Rules for installing flooring in the attic?

[_ametist_]

Hello,
I'm planning to lay flooring in my attic, which is currently completely undeveloped—just framework and insulation today (townhouse).
However, I heard today that you might not should/may not do it because there's a risk of moisture damage.
Where can I find out if I can lay flooring and what requirements/regulations come with it?

Thank you!

 

[klaskarlsson]

Hi,
I am planning to lay a floor in my attic, which is currently completely undeveloped - just frame and insulation today (townhouse).
However, I heard today that you might not be able/allowed to do it due to the risk of moisture damage.
Where can I find out if I can lay a floor and what requirements/regulations come with it?

Thanks!

Moisture damage just because of flooring in the attic is hard for me to believe. Possibly if the house is very old and relies on more or less free movement of air and moisture from inside the house (i.e. very poorly insulated)?

However, it may be that it is a damp environment in the attic, so any items you place on the floor can get damaged.

 

[_ametist_]

Moisture damage solely due to flooring in the attic is hard for me to believe. Possibly if the house is very old and relies on more or less free movement of air and moisture from inside the house (i.e., very poorly insulated)?

Then it could be that it's a damp environment in the attic, so any items you place on the floor might get damaged.

Hello,
It's a townhouse that's about 14 years old, so not old.
There are similar townhouses built a bit from here by JM, where JM has explicitly told buyers not to furnish the attic.
So I need to find out if this applies to our houses as well.
Does anyone know where I can find this out?

Kind regards

 

[_ametist_]

Hi,
It is a row house that is approx. 14 years old, i.e. not old.
There are similar row houses built a bit away from here by JM, where JM has explicitly told the buyers not to furnish the attic.
So I need to investigate if this also applies to our houses.
Does anyone know where I can find this out?

Sincerely

Our houses are built by PEAB - and we get no info from there…

 

[klaskarlsson]

...
There are similar row houses built a bit away from here by JM, where JM has explicitly told buyers not to furnish the attic.

Didn't they say why?

It could be anything from the trusses not being able to take a load on the collar beams, to a hatch that opens often can let in moisture, etc. - things that mean they can't guarantee the functionality, even if it's not actually dangerous as such.

I find it very hard to believe the attic would suffer from moisture just because you lay a floor, or maybe even a half-floor: As long as you don't affect the insulation and air gaps, etc., of course.

But contact JM if it's their recommendation, and make sure to get an explanation too if they don't recommend it.

 

[_ametist_]

Did they not say why?

It could be anything from the roof trusses not being able to handle a load on the ceiling joists, to a hatch that is opened frequently letting in moisture, etc. - things that mean they can't guarantee the function, even if it's not actually dangerous per se.

I find it very hard to believe that the attic would suffer from moisture just because you lay a floor, or maybe even a half-floor: As long as you don't affect the insulation and air gaps etc. of course.

But contact JM if it is their recommendation, and make sure to get an explanation if they don't recommend it.

I thought there were building codes that could help here, so I wonder where I can find that information.
Could JM be completely wrong? Or do they have a point…
I don't want to build something that causes damage to the house, and no insurance would cover it because I've deviated from building codes....
But I would very much like to utilize the attic space if possible.

 

[klaskarlsson]

Thought there were building regulations that could help here, so I wonder where I can find that info. Maybe JM is completely wrong? Or maybe they have a point... I don't want to build something that causes damage to the house and no insurance applies because I deviated from building regulations…. But I would very much like to use the space in the attic if possible.

There are no building regulations that say you can't have a floor in the attic per se. In BBR there are rules about fire spread and room height and what applies to attics as living spaces, etc. - but those are completely different things.

However, there may be certain constructions that make it more or less suitable, e.g. the design of roof trusses, so it depends on how JM has built it.

That it would "cause" moisture in the attic, however, I find incredibly hard to believe - if you don't affect the insulation or the ventilation in the attic otherwise, it shouldn't make any difference at all.

 

[Ossian K Olsson]

Thought there were building codes that could help here, so I'm wondering where I can find that info.
JM might be completely wrong? Or maybe they have a point…
I don't want to build something that causes damage to the house and no insurance applies because I've deviated from building codes….
But would very much like to use the attic space if it's possible.

What are you planning to use the attic for? Are you going to convert it or is it for storage?

 

[_ametist_]

There are no building codes that say you can't have flooring in the attic per se. The BBR contains rules about band spreading and ceiling height and what applies for an attic as living space, etc. - but these are completely different things.

However, there may be certain constructions that make it more or less suitable, such as the design of trusses, so it depends on how JM has built it.

I find it incredibly hard to believe that it would "cause" moisture in the attic - if you don't affect the insulation or ventilation in the attic otherwise, it shouldn't matter at all

Using part of the attic space as, for example, a gaming area or guest room is in the plans, so the next question is what applies then. I've understood that there must be a certain ceiling height, for example.
Where can I find this regulation?
But initially, just for storage.

 

[_ametist_]

What are you planning to use the attic for? Are you going to furnish it or is it for storage?

Initially just for storage.
But I'm considering, if possible, converting part of it into a gaming area for my son or a guest room.

 

[BirgitS]

If someone is to stay there for a longer period, especially to sleep, one needs to consider fire safety. It must be possible to exit if there is a fire even if the staircase is filled with smoke. At least previously, a building permit was required to convert an attic into living space.

A structural engineer can examine what load the attic can bear.

 

[_ametist_]

If someone is going to stay there for a longer period, especially sleeping, you need to consider fire safety. There should be a way to get out if there's a fire, even if the stairs are smoke-filled. In any case, it used to require a building permit to convert an attic storage space into living space.

A structural engineer can examine what load the attic can handle.

Ok!
There is a hatch in the ceiling, so an escape route is already available.
I need to check the load the attic can handle. Shouldn't this be stated in some construction document (the townhouse is relatively new, only 14 years old, so the documents should still be available?)?
I understood that there are also requirements regarding, for example, ceiling height, right?
There should be someone I can talk to for answers on this at some building committee or similar. Where can I find this person?

 

[BirgitS]

Can you find the sunroof if there's no electricity?
Is it easy to get out through it?

It's probably quite common that the building permit departments have open reception sometimes or that it's possible to book an appointment with an officer.

 

[klaskarlsson]

Ok!
There is a hatch in the ceiling, so there is already an escape route. I need to check the load capacity of the attic. Shouldn't that be in some building documentation (the townhouse is relatively new, 14 years for us so the documentation should still exist)?
I understood that there are also requirements for things like ceiling height, right?
There should be a person I can talk to for answers on this at some building committee or so. Where can I find this person?

A hatch in the ceiling, with a ladder or stairs is one thing - but then there must also be a safe way down from the roof.

For the construction, it's advisable to hire a structural engineer who can come and check the construction (and review the drawings) and then make a proposal. The minimum height of a living space is 1.9 m, if you have lower, you must raise the ceiling. A building permit will likely be required for these measures.

I insulated my townhouse attic several years ago, but with the goal of NOT turning it into a living space and juggled with the municipality's building permit department for a couple of months about how I could proceed to avoid reclassifying the space and avoid a building permit, etc., as I just wanted to insulate for better storage.

In the end, it worked: firstly, the space is < 1.9 m in height. It's not furnished for living, and there are no windows, but there's a permanent attic staircase, which is behind a fireproof door (which is required if it is over 2 stories). In my case, no alterations to the load-bearing structures were needed and the attic was already intended for storage, so no change of use.

 

[krambriw]

Depending on the intended use area, an uninsulated cold attic is quite poor for storage - everything up there is exposed to alternating high and low temperatures and changing humidity, which actually breaks down everything organic quite quickly - varnished furniture, for example, tends to have the varnish start cracking, plastic and textile materials break down, and everything often becomes dirty and dusty - if it is built right with good ventilation since dust is brought in with the new air via the wind. Additionally, you shouldn't put up a lot of stuff and things that can block/negatively affect that important natural ventilation. If you haven't had moisture problems before, you may get them then.