Hello!
We built a substantial deck last fall onto the house. I told the carpenters that we were considering building an enclosed patio/winter garden later, so they chose extra-dimensioned floor joists and put in additional supports and posts to ensure it would hold.
Now we can't stand the wind, rain, and other elements any longer and are thinking of starting with a winter garden in the spring.
The first question I'm pondering is the insulation of the floor framework. The joists are pressure-treated, and I've read here and there that these are not recommended in a framework because they sometimes give off a bad smell. But how is it with a crawlspace like this, which stands on pillars?
I was thinking about the floor construction like this: inside each "box," I screw in small strips, into which I then place either sub-floor boards or pieces of pressure-treated decking boards (the neighbor has demolished their deck, so we can get plenty of 22x95 for free). In each compartment, I lay insulation (about 180 mm). Then I staple a vapor barrier onto the framework, and on top of this, I either put back the old decking boards or two layers of chipboard flooring (we need to raise the floor so there won't be a threshold to the living room, as we're removing the patio door). On top of the chipboard flooring, I lay foam and parquet flooring.
It's not a 100% sealed "box" since it won't be airtight towards the ground, so any bad smells can be ventilated away, and the crawlspace itself is on post foundations, so the wind can sweep freely beneath since there's about 1 dm completely open all around.
Thoughts and tips? It would be really frustrating if I have to tear out half the deck and install non-pressure treated joists.
/S
We built a substantial deck last fall onto the house. I told the carpenters that we were considering building an enclosed patio/winter garden later, so they chose extra-dimensioned floor joists and put in additional supports and posts to ensure it would hold.
Now we can't stand the wind, rain, and other elements any longer and are thinking of starting with a winter garden in the spring.
The first question I'm pondering is the insulation of the floor framework. The joists are pressure-treated, and I've read here and there that these are not recommended in a framework because they sometimes give off a bad smell. But how is it with a crawlspace like this, which stands on pillars?
I was thinking about the floor construction like this: inside each "box," I screw in small strips, into which I then place either sub-floor boards or pieces of pressure-treated decking boards (the neighbor has demolished their deck, so we can get plenty of 22x95 for free). In each compartment, I lay insulation (about 180 mm). Then I staple a vapor barrier onto the framework, and on top of this, I either put back the old decking boards or two layers of chipboard flooring (we need to raise the floor so there won't be a threshold to the living room, as we're removing the patio door). On top of the chipboard flooring, I lay foam and parquet flooring.
It's not a 100% sealed "box" since it won't be airtight towards the ground, so any bad smells can be ventilated away, and the crawlspace itself is on post foundations, so the wind can sweep freely beneath since there's about 1 dm completely open all around.
Thoughts and tips? It would be really frustrating if I have to tear out half the deck and install non-pressure treated joists.
/S
Hello!huggan said:
That was a relief to hear, I was afraid that we and the construction company have made a huge mistake here.
I have two other questions regarding the construction that I'm hoping someone might be able to answer:
1) We have two options when it comes to building the winter garden. Either we build a one-story tile roof with open space up to the ridge, or we have considered utilizing the extension to also build an upper floor and thereby gain an extra bedroom, as we have a 1 1/2 story house. Roughly, how much more expensive could this become? Instinctively, it feels like the only additions would be a floor structure and some other roof trusses, and slightly larger dimensions on the supporting beams, as well as a window, a radiator, and some bits and pieces. We might also need to reinforce the plinth foundation with a few extra plinths. In my mind, it might be a 20% increase in cost. I'm afraid we might regret it in the future if the family grows.
2) For a winter garden/extension, do architects and structural engineers need to be hired to dimension everything, or is it enough to make a nice drawing with exterior measurements to submit for the building permit, or must the carpentry firm have everything dimensioned down to the last detail? In other words, is an architectural drawing (which I do myself) sufficient, or must there be a construction drawing? The extension will be almost identical to the Smålandsvillan Nybro and its angle, just with a few different measurements (30 cm longer and 40 cm wider). The style should be exactly like the main house, so the carpentry firm can take a peek at how it looks. I assume the roof trusses are calculated by the carpentry firm in a computer program and ordered pre-made to be lifted into place directly upon delivery. So, as much standard as possible.
Thank you in advance
S
