What is the best way to make an attic floor. We build an attic on an old house with our own hands

More and more people are resorting to self-construction Houses.

There are many reasons for this, and everyone is guided by their own motives.

But the main thing is savings, of course, subject to knowledge of the matter.

Building your own home should be a mandatory attribute of success for every man.

Investing your savings in real estate is the best thing to do. The house will last for decades and its value will only increase over time.

Of course, a lot depends on the design of both the internal and external parts of a residential building.

For high-quality construction, you will need to study the technology of constructing a mansard roof. Another important skill is knowledge of carpentry. Or you can study the instructions yourself, which describe in detail the entire project of work. You should also pay attention to the fact that there are different.

When starting construction, you need to ask yourself the following questions::

• What are the best materials to use when building a mansard roof?
• How many stages of work remain to be completed?
• How many people will be needed to help with the construction?
• What kind of attic do you want to build?

It is best to plan the construction of an attic, installing a gable roof with a broken line, so you can get the maximum large area future premises.

Before starting any construction, it should be developed. When working through it, take the numbers indicated in the calculations seriously; even the slightest mistake can lead to future damage to both the roof itself and the walls of the house.

So how to do it mansard roof? This article will help you answer this question.

• For soft roofs, solid;
• Discharged for slate.

Naturally exist certain rules soft roof installations, here they are:

• If the pitched angle of the roof is located in the range from 5 to 10°, then the roof has the appearance of a continuous flooring, special waterproof plywood or boards are used;
• When the inclined roof angle is between 10 and 15°, in this case the roof is made of timber with dimensions of 45×50 millimeters and with a pitch of 45 cm;
• If the inclined angle is greater than 15° for the sheathing timber 45×50 mm is used, but in increments of 600 mm;
• For the skate attachment area install additional beam.

Lathing for soft roofing

Installation of the Mauerlat and rafter system

The Mauerlat is laid after work has been done to level the attic and place the flooring.

Thanks to placement around the perimeter attic space Mauerlat all oblique angles can be corrected.

The material used is timber. The thickness is selected according to the edge of the walls.

When you lay the mauerlat under the side of the cornice, you should be especially careful.

Make sure the structure is non-thrust, because to put additional elements it is forbidden. We will have to dismantle part of the external masonry of the wall and raise inner part walls.

Mauerlat installation

Installation of insulation

It is necessary to insulate the attic space if you are going to inhabit it. First of all, it is worth deciding on the material used as a material. The best solution would be special basalt slabs.

The insulation density is needed at least 30-40 km per cubic meter , otherwise its subsidence in the future is inevitable. And the thickness is 150 mm. A special film is also installed in the roof to protect it from getting wet.

Step-by-step installation of insulation

Installation of lathing and counter-lattice

After the base has been installed, it is necessary to install to strengthen the structure. This is necessary if the inclined angle is large.

The counter-lattice is installed from small beams, which are placed on top of the main sheathing, already laid on the waterproofing layer. When installing a counter-lattice, a ventilation space is created between the roof and the base, which increases the service life.

Installation of sheathing

Installation of waterproofing and vapor barrier

A do-it-yourself broken roof requires installation of waterproofing. To protect the roof from moisture penetration between the roof and the base a special layer of roofing material or film is laid. The counter-grid helps better ventilation to get rid of the effect of vaporization.

The most common vapor control system is three-layer construction- hydrobarrier.

1. Reinforced grating. It is woven from polyethylene fibers.
2. Anti-condensation or porosity barrier.

Waterproofing is installed on rafters or sheathing.

Installation of waterproofing

Types of roofing materials and their installation

The market offers big choice roofing materials for every taste. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Any builder first of all looks at the cost of the roof, then at its quality and service life.

Roofing material

Conclusion

The construction of an attic roof requires special diligence and painstaking work if you want to get a high-quality and final result. You will have to invest a lot of effort, not only physical, but also moral.

It will take a smart approach to the work so that it is completed without problems. Encountering a number of obstacles, most owners turn to hired workers for help. But on the other hand, what can bring more pleasure than not doing quality work with your own hands?

Useful video

In this video you will learn how to assemble a mansard roof:

In contact with

The attic roof makes it possible to significantly increase the total living space, while financial investments will be minimal. The most common option is a gable broken structure, which is easy to build yourself.

How to make a mansard roof yourself

Under the attic roof you can arrange living rooms. The shape of the building can be different, but in most cases the attic is built under a roof with two slopes. The optimal solution, which allows you to obtain a significant area of ​​​​living space, is a broken structure.

Broken roof is the best option for arranging an attic

Drawings and calculations of a mansard roof

The first step is to decide on the frame diagram. Rafters can be layered or hanging type. Layered ones rest on the walls of the building. They are mounted in structures where the distance between the walls is less than 6.5 m. Hanging rafters placed on fillies and mauerlat. If the width of the spans is large, then the rafter system will need to be reinforced with auxiliary ties.

The main condition for the comfortable construction of an attic is the ceiling level - it must be higher than 2.5 m. To ensure a similar height, the break line must be placed at a height of more than 2.8 m, taking into account the thickness of the layer of material for insulation and cladding of the structure. It is also important to consider the thickness of the floor.

An example of a drawing can be seen in the image:

The minimum ceiling height of the attic roof is 2.5 m

To calculate the expected snow loads, you will need to apply this formula: S = Sg x µ, where S is the snow load, Sg is the weight of the snow cover per 1 m 2 area, µ is the value that depends on the roof slope (1.0 - for flat design with a slope of 25°, 0.7 - for a design with a slope of 25–60°).

Parameters Sg and Wo can be found in the relevant SNiP, in the “Rafter systems” section. If the roof has a steep slope, then the snow load can be ignored.

Roof structure

The frame structure includes the following parts:

• Mauerlat - a support bar that transfers the load from the rafters to the walls of the building;
• racks - supporting parts that support the rafter system in a vertical position;
• floor beams - planks that form half of the attic and the ceiling of the lower floor;
• rafters - slats that form the main contour of the roof;
• purlins - horizontal supporting parts for rafters;
• sheathing - slats or plywood sheets that are intended for laying roofing material;
• fillies - strips that are attached along the axis at the bottom rafter legs.

The frame consists of a mauerlat, racks, purlins, floor beams and other elements

A sloping roof differs from an ordinary structure with two slopes. The difference is that the slopes, which are placed opposite each other, have a special shape: they do not form a straight line, but consist of several slopes that are fastened to one another at an obtuse angle. The design is also symmetrical.

The extreme part of the rafters is generally set at an angle of about 60°. The support posts that support the rafters form the frame structure of the interior walls. Top part the rafters are mounted at a small angle, it can be from 15 to 45°. This makes it possible to reduce material consumption, while maintaining the functional properties of the roof and resistance to loads from snow.

Vertical posts that rest against the floor planks, purlins and crossbars that fasten them form a parallelepiped. The design limits the dimensions of the attic from the inside. To give the product additional rigidity, struts should be installed between the floor slats and the lower rafters.

If the roof span is more than 8 m, then you will need to install struts

After installing the upper elements, to fix the truss and prevent sagging of the crossbars, you should install hanging support elements - headstocks. For auxiliary fixation of the lower rafter legs, they must be pulled together with the uprights using tacks. The parts are fastened using nails and bolts.

Stages of self-construction of an attic

If you decide to make such a structure yourself, it is important to provide for the use of the following materials in the project:

• roofing material;
• vapor barrier;
• waterproofing;
• insulation material.

The choice of insulation affects such a parameter as the pitch of the rafters. To reduce the amount of insulation, it is best to place the rafters so that the slab or mat fits tightly between them. The type of sheathing and its pitch will depend on the choice of material for roofing. You need to pay attention not only to choosing high-quality material for insulation, but also to creating an effective ventilation system.

Ventilation is arranged by preparing technological gaps

The construction of the rafter system must be carried out using fireproof materials. All parts should be treated with fire retardants. You will need to prepare the following elements:

• wooden blocks with a cross section of 100x50 mm;
• slats 50x150 mm;
• unedged boards;
• building level;
• self-tapping screws;
• nails;
• steel wire with a diameter of 4–5 mm;
• plumb line;
• roulette;
• hacksaw;
• axe;
• hammer;
• sharp knife.

Drafting

One of the most important parts of the work is drafting the project. It is very important to analyze the layout features of a private house. It is necessary to determine the dimensions and shape of the structure being built, and also provide for the placement of windows and a balcony.

All structural elements should be marked on the project

In the process of drawing up a project, the following requirements must be taken into account:

1. It is important to decide in advance what the height of the attic should be. It should be remembered that the distance from floor base to the highest point of the structure there should be a minimum of 0.5 m.
2. It is recommended to take into account the heating area and the main interior elements.
3. The attic layout should be expanded. If you plan to install windows, they must be indicated on the drawing.

Drawing up a drawing must begin with choosing a shape, determining the cross-section of the rafter legs and the step of their placement. To determine the size of the rafters, you need to take into account the following parameters:

• slope;
• roof roofing material;
• climate features in the construction region.

It is also important to provide the required number of rafters in the project. They can be layered or hanging type.

Rafters can be hanging or layered

At the end, you should determine the number of parts to fix. In the figure below you can see some of the data necessary for the calculation, however, drawing up the project is complex process. This work it is recommended to trust qualified specialists.

Mauerlat installation

The design of the attic roof rafter system should be selected based on the type of roof, as well as the prepared attic design. A simple option is a design with two slopes.

The main details of a roof rafter system with two slopes are:

• linear elements (column, rod system, beam);
• flat parts (slab, flooring, panel);
• spatial elements (vault, shell, volumetric part).

Before carrying out work, you will need to thoroughly dry the wood. The first step is to mark and install the Mauerlat. It is fixed to the walls of the building. The part can be made from a block or a powerful lath. If you plan to build a roof with two slopes, then the Mauerlat is laid on the long walls of the building. The element is necessary not only for reliable fixation of the lower part of the rafters, but also for the correct distribution of the load on the walls and the main part of the building.

To fix the Mauerlat, you should use metal pins that are attached to a beam made of monolithic concrete.

To fix the Mauerlat, you need to install metal pins

The beam should be placed at the top of the wall. It is also possible to use steel wire embedded in brickwork.

To secure the Mauerlat to the upper rim of the wooden wall, you need to use wooden dowels. Auerlat requires high-quality waterproofing of timber timber. Therefore, it is necessary to use roofing felt or other material with water-repellent properties.

Before installing the Mauerlat, the base must be covered with roofing felt.

The installation of a Mauerlat is required if it is planned to erect a roof frame, the rafters of which rest against the upper part of the wall with beveled ends or prepared cutouts.

If you plan to make an attic, the width of which corresponds to the width of the building, the rafter legs should rest with their lower ends against the external supporting parts. It is possible to use powerful beams laid across long walls as supports. The number of supporting elements corresponds to the number of rafters. The beams must be secured to the walls in the same way as the Mauerlat.

Sequencing:

Frame construction

The frame of the attic roof consists of floor beams, rafters, purlins and racks

The material used is often 200x100 mm softwood bars. The floor slats are placed on top of the mauerlat with an indentation of 30–50 cm beyond the surface of the walls or into prepared grooves in the masonry. In the first case, the parts are fixed using angles and self-tapping screws.

Fixing the timber to the mauerlat can be done using steel corners

To make an even floor, the planks should be installed in this sequence:

1. First of all, the outer parts are placed level.
2. Next, you should tighten the cord and install intermediate elements along it.
3. The pitch of the beams should be from 60 to 100 cm. A distance of 60 cm makes it possible to install insulation boards without cutting.
4. To level the beams in height, they can be trimmed. Another option is to use plank underlays.
5. If beams are inserted into prepared pockets, their outer parts must be treated with liquid waterproofing and wrapped with roofing felt.

You need to place the racks on the outer planks:

After installing the racks, crossbars and purlins, you can get reliable design, which will limit the internal rooms of the attic. To increase its strength, it should be secured in the future with struts and tacks.

Installation of rafters

At this stage, the installation of the lower rafters is carried out:

After this, the upper elements are installed:

1. The first step is to mark central part roofs. This can be done using a stand that was previously attached to the Mauerlat and a tie from the end of the roof. The outermost part of the board should run along the center of the roof. The rafter legs need to be aligned along this board.
2. Next, you need to prepare a template from a 150x25 mm slats. It should be applied to the extreme part of the mounted batten at the required level and to the purlin on which the lower rafter legs will rest.
3. You should mark the upper and lower cuts and cut out a template. The device is applied in turn to two sides of the roof. This will make it possible to check the accuracy of the marking of the central part. If the rows of racks are placed in parallel, then there will be no difficulties in securing the upper elements - they will have identical dimensions.
4. According to the preparation it is necessary to prepare required quantity rafters The parts are placed on purlins and tied together in the upper parts using iron plates or trim strips. In the latter case, self-tapping screws are used as fasteners. In the purlin, the rafter strips rest against the cuts and are caught with iron corners. To ensure that the parts stand straight, they are secured using struts, mounted with the lower part on ties. All rafters are installed using this method.
5. The hanging racks are fixed - pieces of 150x25 mm planks. The upper part of the batten is attached to the place where the rafters are fixed, the lower part is attached to the tie.

Video: mansard roof rafter system

Installation of struts and gables

Sequencing:

Sheathing of the structure

The sheathing is needed for:

• distribution and transfer of the weight of the roofing material to the rafters;
• performing additional fastening of the rafter system;
• bases for fixing roofing material.

The sheathing can be made in one or two layers, continuous or with vacuum.

The sheathing can be solid or with relief

The installation method depends on what material is planned to be used to cover the structure. If a roof is being built from slate or metal tiles, the sheathing should be made of slats that are attached to the rafters with nails. In this case, the installation step of adjacent planks can be 27–30 cm.

Continuous lathing is used when fastening soft material in rolls.

Solid sheathing is necessary for a soft roof

In this case, you can use moisture-resistant plywood sheets or particle boards. It is allowed to use pine wood material- trim strips.

It is important to take into account the fact that when installing such a sheathing, the material that will be laid must follow the contours of the external base. Therefore, the frame structure must be strong and level.

When laying out the material, you should use a cord, with which the slats or slabs will lie flat. The parts must be placed parallel to each other. Before fixing, the material must be treated with an antiseptic composition to protect it from rotting, fungus and dampness. The workpieces must be smooth and of high quality. It is recommended to give preference to wood grades 1 and 2. There should be no knots on it. To prevent the boards from warping, they must first be dried.

Sequence of actions for installing the sheathing:

Waterproofing a mansard roof

Roofing material does not have thermal insulation properties, so you will need to prepare high-quality material that will be environmentally friendly for human health. Quite often used mineral wool or glass wool. Both materials have excellent sound and heat insulation parameters. It is also important to take into account that if the roof is made of metal, if the insulation gets wet, all its qualities can be reduced to zero. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the design.

Insulate an attic without a gasket waterproofing material will not work, so the process should be considered in its entirety. Step by step guide for waterproofing the structure:

Practice has shown that it is better to protect insulation with modern materials, for example, Tyvek or Izospan. The use of ordinary polyethylene film gives bad result, as condensation may occur. Experienced craftsmen They believe that the structure should not be waterproofed with roofing felt.

Before proceeding with the work, you need to decide on the thermal insulation material.

Mineral wool is a fairly popular material used for roof insulation.

The most commonly used heat insulators are:

• glass wool;
• mineral wool;
• Styrofoam;
• foam glass;
• wood shavings;
• straw.

The material must be selected taking into account four parameters.

1. Thermal conductivity index. For roof insulation, 0.05 W/m*K or lower is optimal.
2. Water resistance. The higher the score, the better.
3. Fire resistance.
4. Environmental Safety.

The insulating qualities of mineral wool deteriorate significantly after some time. The material can also be damaged under the influence of mechanical loads. However, mineral wool has a low cost, so the material is used quite often. Polyfoam is not afraid of water and has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. If you plan to build a house only from environmentally friendly materials, then you can use foam glass or straw.

Step-by-step guide to roof insulation:

Laying roofing materials and installing window openings

As an example, we will consider the installation of metal tiles, since this material is used quite often:

The number of windows is determined by the relation usable area glazing to the base of the floor 1:10. For example, if the attic area is 100 m2, then the glazing should be approximately 10 m2. When installing windows, you need to consider the following nuances:

Attic finishing

The interior decoration of the attic can be done using wood or plasterboard sheets. If the latter option is used, then after installation the sheets must be covered with wallpaper or painted. water-based paint. In some cases, the attic is divided into several rooms. This can be done using plasterboard partitions.

If you plan to use the attic frequently, then the floor and walls can be additionally insulated. This can be done using, for example, mineral wool.

Interesting attic room design options

The attic can be made cozy by symmetrically arranging sofas on both sides. In the attic you can place a long sofa. In the attic you can create a place to relax by hanging a hammock. In the attic you can make not only a living space, but also a bathroom. On the attic floor you can even make a kitchen. If on the territory it is not possible to place a hammock, then this can be done on the attic floor. One of the parts of the attic can be completely glazed. The attic can be an excellent place to create a home library. The walls of the attic can be lined with brick. In the attic you can arrange a full-fledged living room. On the attic floor you can arrange a relaxation room. If the house is located in a beautiful area, the roof can be made panoramic The bed can be positioned front part to the window In the attic you can make a bedroom with high ceilings In the attic you can place hanging chair. This will make the roof more comfortable

Video: making a mansard roof

The last roof mansard type is quite popular among owners of private houses. To experience all the positive aspects of living in a building similar type, it is necessary to pay due attention to the insulation of the building.

The attic does not have to be used as a place to store unnecessary things. Very often, the area of ​​​​this room allows you to equip it with a full-fledged living area or a place for family leisure or hobbies. The idea of ​​such construction has been successfully used since the mid-17th century thanks to the French architect Francois Mansart and is especially relevant for increasing the area of ​​a private house, and sometimes city apartments.

How to inhabit an attic, what measures should be taken for this and how to build an attic where there has never been one? Look for answers to these questions in our article.

We are building an attic

Installing an attic will help to significantly reduce construction costs as a whole, rationally use the available floor space and realize the most daring ideas. The attic floor can occupy either the entire attic or part of it, depending on the purpose of the future room: bedroom, office, office or bathroom.

Cozy do-it-yourself attic

Building an attic with your own hands also provides the following advantages:

• The infrastructure of the main building is fully used.
• The living space increases significantly.
• Reducing heat loss through the roof and, as a result, reducing energy costs during the cold season.
• Relatively simple installation (without the use of special equipment) and the ability to stay in the house during construction.
• Possibility of building a one- or two-level floor.

How to make an attic a unique architectural element

Features of the construction of the attic floor

The roof is an enclosing structure, which, in addition to precipitation and temperature changes from the outside, is subject to influences from the inside: heat and moisture from the living space, and these can cause dampness and corrosion. Therefore, when constructing an attic floor, very stringent requirements are put forward for hydro-, steam- and thermal insulation of the roof, compliance with which will ensure reliable protection premises from negative factors.

How to properly isolate attic floor during construction

Also, when building an attic floor, it is important to take care of high-quality ventilation, which is installed between the insulation and the roof. This will ensure that excess moisture is removed and the attic is ventilated.

Particular attention should be paid to construction technology and the materials used (especially their weight) - this will ensure safe operation attic floor in the future. In addition, do not forget that using the attic floor as a living space does not eliminate compliance technical requirements for roof maintenance.

Where to start construction?

Before construction begins, a technical examination of the building is carried out. It is worth remembering that initially the walls and foundation of the building were designed for a certain load, and the construction of an additional floor will significantly increase it, so it is worth making sure of their load-bearing capacity.

Construction frame attic

Design

The next stage of construction will be the development and approval of the attic floor project - for this it is better to contact qualified specialists who will help draw up a competent drawing, calculate the loads and estimates.

The attic floor plan is developed based on the layout of the main building, with the geometry of the roof playing a dominant role. The architectural appearance of the house will influence not only the design rafter system, but also on the materials used in construction and individual elements of the attic. All structures and parts must be as lightweight as possible, which will ensure minimal load on the walls of the building and ensure easy lifting of materials to the floor.

If the roof of the house has a large slope, then the choice of roofing materials, insulation and waterproofing during the construction of the attic floor should be approached especially carefully.

In addition, all communications of the attic floor must be interconnected with the systems in the house, and their joint operation must be ensured.

The shape of the room, as well as its dimensions, determine the choice of windows, their design and placement in the interior.

Construction of an attic

Regardless of whether the attic is being built with your own hands, photo below, in an existing attic or is being built from scratch, it is necessary to ensure the unity of architectural and design solutions.

You can build a wooden attic on a brick house

It is better to make the attic structure from wood (timber) or a metal profile; in addition, you can complete the floor from SIP panels, as in the photo below. Stone materials, including brick and concrete, are not recommended for construction due to their heavy weight. As a last resort, you can use aerated concrete blocks.

We build an attic with our own hands using SIP panels

Durable but lightweight materials, such as corrugated sheets, bitumen or composite tiles, and metal tiles, are also suitable for roofing.

Since the attic has a large surface area in contact with environment and significant heat loss occurs through the roof, it is necessary to take care of the quality and effective thermal insulation this floor. For insulation, it is best to use mineral wool or fiberglass with a thickness of 150 mm or more. WITH inside The insulation on the attic floor must be covered with a vapor barrier, and on the roof side – with waterproofing. In addition, it is necessary to install a ventilation system between the waterproofing and the roof, which will ensure the removal of excess moisture.

Since the attic is a living space, it needs natural light, which windows will help provide. These can be either ordinary vertical window structures that are mounted in the walls, or special inclined windows installed in the roof plane at an angle of 15-90 degrees.

Dormer windows - expensive but effective

The final stage of the attic floor installation will be Finishing work. The most simple option plasterboard is used for cladding the walls of the attic floor; it can be used to construct internal partitions. GKL sheets are attached to a frame made of metal profiles, after which they are puttied and the finishing coating can be applied: paint, wallpaper, etc. In addition to plasterboard, the walls can be sheathed with clapboard, wood panels— the choice of material depends on the purpose and design of the future attic. The same materials that are used throughout the building are suitable for the floor: parquet, laminate, batten, ceramic tile and etc.

After construction is completed, you can start decorating: think through the interior, install a staircase, arrange furniture, etc.

More information about building an attic with your own hands (video):

Attic floor extension

The addition of an attic floor allows you to simply and effectively increase living space without the use of expensive equipment and complex technologies, and such construction can be carried out both in a private house and in a standard urban building. The cost of completion is approximately half of the cost of new construction. The structure can be wooden - from logs and timber; stone - made of foam blocks, brick and concrete; made of metal, as well as their various combinations.

Monolithic attic can have any shape

It is necessary to determine which part of the building structure will bear the load from the extension. If the strength of the walls and foundation is not enough, you will need to install racks on the outside of the building on a separate foundation that will support the attic floor. New attic frame independent foundation also necessary in an old house if the supporting structures have significant wear. It would be useful to change attic floor, since it is most likely not designed for heavy loads.

The construction of an attic involves the construction of a power structure, which depends on the roof truss system. To build this structure, it is better to use lightweight materials: thin-walled profiles and wood. They will help speed up construction, since fastening is carried out using bolts and rivets. Optimal angle The slope of the rafters should be 45-60 degrees.

The roofs themselves, picture below, can be:

• Single-pitch.
• Gable.
• Broken.
• The hip ones.

1 – simple gable roof; 2 - gable roof with attic wall; 3 – hip; 4 - hipped

The last two types are best suited for the attic, but the final choice is determined by the intensity of the load acting on the coating.

During construction, it should be taken into account that the width of the room should not be less than 4.5 m, and the area of ​​the entire attic floor should not be less than 7 m2, while the ratio of height and area is ideally 1:2.

The simplest construction option is to build a frame attic with your own hands. To install an attic, it is necessary to remove the old roof, examine the condition of the supporting structures for damage, and develop a floor plan. After this, the foundation and frame of the attic are installed. Then the roof is installed and insulated.

Learn more about how to build an attic with your own hands - video:

The attic design of the attic allows you not only to increase the living space of the house, but also to make the structure unusual and beautiful. Moreover, a building with this type of roof can be made in almost any style. The mansard type roof, the design options of which can be very different, is found both in urban areas and in rural areas. Let's look at how to create such a design yourself, and find out what its features are.

Mansard roof - options

This roof has a special slope design, usually consisting of a flat upper part and a steeper lower part. Thanks to this shape, a fairly spacious room appears inside, which can be used as an attic or even turn into a very cozy living room.

The history of attics began in the 17th century, such a roof design was invented by the architect Francois Mansart - it was a derivative of his name that such a roof was named. But this Frenchman was far from the first to implement the idea of ​​economical use of the attic floor of the house. The mansard roof was first built by Pierre Lescot, also a Frenchman, who worked on the construction of such famous buildings as the Louvre and Notre-Dame de Paris.

On a note! In the 19th century, poor people usually lived on attic floors, but now this floor can appear in the housing of fairly wealthy people.

Nowadays, attics are quite often constructed during construction. country houses or small two-story cottages, but the idea may well be implemented when creating other types of buildings. The attic has a number of advantages:

• it is cheaper to build a house with an attic than with two full floors and a roof;
• foundation costs during the construction of such a structure are also reduced;
• an attic can significantly increase the living space of any building;
• it gives the house an unusual and beautiful look;
• it is not difficult to build the structure, the work can be completed quite quickly;
• the attic is always associated with comfort;
• a house with an attic is warmer by reducing heat loss through the roof.

But attics also have several disadvantages. This type of attic space has sloping ceilings, which results in low wall heights, making it difficult to choose furniture. Also, the roof must be well installed so as not to leak and not let heat out of the house - you will have to spend money on good hydro- and thermal insulation materials. And building attics is still more difficult than, for example, a regular gable roof.

Design Features

The attic is a universal element. It was also used for ordinary houses, and for the construction of country houses, often this type of attic space was chosen even for the construction of palaces. Of course, it could decorate workshops, commercial buildings, etc. And despite the fact that they were used for its construction different materials, were chosen different styles, the attic still remained an attic - it has certain design features.

So, this building may have different geometric shape– triangular, broken, have symmetrical or, conversely, geometrically complex and non-standard slopes. It can be located both across the entire width of the building, and only on one side of it relative to the longitudinal axis.

Prices for timber

On a note! If the roof has a broken shape, then the lower part will have very steep slopes with an inclination angle of about 60-70 degrees, and on the top the slopes, on the contrary, will be flat (about 15-30 degrees).

But whatever the attic, it will be located within the walls of the main building. In relation to the external walls, the attic may be slightly wider, but then it rests on the ceiling extensions. If the offset is large, then you will have to install additional supports (for example, columns, walls, etc.).

Height mansard roof it cannot be less than 2.5 m, otherwise it will not be possible to create a spacious room under it. Windows, which also need to be provided here, will be manufactured using special technologies using durable tempered glass and a reliable frame. They will cost several times more than usual. And supporting structures can be made of reinforced concrete, metal or wood. But in the case of the latter, it is important to carefully consider fire safety measures.

The mansard roof is a multi-layer structure, which complicates installation. It can be insulated completely or only in the area where there is a living room - where there is heating. But in any case, the design of the attic implies the presence of rafters, a ridge, the roofing material itself, thermal and waterproofing, and a vapor barrier layer. The interfloor ceiling will serve as the foundation under the roof.

Rafters for an attic roof must have good load-bearing capacity. The cross-section of the materials used will depend on the angle of the roof slope and cannot be less than 5x15 cm at a pitch of 100 cm. If the slope angle is 45 degrees, then a pitch of 140 cm is maintained.

Attention! In areas where it snows frequently and the amount of precipitation is high, it is recommended to install rafters at intervals of no more than 80 cm.

If the attic will be used as a living space, it is important to consider that in this case there is a risk of formation large quantity condensation under the roof. Because of this, pockets of mold may appear inside the structure, fungus may develop, etc. The presence of a large amount of moisture will also negatively affect the insulating properties of the material. That is why it is important to follow all the rules for installing an attic roof, and the heat-insulating material must be reliably protected from moisture not only from the outside, but also from the inside, that is, a layer of vapor barrier material is also located on this side.

Important! Don’t forget about creating roof vents that will allow air to circulate quietly inside the roof structure and help remove condensation.

Types of mansard roofs

There are 4 main types of mansard roofs, which differ from each other design features. They can be divided into single-level and two-level. The first ones are the simplest to implement, usually combined with a broken line or gable roof with a slope angle of 35-45 degrees. The second involves the arrangement of two rooms at different levels. A mixed support system is used here.

On a note! When building an attic under a gable roof, the height of the walls can be no more than 1.5 m, followed by sloping ceilings. With a broken-shaped roof, the ceiling height along the perimeter of the walls is up to 2.5 m.

When building a house, you can choose one of the types of attics - a single-level attic with a gable roof, a single-level with a sloping roof, with external consoles, or a two-level with a special mixed type of supports.

Table. Main types of attics.

The attic roof can also have a balcony. It is created according to the principle of window construction. The main thing that load bearing capacity walls made it possible to equip it. By the way, the balcony can also be supported by columns, but in this case it is built above the entrance.

Types of rafters for attics

Rafter trusses can be of two types - and layered. You will have to choose between them depending on the method of attachment to the walls of the house. Hanging ones are simpler and are usually used for houses that do not have a middle load-bearing wall. The rafters rest only on the main walls of the house, without intermediate supports. The width of the span between the walls cannot be large - usually it does not exceed 6 m. If the span is larger (over 9 m), then it will be necessary to install struts and headstocks.

Layered rafters are usually used when creating houses with two spans, that is, those that have load-bearing wall in the middle. In this case, the rafters have three support points - directly this wall, as well as the main ones around the perimeter of the house.

Material for the manufacture of the rafter system

Rafters can be made of metal, reinforced concrete or wood. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Wooden rafters are environmentally friendly, they are easy to use, and can be easily adjusted to the desired size. But wooden structures They are afraid of excess moisture and are susceptible to the formation of mold and mildew.

On a note! Before construction wooden materials it is recommended to process protective compounds, which will extend their service life.

Metal and reinforced concrete structures You can not cover them with such compounds - fungus and mold do not appear on them. Due to this, they are considered more reliable and durable. But the main disadvantage is that, if necessary, adjusting them on site to the right sizes It will be difficult, and the slightest error in the calculations can lead to the fact that the roof will be skewed. Also a master who works with reinforced concrete or metal rafters, may encounter other difficulties - this is a large mass of products, which forces the use of special equipment even to lift elements.

Difficulties and features of arranging an attic roof

When designing and constructing an attic roof, a number of design features should be taken into account, based on which a number of operating rules are formed. For example, the power plate must be secured very securely anchor bolts. It is he who will experience the maximum load, and therefore support the entire roof. It is additionally recommended to wall up the anchors cement mixture, if the main walls of the house are made of stone, brick and other similar materials.

It is also important to remember the correct design and layers of the roof. For example, mansard roofs cannot be covered with metal roofing materials. They get very hot and on the top floor in the summer it will be too hot, there can simply be no talk of any comfortable living. It is not recommended to use roofing felt as a waterproofing material - when heated, it begins to smell specifically. It is best to cover the attic roof with slate or soft tiles. For thermal insulation, it is usually recommended to purchase mineral wool, which is laid with a waterproofing film on both sides.

It is difficult to imagine the modern design of a cottage or house without the presence of an attic floor. It is also being built everywhere in old houses in place of a dilapidated attic, thereby increasing the total living space. A do-it-yourself attic is a complex project, but doable.

Do-it-yourself attic construction - first steps

In fact, this is not so - most specialists in the field attic construction unanimously agree that from the angle of inclination and other changes in the design of the rafters, the walls experience enormous load and are subject to significant deformation. Therefore, before making an attic yourself, we highly recommend contacting a specialist so that he can carry out preliminary calculations and, based on them, draw up a design for a rafter system that is suitable in your case.

Construction of houses with an attic - choosing the right technology

Today there are quite a lot of buildings that have a clearly defined attic. This or absolutely new house, where the attic was designed in advance, or it was attached to an old building, which was originally thick-walled and solid. The easiest way to recognize an attic is by its gable sloping roof - this is the most suitable design for the construction of an attic floor.

The use of a gable sloping roof on the walls of a house compared to pitched roof exerts a huge burden. However for attic room it is much more convenient because it creates a lot of space inside.

The gable broken structure has a drawback - in the absence sufficient quantity load-bearing supports, the roof is less durable compared to a pitched roof roofing system, and additional load-bearing supports put additional pressure on the walls. The construction of a gable sloping roof, as a rule, requires the use of layered rafters, which require massive building walls that can withstand vertical and horizontal loads.

How to build a house with an attic - roofing system

The convenience of the attic space determines the ability to move around full height under the rafter system. Please note that for insulation you will need to allocate from 10 to 15 cm from each surface, including the ceiling. So the first impression about the height of the attic may be wrong. However, the safety of the entire structure should be put in the first position. To install additional reinforcing beams, it would be correct to cut off some part of the attic rather than risk destroying the entire roof frame.

Before building a house with an attic, prepare necessary tools and materials. With tools, everything is simple: a hammer, a hacksaw or a jigsaw, all kinds of measuring tools. Materials - nails or screws of various lengths, antifungal agent, 40 * 150 mm board for lathing at intervals, for creating a continuous sheathing - OSB sheets.

Type roofing determines the design of the sheathing. If you plan to use soft material for the roof, then the best option would be a continuous sheathing, and if it’s hard, use force own hands The sheathing is installed in a staggered manner. In the process of installing a wooden frame (rafters and sheathing), you should immediately make places for the location skylights. It is also necessary to think in advance about reliable fastening window frames

Attic in a private house - auxiliary elements

There are primary and secondary elements of the attic. The first includes insulation, rafters and supporting structures, and the second includes windows, doors and drainage systems. Both of them play important role. The hardest thing can be to decide on the windows. Before you start choosing windows for the attic, you need to clearly understand their purpose in terms of functionality. Today, the building materials market offers the buyer two types of windows - inclined and vertical.

It is known that the first ones are mounted directly in the roof plane and transmit 40–45% more natural (sun) light than vertical ones. But in winter, the slanted windows are covered with snow, which negatively affects both the overall illumination of the room and their technical condition. The doors to the attic act as a kind of connecting link between this room and the main building. They should be selected according to two main criteria: the first is strength, the second is good properties thermal insulation.

In addition, the doors should not stand out from the overall interior and there should be a free entrance to the attic through them. Creating an attic with your own hands is impossible without a drainage system. In this regard, with vertical windows much simpler, since they come complete with ebb and flow, but when installing inclined windows, you need to carefully consider the gutter system in advance, otherwise the room located under the attic will constantly experience negative impact excess water and moisture.