insulation

If the roof truss system, the crate and the roofing material itself are in good technical condition, then the issue of building an attic in the country is simplified to a minimum. What do I need to do:

first of all, all wooden elements of the roof structure processed first antiseptic composition after drying flame retardant;

on rafter legs vapor barrier film is laid so that it exactly repeats the configuration of the rafter legs, as shown in the photo below;

then between the rafters lay insulation, in the photo below this is also clearly visible, the main thing is the tight pressing of the material to the ends of the rafter legs;

over two stacked materials stretch waterproofing film;

after which the whole structure covered with slab or sheet material, for example, it can be drywall, plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB and so on.

On our website you can find the most . In the filters, you can set the desired direction, the presence of gas, water, electricity and other communications.

Construction of an attic superstructure

So, if a new house is being built or the roof of the old one does not meet modern operating requirements, then it is possible to build an attic superstructure, as they say, “from scratch”. What does that require. First of all, the project. You can't just buy building materials and start building. The attic is not a heavy structure, but this does not mean that it should be treated with a lesser degree of responsibility.

It is better to order the project to professionals who will take into account the bearing capacity of the walls of the building, foundation and other building structures. And on the basis of this, they will create a project that will guarantee that the old or new house with an attic will serve faithfully for more than a dozen years.

Installation of the attic begins with laying the mauerlat on the walls of the house. This is a beam with a section of 150x200 or 200x200 mm. It is attached to the walls with anchors that were previously installed in the reinforcing belt. The latter is poured along the outer walls of a private house. How it turns out in the end result is very clearly visible in the photo below.

Attic projects

The first construction work has been completed. It is carried out regardless of what configuration the attic was planned by the project. As mentioned above, living quarters can be organized under any roof. For example, the photo below shows an attic under a pitched roof. It would seem that this is not a very good example, but such projects exist, which means that this confirms that you can live under roofs of any configuration.

And yet there is one design, which is called the attic. She has a broken roof, which you will not confuse with any other.

Construction of a classic mansard roof

This type of roof has two slopes, divided into two parts. The first upper part is with a small angle of inclination, that is, sloping, the other lower part is with a large inclination, that is, steep. This is the main difficulty in building an attic superstructure on an old house or a new one.

This problem is solved like this:

The project must have exactly stated fracture site.

It is in this place that it is laid from wall to wall roof beam. There will be two of them for each kink.

Along every beam vertical racks are installed, which determine the useful height of the attic room. Usually it is within 2.5-3.0 m. The cross section of the beams is at least 100x100 m, the installation step is within 1.5-2.0 m. Two beams are installed along the Mauerlat between the floor beams.

Along the top of the beams a strapping is made from a beam section 100x100 mm. Strapping is done not only around the perimeter of the installed racks, but also between them in the transverse direction. The frame of the attic was formed in the form of a box of racks.

In the middle of the transverse elements of the upper trim install short poles, forming the upper slopes of the roof. The longer the racks, the steeper the slopes.

Installed on racks horizontal ridge run.

Mount rafter legs gentle slopes. With their upper edges they rest against the ridge beam, with their lower edges against the upper trim of the structure.

form steep lower attic slopes. Rafters are also installed here, which with their upper edges abut against the upper trim of the attic structure, and with the lower edges against the Mauerlat.

Video description

The video shows in detail how to build a classic mansard roof:

So, the frame of the attic structure is ready. It remains to form the floors of the room, conduct insulation and cover the roof with roofing material. And then move on to the finishing touches.

How to make insulated floors - has already been described above. How to insulate a mansard roof too. But there is one point here that facilitates the implementation of thermal insulation measures for the roof structure. The thing is that the roof has not yet been covered, which means that it is better to lay the vapor barrier membrane on top of the truss system.

The photo below shows this very well:

across the rafters install vapor barrier strips, which are attached to them with small nails or steel staples using a stapler;

over insulation and rafters mount rails, which will perform the functions of a counter-lattice. Its task is to create a ventilated gap between the heat-insulating cake and the roofing material in order to remove moist air vapors that have leaked through the insulation;

along the counter-lattice across the rafters lay the crate;

carry out installation of roofing material.

Other operations: laying insulation and waterproofing is carried out from the inside of the attic.

Scheme of assembly of insulated mansard roof Source valenteshop.ru

Formation of gables

This is an important part of the design of the mansard roof. In fact, two pediments are the walls of the new premises. And they must meet the strict requirements of living rooms. It is in them that windows and doors are installed. The latter only if a balcony or terrace is attached to the attic.

With insulation, everything is simple. It's like in a frame house:

from the outside install a vapor barrier;

do the outer lining sheet or panel materials: lining, plywood, OSB, etc.;

from within lay insulation;

close the gables waterproofing membrane;

carry out inner lining.

In principle, the attic is ready. It remains to finish the interior space. There are no strict restrictions here. The attic is a living space, so any design projects and finishing materials are used. In this case, you can build a horizontal ceiling, you can leave everything as it is, that is, with slopes going up. Everything is at the discretion of the customer. As one of the options - a project in a modern style in the photo below.

Advantages and disadvantages of the attic

The main advantage is to get additional residential square meters for small capital investments. The attic is a frame structure, which means it is not heavy. And if it is erected on an old house, then in most cases this does not affect the strengthening of the foundation and load-bearing walls of the building. If you think carefully about the exterior decoration of the entire building, it will not be noticeable that the superstructure was built later than the main house.

As for the disadvantages, according to the method of construction, the classic mansard roof is more complicated than a single or gable roof. It uses a large number of different elements that will have to be cut, adjusted to the required dimensions, which leads to the formation of a large amount of waste.

Video description

In the video, the specialist discusses the advantages and disadvantages of houses with attic add-ons:

Conclusion on the topic

So, we tried to deal with the construction of attics on an old house (with attic projects, indicating some important nuances of the structure). Houses with such superstructures today grow like mushrooms after rain. They are popular, they provide an opportunity to save on construction. The main thing is the project, which takes into account all the construction moments in accordance with the rules and regulations.

Reading time ≈ 3 minutes

If you look into history, then the attic was first used in France. It was inhabited by poor people, but today everything has changed, and it has become fashionable and prestigious to have an additional room for living or comfortable rest. In this article, we will look at step-by-step instructions in which we will tell you how to build an attic with your own hands. In addition, you can see photos and videos of the attic structure with your own hands.

Before starting any work, it should be understood that the additional living space will be located in the place of the attic, which means that the roof structure will need to be completely changed.

Materials for the construction of the attic

So, for the construction of an attic with your own hands, you will need the following materials:

• Reiki.
• Wooden bars.
• Boards.
• Metal corners.
• Fasteners.
• Metal staples.
• Mineral wool.
• Waterproofing.
• window structures.
• Mineral wool.
• Stairs.

In addition to all these materials, it is necessary to prepare a set of construction tools such as a screwdriver, drill, hacksaw, stapler, chisel, level.

Do-it-yourself step-by-step instructions for building an attic

1. Project of the future attic

The main element in this work is the roof, which is distinguished by its unconventional structure. Very often, window openings are installed in the roof. Their difference is that they are located at an angle. Do-it-yourself attic roof often includes profile changes, making it broken.

2. Roof shape

Imagine in advance what shape the future roof should be and the angles of inclination of the planes.

The roof of the attic can be:

• Broken gable.
• Standard double.
• Single-sided (rare).

Start drawing. It must be done in different projections. Be sure to specify the dimensions and indicate the relative position of all elements.

3. Construction of the frame of the future attic

Experts believe that this stage of construction is considered the most time-consuming. This work cannot be done on your own, it requires the involvement of a partner. Along the perimeter of the upper part of the house, it is necessary to lay a Mauerlat. Next, attach the two extreme racks with slings to the Mauerlat (horizontal bars interconnected) using metal corners. After that, install the longitudinal jumper on the top of the uprights.

4. Arched design

Pull the cord. Between the resulting ones, put the internal elements of the frame. Consider the fact that their size should correspond to the side arches. Between all stoics there should be the same step. Elements of the arched structure should be fixed with metal brackets and corners. When setting inclined roof elements, maintain the calculated angle of inclination of the slope and centering. After that, on the outside of the resulting roof, use a hammer and nails to nail a crate of slats or boards. Do not forget to leave openings in it for future windows.

5. Hydro and thermal insulation

Hydro and thermal insulation is an important step in the construction of the attic with your own hands. The best option for protecting the attic from moisture is a membrane type film.

It is laid on top of the crate. For insulation, mineral wool is an excellent material. Cotton wool is attached from the inside of the truss system. It is important that the installation is carried out without gaps.

The attic is an attic space exploited for the purpose of accommodating utility and residential premises in it. Its construction in a private house has become quite a popular phenomenon. Thanks to this solution, it is possible to arrange an original room or several under the roof, thereby reducing the cost per square meter. In order to, according to all the rules, arrange the attic floor with your own hands, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic principles of this process at each stage of production.

Show all

Preparatory work

The attic makes it possible to significantly increase the usable area of ​​\u200b\u200ba residential building. At the same time, the roofing floor can be equipped already in the finished building. In this case, the investment of material costs will be relatively less due to the availability of the necessary foundation, and you can handle the arrangement work yourself.

First of all, the stability of the base of the residential building to the additional load from the attic floor is checked. If necessary, the foundation is strengthened, at this stage it is recommended to consult with a professional. It will help to make technical calculations of the strength of the load-bearing structural elements, to select the components of the roofing pie, building materials and tools.

Choice of roof option

Thanks to the design, it will be possible to see the final result of the work and understand the sequence of implementation of the plan. When choosing the type of roof, it is necessary to take into account the features of the structure of the house. The shape of the roofing floor can be varied. The space inside the room directly depends on it. There are the following types of roofs:

1. 1. Gable, which is a simple version with two slopes, under which an attic is being built. Due to the simplicity of significant difficulties in the construction and planning does not arise. The disadvantage of this type is the limited area of ​​​​free space due to the low angle of the ceilings.
1. 2. The broken, gable roof includes four planes located at different angles. This type is characterized by the complexity of the form, in connection with which difficulties may arise during the construction process. But this disadvantage is compensated by a significant increase in free space.



This design is the most optimal for arranging the attic floor, despite the significant load on the walls.

A gable roof must have sufficient supporting supports. Often, in the construction of this type of roof, inclined rafters are used. For the components of the rafter system, load-bearing walls serve as a support, having the ability to perfectly cope with horizontal and vertical loads.

1. 3. Single-level attic roof. In comparison with the two types listed above, it creates many difficulties during construction, but despite this, this option provides an opportunity to find a very free space. The difference of this type lies in the fact that the roof seems to descend in any direction.



1. 4. A two-level version of the roof, which has a complex structure. His project is being developed simultaneously with the project of the premises due to the fact that the rooms are located on different tiers of the building.



In order to correctly determine the angle of inclination of the roof, one should take into account its dependence on climatic conditions. For regions with temperate climates and low rainfall in the winter season, roofs with a slight slope are more suitable. For areas where snow and rain fall frequently and in large quantities, it is recommended to opt for more elevated roofs.

Drafting a project

When designing an attic room, it is important to foresee all the moments, even the most insignificant ones, since their further refinement will require considerable material investments. When installing a structure over an old wooden house, it is necessary to check for cracks and other damage in the foundation and load-bearing walls. In addition, drawings of the future floor should be drawn up.

Main Factors

The process of building an attic requires full compliance of all construction works with the prepared project documentation. In turn, these materials should reflect the following principles:

1. 1. Providing high-quality waterproofing and thermal insulation. The attic floor is in close proximity to the external environment, so the lack of thermal insulation will lead to maximum heat transfer. And this is additional heating costs during cold periods, negative consequences and condensate from the roof.
2. 2. Choosing a suitable roofing material that meets all sound insulation requirements and is able to prevent leakage. In addition, the mandatory processing of wooden components with a composition that provides fire and biological protection.
3. 3. The location of the stairs. This structural element, located outside the building, will significantly save space. Indoors is considered a more convenient option, but it takes up a significant part of the area. The best option is a ceiling folding design.
4. 4. Planning of rooms, the structure of interior partitions and the place of their installation.
5. 5. Power of electrical equipment, its quantity and location of communications.
6. 6. Number, size of window openings and their location.

Purchase of materials and tools

After the attic project is drawn up, it is required to select the necessary materials and tools. Calculate their required amount for the construction, insulation and decoration of the attic. If it is not planned to operate it all year round, but only in warm weather, then it is allowed to purchase budget materials for the construction.

The cross sections of the bars can vary according to the size of the structure and the angle of inclination of the slope.

construction construction

Often when designing a roof, significant errors in insulation and ventilation equipment are allowed. The consequences of such errors are expressed in the appearance of various microorganisms and factors contributing to the flow. In order to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to strictly observe all the rules of construction technology.

Attic structure

Mansard roofs are similar to conventional pitched roofs. Each type has its own distinctive features in the design, but in general terms they all consist of the same elements. The building contains the following components:

1. 1. Rafter legs that transfer the load of the weight of the roofing system to the walls of a residential building. Their cross section directly depends on the angle of inclination, step, span and design load. For individual construction, an approximate calculation of the values ​​\u200b\u200bis allowed, however, it is recommended to make an insignificant margin.
2. 2. A crate made of boards to which the roof is attached.
3. 3. Ridge run, which is the outer part of the roof.
4. 4. Rafters, which are the ribs of the attic structure. For the attic floor, an inclined view is used.
5. 5. Internal supports, located vertically and providing strength to the roof.
6. 6. An insulating layer laid between the walls and the roof and responsible for maintaining the temperature regime in the room. The insulation consists of thermal insulation, noise insulation and vapor barrier, providing protection for the roof.
7. 7. Mauerlat, acting as a support for the rafters and evenly distributing the roof load on the walls.
8. 8. Crossbar, which serves as a support for the rafters in the upper part of the structure.

Stages of construction

The construction of the roof begins with the laying and strengthening of the Mauerlats over the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe building. Installation is carried out on a pre-laid layer that provides waterproofing. For this purpose, roofing material, polypropylene, a special film or PVC membrane is used.

Next, the frame is installed, the racks of which will support the entire truss structure. In this case, the cross section of the beam and the cross section of the longitudinal beams must correspond to each other. At the beginning, vertical racks are located on both sides, and then they are connected to the longitudinal beams using self-tapping screws and metal corners. A screwdriver will greatly facilitate the work with fastening material.



A cord is stretched between the resulting two arches, its direction will indicate the correctness of the work performed. If it is not strictly horizontal, then one of the arches needs to be made a little shorter. Then, with the necessary step for the rafters, the following arches are installed and fixed with jumpers, which are fixed using stamped corners.

It is quite difficult to install the upper rafters, since deviations from the given angles are not allowed. To facilitate these works, it is recommended to make from two boards that are fully consistent with the rafters,kind of template. With the help of this blank, they are cut off while still on the ground, and then placed in the place intended for them.

The installation of the truss system ends with the fixing of the crate made of chipboard, plywood or ordinary boards.



Arrangement of waterproofing

Insulation is an important process in the construction of the attic. These works are carried out after the installation of the truss system is completed. For this purpose, you will need a high quality insulation such as mineral wool. It must be protected on both sides to prevent steam from the inside and water from the outside. The ideal option for such protection would be a membrane film, which is considered the most common.

With the help of staples, it is fixed to the rafter legs, laid at right angles to the rafters. Its rolling and fixing should be carried out starting from the eaves so that the upper strips overlap the lower ones, thereby excluding the penetration of water. In order to ensure the reliability of the canvas at the joints, they are glued with moisture-resistant tape. A counter-lattice is attached to the rafters on top of the waterproofing material using rails. Its task is to create a ventilation space between the roofing and waterproofing.

Sheer to the counter-lattice, a lath crate with the appropriate parameters is placed and fixed. The distance between the slats depends on the size of the roofing material, taking into account its overlapping. When the roof is covered with soft roofing material, sheets of plywood are attached to the counter-lattice instead of rails.



Roof installation

Roofing material is laid on the finally prepared surface, starting from the eaves. The following rows overlap in the same direction as the previous ones, for example, from right to left. Sheets are overlapped both horizontally and vertically. When used as a material for a roof of a metal tile or a metal profile, the fasteners here will be self-tapping screws equipped with press washers and rubber gaskets and having the same color as the roofing sheets.

The soft roof is attached to the plywood base with staples or nails. The first row must be laid very evenly, as the subsequent ones will be guided by it. When covering the roof, the ridge is one of the main nodes. It is covered with a profile element made of the same material as for the roof itself.



In the case of ventilation pipes and a chimney passing through the roof, waterproofing is mounted around them using special resources.

Warming process

You can insulate the attic using various materials, you can use polystyrene foam, various blocks or heaters from raw materials of mineral origin. Fiberboard is one of the most popular materials for thermal insulation.

Typically, these types of work begin with the walls. Insulation is fixed on them with the help of fasteners; PVA glue or adhesive mastics are used to attach the material to the plastered surfaces.



The stage of ceiling sheathing is extremely simple. A slab carefully attached to the place of attachment is fixed with nails, special supports made of boards and duralumin plates.

The floor can be insulated in various ways. First, its surface is covered with roofing material in two layers, and then fiberboard is fixed and a finishing floor is mounted. It is allowed to first lay fiberboard boards, and stick a carpet on top, which is distinguished by ease of use.

Before gluing the carpet, it must be kept unfolded for seven to ten days. On fiberboard, you must first apply glue, and then press it to the surface with boards and leave to dry for a day.

Interior decoration

Improvement of the attic from the inside usually begins with the ceiling. The ideal option would be the installation of a suspended structure, for which lining is perfect. In addition to it, plywood, hardboard and other materials are often used. For convenience, it is recommended to first build the ceiling, and then fix it on the crossbar of the truss truss.



When finishing the walls, a good quality wooden beam is attached to the rafters of the crossbars. Finishing material is nailed to the prepared frame.

Niches formed due to the nature of the roof structure can be covered with plasterboard or other raw materials, thereby creating original cabinets that will be used later for storage.

Types of living areas in the attic are equipped based on the personal preferences of the owner. It can be both a bedroom and a children's room, an office for work and even a billiard room.

Thus, a do-it-yourself attic can be built and equipped based on requests, as well as material and physical capabilities. Due to the lack of experience in performing construction work, it is recommended to invite professional craftsmen to build an attic. This will prevent unnecessary problems and allow you to build a building in a short time according to the intended project.

Modern people try to use the area of ​​their home as efficiently as possible. Therefore, the proposal to equip additional space under the roof is always met with enthusiasm. It is much easier to plan the construction of an attic at the stage of building a house, but you can make an additional superstructure above the old building.

How to make an attic on an old house

The presence of an attic not only increases the living space, but also gives the building a colorful look.

The attic turns a country house into a fabulous building

An old house can be updated by building a superstructure in accordance with existing standards.

The attic superstructure begins with calculations of the strength of the old house

First you need to decide whether the existing foundation and walls can withstand the load of the attic floor and the new roof. If they have a sufficient margin of safety, then you can start remodeling the house. Otherwise, they should be strengthened.

Old brick walls sometimes seem strong, but with additional stress, cracks may appear in the mortar over time. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately consider their condition, and, if necessary, tie them with a rigid belt. This is done as follows:

• metal poles with a section of 10x10 cm are inserted into the foundation with the lower edge, and connected with the armored belt of the first floor with the upper edge. Installed around the perimeter of the house every 2 meters;
• metal fittings with a cross section of 12 mm are placed in strakes and tie the house along the walls: from the bottom of the window every 2 meters up;
• a metal mesh with a cell size of 2x2 cm is laid on top of the reinforcement, which, after completion of all work, is covered with plaster.

Strengthening the foundation is carried out by tying with a reinforcing belt from all sides.

If the old foundation cannot withstand the attic, then it must be sheathed with reinforcement

Having decided on the strengthening of the building, you can proceed to the choice of the project of the future superstructure. It should look harmonious against the background of other buildings and match the style of the whole house.

The type of mansard roof will determine the calculation of the dimensions of the inner upper room and the necessary materials for construction

There are several types of attics:

• single-level with a gable roof - low ceilings with a small living space;

  A single-level attic with a gable roof is the simplest type of superstructure for small buildings

• single-level with a sloping gable roof - increased interior space, but serious costs and time for construction;

  A single-level attic with a broken gable roof is usually built on a brick house

• single-level with cantilever extensions - a complex structure that allows you to get even more area, since the attic frame extends beyond the building, and the windows are installed vertically;

  A single-level attic with cantilever extensions allows you to get a lot of internal space by increasing the upper structure

• multi-level with mixed roof support - used in the construction of a new house, built only by specialists.

  A multi-level attic with a mixed roof support on old houses is usually not installed due to the complexity and large amount of work.

Video: converting half of the old roof into an attic - an easy way

Alteration of the roof under the attic is a relatively cheap way to increase living space. In a private house, a pitched roof is usually placed, so you can make an additional spacious and bright room with your own hands.

Internal wood paneling makes the attic warm and bright

And if the house is large enough in length, then the attic can turn into a real floor: with several rooms and even a balcony.

A large attic allows you to divide the area into different residential areas

Advantages of creating an attic:

• the possibility of arranging one or more new living rooms;

  An attic with low ceilings under a gable roof is most conveniently furnished with low sunbeds

• low costs compared to the construction of a full-fledged floor or a side extension to the house;
• renovation of the exterior of the building;

  A house with an attic under construction always attracts the eyes of passers-by and is interested in the final result.

• the opportunity to observe a beautiful view from the attic window.

  A lot of sunlight comes through the windows in the attic, illuminating the room all day

However, this solution also has certain disadvantages that must also be taken into account:

• the need for insulation and soundproofing of the ceiling and a new roof, the installation of several double-glazed windows;
• the difficulty of conducting additional heating and lighting in the upper part of the old house - you will have to combine it with home wiring or use an autonomous connection;

  To heat the attic with access to the balcony, you can use a potbelly stove

• layout of a part of the home space under the stairs leading to the attic;

  The stairs leading to the attic must be fenced for safety.

• the need to purchase special furniture for a sloping roof or purchase squat models: low cabinets, sofas and tables.

  Low furniture is best suited for attic interiors

The presence of sloping walls makes the room unusual and romantic, but with this decision you will have to take a more responsible approach to design development. You can make furniture for an inclined superstructure yourself or assemble a single complex from existing multi-level models, painting everything in one color.

Furniture that repeats the slope of the attic can be made independently

So, the main disadvantage of converting an attic into an attic is the need to invest, but it's worth it.

Building an attic will cost much less than creating an additional floor, regardless of what materials will be used to build the walls. Indeed, to create them, you will need the main material, insulation and decoration, while for the attic superstructure you only need roof insulation and a new truss system.

The superstructure is made in a symmetrical or asymmetrical shape. Internal walls are designed both inclined and vertical.

Having studied the schemes of single-level attics with different types of roofs, it is easier to make a choice when planning

Alteration of the attic into an attic does not require the dismantling of all existing structures. But you need to make sure that the ceiling is reliable: check its condition, reinforce it with wooden or metal beams, sheathe it with a new board. Then it will be able to withstand the weight of furniture and people.

For frequent climbing to the attic, you will need to make a comfortable staircase, provide for the installation of ventilation, natural and artificial lighting, and perform interior decoration - all this will create a cozy and comfortable room.

The sloping roof superstructure, decorated in light colors, visually enlarges the space, while splashes of color add brightness to the interior.

When building an attic floor, the following conditions must be met:

• rafters are made of glued timber with a thickness of at least 250 mm so that the required amount of insulation can be laid;
• foamed polystyrene is used for insulation due to its low weight and high thermal insulation characteristics;
• a gap is left between the thermal insulation and the roofing material to provide natural ventilation;
• a hydro- and sound-proof layer must be laid.

Alteration of the roof under the attic do it yourself

During the construction of a house, there is usually not enough money, so many refuse to build a second floor. Or another situation may arise when an old one-story house of a small area is purchased along with the site. In both cases, there is an affordable option for increasing the place to live - do-it-yourself restructuring of the attic space into an attic.

Create a project

Before starting work, you need to draw up a plan and develop a project with accurate drawings. The correct calculation will allow you to get a cozy, durable and reliable room. You can perform all the calculations yourself or entrust it to specialists.

You can draw a plan and develop a draft design yourself by studying various options on the Internet

Strengthening the walls and foundation may be necessary in the event of a complete replacement of the rafters. If the roof is partially redone, then reinforcement may be needed only for overlapping. You also need to immediately decide what types of windows will be used in the attic: the reinforcement in the truss system will depend on this.

The location of all windows in the attic roof must be thought out in advance and this data entered into the project plan

truss system

Rafters can be layered or hanging. The former rest on the inner walls of the house or additional supports, and the latter on the outer walls.

In the attic, layered and hanging rafters are used.

Hanging rafters are best suited for the attic.

An attic with hanging rafters looks prettier and wins in the size of the internal area

The attic usually occupies the entire space of the attic, and its walls are combined with the outer ones.

The best option for creating an attic is a layered truss system.

The rafter system consists of different load-bearing bars. To understand the structure of the entire structure and build it correctly, you need to understand the purpose and operation of its individual elements.

The image of the individual elements of the truss system helps to understand the structure of the entire structure

Refurbishment of the premises

With a sufficient height of the attic, the truss system does not need to be redone. It is enough to inspect the old rafters, identify possible flaws and eliminate them.

If the truss system is in good condition, you can proceed to the arrangement of the floor. Insulation is first laid between the lags, after which the surface is sheathed with ordinary boards or sheets of OSB, chipboard.

The floor in the attic is insulated and covered with boards

Before laying the insulation, all necessary communications are mounted between the rafters, places are cut in the roof for installing windows. carried out before warming.

All wires and pipes of communications must be placed in special corrugations

Care must be taken to create natural ventilation of the under-roof space through the vents so that moisture does not accumulate inside the room.

Roof insulation

It is necessary to insulate the roof correctly and efficiently - the microclimate under the roof will depend on this. Typically, mineral wool, polystyrene foam or sprayed polyurethane foam is used as insulation.

A thick layer of heat insulator is tightly laid and fixed between the rafters so that there are no gaps or gaps anywhere. On the upper part of the roof - between the roof and the insulation - waterproofing is mounted, then heat-insulating material is laid from the side of the room. Then from the inside the insulation is covered with a vapor barrier film.

For better ventilation, a small distance is left between the roofing material and the insulation: this is how air circulates through the holes in the cornice and ridge. If the roof is covered with corrugated sheets, then the thickness of the gap should be 25 mm, if with flat material, then it should be increased to 50 mm.

When creating attic thermal insulation, it is necessary to strictly observe the sequence of layers

When planning an ascent to the attic, you need to take care of the convenience and safety of movement. Therefore, the ladder is usually mounted inside the house. It is constructed from wood or metal: it can be either a screw or a marching structure.

The staircase to the attic can be of different types and designs, which allows it to fit into any interior.

An opening is cut in the ceiling of the first floor, which is reinforced along the perimeter with metal or wooden strapping.

The design of the stairs to the attic must be durable, reliable, safe and beautiful.

Interior decoration

For wall cladding, in most cases, gypsum boards are used, the seams between them are plastered. Wallpaper is glued on top or decorative plaster is applied. An alternative option is lining or natural wood.

If some rafters protrude through the walls into the attic, then they can be designed as decorative elements and even used as a horizontal bar for hanging a hammock, swing, chandelier and other fixtures.

The design of the visible parts of the rafters in the interior of the attic is an interesting and creative business.

It is not recommended to use heavy finishing materials in the attic, as they increase the load on the walls, ceiling and foundation of the building.

There are many options for interior decoration of the attic, but it is advisable to use only light materials.

To cover the floor, you can use a laminate or linoleum, and it is better to refuse tiles or porcelain stoneware.

Roof of the attic floor

The roof of a residential superstructure should consist of the following layers (in order - from the street to the interior):

Video: why and how to properly lay layers on the roof of the attic

Mansard roof calculations for a house

Determination of the total weight of the roof

To calculate the total weight of roofing materials, it is necessary to multiply the specific gravity of one square meter of coverage by the total area of ​​​​the attic roof. To obtain the weight of one square meter, it is necessary to add up the specific gravity of all the materials that make up the roofing cake, and multiply it by the safety factor (1.1).

If the thickness of the crate is 25 mm, then its specific gravity is 15 kg / m 2, a 10 cm thick insulation has a specific gravity of 10 kg / m 2, and ondulin roofing material has a weight of 3 kg / m 2. It turns out: (15 + 10 + 3) x1.1 \u003d 30.8 kg / m 2.

According to existing standards, the load on the ceiling in a residential building should not exceed 50 kg / m 2.

Roof area determination

To calculate the surface of a sloping roof, you need to break it into simple shapes (square, rectangle, trapezium, etc.) and determine their area, and then add everything up. To determine the surface of a gable roof, it is necessary to multiply the length by the width, multiply the resulting value by two.

Table: determination of the attic roof area

When calculating the angle of inclination, the climatic zone in which the house is located is taken into account, and that it is convenient to move in the attic in full growth

It is also necessary to calculate the slope of the roof. Usually the angle is 45–60 degrees, but when determining it, one must take into account the climatic zone in which the house is located, the type of attic construction, snow, wind loads, and the architectural design of the house.

The greater the angle of inclination of the roof, the less will be the load on the truss system, but the consumption of materials will increase.

Calculation of the truss system

When choosing a truss system, you can stop at the following options:

• hanging rafters;
• oblique type;
• skating run;
• combined design.

If the length of the roof is more than 4.5 m, then support runs and struts can be used for reinforcement. With a length of more than 7 meters, a ridge beam is installed.

For wooden rafters, a bar with a thickness of at least 70 mm is used. The step of their installation should be 50 cm.

On a large area, it is better to fix a metal truss system: due to the increase in the distance between the rafters, the absence of spacers and struts, the weight of such a structure will be less than that of a wooden one, and the strength will increase significantly.

If the attic area is large, then it is better to install metal rafters

Calculation of the required amount of materials

To carry out the calculation, you need to know the following parameters:

• width, thickness and pitch of the rafters;
• distance from the edge of the roof to the rafters;
• the size of the boards for the crate and the step between them;
• size, type of roofing material and overlap between its sheets;
• type of steam, hydro and thermal insulation material.

The roof is divided into simple shapes and the required amount of each of the materials is determined. For this, simple mathematical formulas are used.

The results obtained are converted into standard values: for wood - in cubic meters, for roofing materials, steam, hydro and thermal insulation - in square meters. And you can go to the store.

Common Mistakes

Most often, with self-calculation, errors are obtained during the determination of the required amount of insulation. If the climatic conditions are severe, then its volume will have to be increased, otherwise it will not be possible to create comfortable living conditions in the attic. The insulation is laid on the floor of the house, the walls of the gable and the slopes of the roof. But everywhere the thickness of the insulation can be different.

Video: calculation of a mansard roof with diagrams and loads

The attic floor allows you to get additional living space and gives the private house a modern attractive appearance. It is not difficult to create an attic with your own hands, you just need to draw up a project correctly, perform calculations and carry out high-quality installation of all materials. And the result will please the owners for a long time.

It is difficult these days to imagine the layout of a house without an attic in it. It is also built in old buildings, thus adding living space, instead of an outdated attic.

When creating a new building, the issue of erecting an attic is decided in advance in the project. If the attic is being built independently in an old house, then it is necessary to carefully study all the requirements for reconstruction or for an extension in an already finished building.

What is an attic

The attic is a living space resembling an attic, which is formed on the upper floors of houses with a mansard roof. To build an attic on their own is within the power of any person with special skills in the construction process.

Under the attic floor is understood the floor in the attic, the facade of which is wholly or partially formed by the surfaces of an inclined or sloping roof. In fact, it is a full-fledged living space inside the building.

To reduce the load on an already erected structure, during the construction work of the attic floor, light materials and structures are used with their own hands. Wood is indispensable in these matters. The attic is often built on its own from wood, for this purpose beams, logs or frame-panel technology are used.

Types of attics

Types of gable roofs: options for the purpose of the building

The shape of the attic room depends on. The attic can cover the territory of the entire building or only part of it. Rooms with it are symmetrical or asymmetrical. The shape is often triangular or broken. True, not every roof is designed for the construction of an attic.

Mansard roofing is of the following types:

• 1 pitched;
• 2-pitched;
• broken line;
• hip;
• hipped (pyramidal, round, conical shape).

Let's consider in detail:

• Shed roofs are built quite infrequently. Due to the high difference between the height of the walls, such an attic will become asymmetrical and it will be difficult to install windows.
• A gable roof often means arranging the attic symmetrically. It will have sloping inner walls. During the construction of this roof, elongated boards are used, which will come out expensive. True, the performance of this roof is quite high. A serious advantage is that with such a roof it is possible to install full-fledged windows and doors, along which there is an exit to the balcony.
• Broken roof. The attic will have vertical walls. The building itself reaches a width of more than 5 m. The material consumed for this type of roof is much less than for a gable roof.
• The hip roof makes it possible to create a comfortable and small attic. It includes 2 slopes, having the shape of a trapezoid and a triangle. The windows are on the ceiling slopes.
• Hipped roof is also used for the construction of the attic. Windows should have a special shape and be made according to individual projects.

All of these types of structures have their own advantages and disadvantages. Symmetrical structures have a more straightforward scheme, there are no complex calculations in the project, compared with the installation of asymmetric coatings.

What is needed for construction

It should be understood that the construction of the attic is a rather complicated process. Here you need to have proper experience and skills in the field of construction. Before construction work, you should carefully study all the design features of the attic floor, installation methods, as well as situations where it is not possible to complete it.

Materials, tools and project

To build an attic, you will need the following materials:

• wooden bars (section dimensions vary depending on the dimensions of the building and the angle of inclination of the slope);
• boards made of wood for crates;
• material to sheathe end walls;
• fasteners for roof mounting;
• thermal insulation;
• waterproofing;
• material for interior decoration of the attic.

To build an attic yourself, you will need the following tool:

• screwdriver;
• hammer;
• level;
• roulette;
• lace;
• saw for woodworking.

Design is considered one of the most important elements of the work, since without it it is not advised to start the construction process itself.

If you treat this stage in bad faith, then you can easily lose sight of any detail that later requires large financial resources to eliminate the error. Prior to the construction of the attic, it will be necessary to make a thorough analysis of the features of the layout of the room, which is to be converted.

Well-known requirements that serve as a template during construction are in SNiP. In addition, the following details must be taken into account:

• Geometric features of the roof.
• Creation of conditions for the joint functioning of engineering systems of the roof and other parts of the house.
• Choosing the right material for construction work.
• Roof of the attic floor. Attics with round-sloped roofs need special waterproofing and special insulation.

Attic construction

The layout of the attic can be carried out both in the process of construction work, and during the construction of the attic already on a pre-fabricated building. First, you should carefully check the foundation of the building.

It is extremely important to correctly calculate the attic load on the building, since the quality of the attic and the general condition of the entire dwelling will depend on this factor.

Detailed step by step instructions

Mansard roof truss system

1. First you need to have timber beams. They should be applied on top of the waterproofing material. The optimal ones are roofing material or roofing felt sold in rolls. When working with them, you do not need any specialized skills. In the case of a wooden floor, there is no need to install an auxiliary beam.
2. Next, the racks are mounted on the beams. They represent a specific skeleton of the walls of the attic being built. For best performance, they should be placed no further than 2 m between them. Each rack must be level. After installation, they are recommended to be sheathed on both sides. It is necessary not to forget to lay the insulation in the middle of the racks. Each rack must be individually secured with spikes and staples.
3. Then the top bar is laid. It is fixed in any convenient way. It is important that the beams must be strong and durable.
4. Next is installed. Thanks to him, a high level of strength of the fasteners of the roof rafters to the wall is ensured. It will make it possible to direct the weight of the roof onto the walls. Since the Mauerlat is located on the wall, the load on it is small. The main thing is not to forget to lay a layer of waterproofing under it, in order to avoid further decay.
5. If the Mauerlat is well fixed, then it will protect the roof from the influence of wind, snow in winter. To fix it, an annealed wire with a diameter of up to 0.5 cm is used.
6. Next, the rafters are installed. Preliminary marking is applied on the rafter frame and Mauerlat in the place where the rafter legs will be installed. For rafters, only boards with a perfectly flat surface are suitable.
7. The rafters rest on a ridge beam. If the attic is large enough in area, then, of course, the weight of the entire roof will become large. Due to this, the beam is considered an indispensable part of the structure. If the rafter legs are less than 8 m long, then ordinary stretch marks are quite useful.
8. Installation of mares. It is carried out in the same way as the rafter legs.
9. Then a hem board should be nailed to the fillies. It will prevent the influence of wind and virtually any natural precipitation.
10. Before installing the roof, you need to decide where the windows will be mounted. Their total area is not less than 13-14% of the area of ​​the side walls. At the place of installation of windows, rafter legs should be strengthened. For this purpose, cross bars are installed.

Additional work

In order for the attic to have a long service life, it is necessary to carry out a number of additional works related to increasing its resistance to the effects of mechanical and natural factors.

Warming and waterproofing

• With the independent creation of a mansard roof, its insulation plays an important role. The implementation of these works begins after the installation of the rafters. The docking area with the environment is quite large, so you need a high-quality insulation (for example, mineral wool). The insulation is directly protected on both sides. Steam can penetrate inside, and water can penetrate from the outside. The most popular material is the membrane film.
• From the outside, where there is a ventilated air gap, the insulation is protected by waterproofing, a windproof vapor-permeable membrane. It is impossible to use for installation in a roof or attic, as a waterproofing and windproof membrane, materials that are also a vapor barrier. Installation of waterproofing and wind protection is done on top of the roof rafters. Waterproofing is attached to them using wooden beams or a stapler. Waterproofing joints after installation are carefully glued with adhesive tape. Waterproofing is installed in order to protect the insulation from high humidity from precipitation that enters the gaps during gusts of wind, as well as from condensate on the other side of the roof.
• The ventilation of the attic floor should be carefully equipped. Since now it is a dwelling, it is necessary to create the proper conditions for housing. The main problem with its microclimate is the heat coming from the lower floors and causing condensation to accumulate on the insulation. Condensation has a detrimental effect on it and this can lead to rotting and destruction. To protect it, a vapor barrier layer is added. If condensation still accumulates on the thermal insulation layer, you should think about a forced ventilation system.

Insulation of the attic with foam

Attic decoration

Finishing work attic with drywall

To begin with, roofing slopes and gables are sheathed, then the ceiling is trimmed. To sheathe the roof slopes on the rafter legs, the bars are mounted horizontally in increments of 1 m, then horizontal bars are mounted at intervals.

The next step is to measure the drywall according to the given dimensions and then install it on the base. quite simple, but at the same time quite laborious process. When everything is completed, all gaps and cracks should be sealed.

Finishing work attic with lining

Finishing work under a tree is quite in demand for attics, and the installation of the lining itself is simple. It is cut to the required height and nailed to a wooden base using nails at the joints, so the hat will not be visible.

After each sheet of lining, it is necessary to inspect its position using a level, otherwise there will be a risk of a large skew at the end of the wall. When the installation of the lining is completed, it must be covered with several layers of varnish.

• The choice of the optimal mansard roof option increases the living space in the building. Various types of roof structures can be installed not only during the construction of a building, but also during the reconstruction of a building. With the latter option, it is necessary to calculate in advance the ability of the base and walls to withstand additional loads.
• The design of the attic roof provides for the installation of a system of rafters from carefully dried wooden beams. To perform structural elements, bars of various sections are used. Installation of the attic is done using light and safe material.
• Insulation of the attic inside the room, which is under the roof, is more likely to lose heat than the lower floors. Because of this, the roof must include reliable insulation. It is installed in the middle of the outer waterproofing layer and vapor barrier from the side of the room. A well-made pie ensures a long service life of the entire roofing system. For the interior decoration of the attic, natural wood is most often used. But wall and ceiling cladding can also be done with other sheet materials, including drywall.

The attic floor today is an indispensable element of modern private buildings. Between the roof and the top floor of the house, you can arrange a bathroom, a bedroom, and an office. The area and configuration of such rooms will primarily depend on the type of roof.

Making an attic with your own hands is a very simple process if you carefully study all the nuances of the construction process, as well as follow all the requirements and advice of the experts described above.

In this case, all the adverse consequences during the construction of the attic and other troubles will bypass you. You should not rush, do everything in turn and the result will meet all expectations.