Hello! Can someone with some construction knowledge answer whether it is technically possible to build a room in the attic of a single-story house.
The house is one story with a 27-degree roof angle. Built in '88.
What would be the interior height measurement?
I understand that it won't be 2.40 meters, but what will it actually be?
We are not allowed to build 1.5 stories according to the zoning plan and simply need more space.
I'm not interested in opinions suggesting it's cheaper/easier to move. We've just been through that journey. We've considered all possible alternatives like building new and buying existing properties. EVERYTHING is too expensive in the end compared to our current living situation.
We have an ideal spot for a potential spiral staircase in the middle of the house to reach up.
We wish to have a room of about 10 sqm for an office and a room for some exercise, also about 10 sqm. So, no water/sewage, etc... We have air-borne heating, so ducts for that are not a problem to connect to. The plan is to build on one end of the house and install a round window in the gable (for the office). The exercise room doesn't need a window and can function as a common area before the office or something. Possibly a skylight there then...
If you have ideas or personal experiences with this, please share
The house is one story with a 27-degree roof angle. Built in '88.
What would be the interior height measurement?
I understand that it won't be 2.40 meters, but what will it actually be?
We are not allowed to build 1.5 stories according to the zoning plan and simply need more space.
I'm not interested in opinions suggesting it's cheaper/easier to move. We've just been through that journey. We've considered all possible alternatives like building new and buying existing properties. EVERYTHING is too expensive in the end compared to our current living situation.
We have an ideal spot for a potential spiral staircase in the middle of the house to reach up.
We wish to have a room of about 10 sqm for an office and a room for some exercise, also about 10 sqm. So, no water/sewage, etc... We have air-borne heating, so ducts for that are not a problem to connect to. The plan is to build on one end of the house and install a round window in the gable (for the office). The exercise room doesn't need a window and can function as a common area before the office or something. Possibly a skylight there then...
If you have ideas or personal experiences with this, please share
In certain zoning plans it is explicitly stated that "attic may not be furnished" so check the plan thoroughly first.
What do the roof trusses look like in the attic, is there room for a room without needing to modify the trusses? How does the ventilation, insulation, etc. work?
I have a couple of friends who are considering the same thing, they have quite a large attic in a one-story house, however, their problem is where to place the staircase on the ground floor and that the roof trusses probably need to be modified.
What do the roof trusses look like in the attic, is there room for a room without needing to modify the trusses? How does the ventilation, insulation, etc. work?
I have a couple of friends who are considering the same thing, they have quite a large attic in a one-story house, however, their problem is where to place the staircase on the ground floor and that the roof trusses probably need to be modified.
The first question is what type of trusses you have, do they need to be rebuilt or is there space "under" them.
When it comes to ceiling height, it depends on how thick insulation you need. Most will probably say anything between 300-500mm, but if you need the space, I think 200 can suffice. The ceiling on the attic will then end up about 270 mm below the outer roof (boarding, air gap min 25mm, 200mm insulation, battens 28mm and plasterboard/panel 13 mm).
Based on this, you should be able to go up to the attic and test how it will be and what you can fit.
However, I believe that a building permit is required to convert the attic into living space, also to install new windows. So if the municipality does not want 1.5 stories in the area, it might be tricky.
When it comes to ceiling height, it depends on how thick insulation you need. Most will probably say anything between 300-500mm, but if you need the space, I think 200 can suffice. The ceiling on the attic will then end up about 270 mm below the outer roof (boarding, air gap min 25mm, 200mm insulation, battens 28mm and plasterboard/panel 13 mm).
Based on this, you should be able to go up to the attic and test how it will be and what you can fit.
However, I believe that a building permit is required to convert the attic into living space, also to install new windows. So if the municipality does not want 1.5 stories in the area, it might be tricky.
Yeah exactly, we are not allowed to furnish the attic either!!!
But as I see it, they can't really do much about the situation if I furnish it anyway. i.e., the only thing visible from the outside is my round window in the gable peak. It's facing a large spruce hedge so no one really sees it.
Otherwise, someone from the municipality would have to make a home visit and discover it?? Seems unlikely.
Really... Who cares if I have a furnished attic or not? Just because some idiot city planner wrote it in the detailed plan 25 years ago!!! Fool!!
But as I see it, they can't really do much about the situation if I furnish it anyway. i.e., the only thing visible from the outside is my round window in the gable peak. It's facing a large spruce hedge so no one really sees it.
Otherwise, someone from the municipality would have to make a home visit and discover it?? Seems unlikely.
Really... Who cares if I have a furnished attic or not? Just because some idiot city planner wrote it in the detailed plan 25 years ago!!! Fool!!
I think about the same way as you. My house is from 1907 and there are no drawings at the municipality, so I change arbitrarily They can't know if I've renovated something that's been there for 100 years or if it's new and they're not likely to be particularly interested unless you do something drastic....
They can't know if I've renovated something that's been there for 100 years or if it's new and they're not likely to be particularly interested unless you do something drastic....Probably you have a free-standing W-truss for the roof on that house. This means that from the ridge, there are two sloped 'supports' towards the lower chord. These supports are usually the biggest obstacle to utilizing the attic space. If you remove them and replace them with vertical ones that land against the upper chord quite a bit from the ridge towards the eaves, you disturb the entire function of the truss.
The lower chord is also not dimensioned to take any load other than what comes from insulation and storage (about 50 kg/sqm) and therefore cannot handle the load increase that comes with utilizing the attic space.
Therefore, do not even think in terms of 'decorating' the attic, whether someone can see it or not. You will probably have other problems if you do so, which are worse than being caught with unauthorized construction.
Addition:
Instead, investigate the possibility of building an extension. It does not cost much to build rooms since it is not a technical space like a kitchen, bathroom, WC, and laundry room.
____________________________
The Builder
The lower chord is also not dimensioned to take any load other than what comes from insulation and storage (about 50 kg/sqm) and therefore cannot handle the load increase that comes with utilizing the attic space.
Therefore, do not even think in terms of 'decorating' the attic, whether someone can see it or not. You will probably have other problems if you do so, which are worse than being caught with unauthorized construction.
Addition:
Instead, investigate the possibility of building an extension. It does not cost much to build rooms since it is not a technical space like a kitchen, bathroom, WC, and laundry room.
____________________________
The Builder
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Yes, there's probably nothing to do then...
Unfortunately, we cannot build any wider. We've already expanded once (12 sqm). We have fixed measurements against the neighbors and we're not getting anywhere, so to speak.
It sucks, you could say!
Unfortunately, we cannot build any wider. We've already expanded once (12 sqm). We have fixed measurements against the neighbors and we're not getting anywhere, so to speak.
It sucks, you could say!
But do you have W trusses in the roof trusses? If the trusses aren't modified, then I think it's not a big deal to furnish the attic.... Maybe you have to reinforce the floor, and there's quite a bit of hassle with insulation, etc., but it's not difficult...
A basement of 20sqm could also be an option. Or furnishing the garage.