if you have Vacation home, then you have probably thought more than once about turning your attic space into a cozy attic. This is an excellent alternative to building a second floor. A do-it-yourself attic will allow you to significantly expand the living space, increase the number of rooms, and change the appearance of the house. It can be used as an office, a nursery, a winter garden, a place to gather with friends... How to build an attic and make these dreams come true - read in this article.

An attic or attic floor is a room built under the roof of a house. This concept was introduced by the French architect Francois Mansart, who came up with the purpose of the attic back in the 17th century. And today, attics are actively used to expand living space and increase the comfort of the home.

Do-it-yourself attic construction: stages

In order for the attic floor to become functional, it must be built or converted. Building an attic is a complex technological process that requires precise calculations; not everyone can do this. The construction of an attic consists of the following stages:

• dismantling the old roofing system;
• strengthening wall structures;
• insulation and waterproofing of the room;
• construction of end walls;

What you need to know before making an attic with your own hands

Exist general rules. It is preferable to plan the installation of an attic at the design stage of the house. This will make it possible to correctly calculate its load-bearing structures and properly organize construction. If a house with an attic is built according to a ready-made drawing, it provides for the use of additional fortifications.

Scheme of the roof of the attic floor, construction of a house made of timber

But also on finished house an extension can be built mansard type. In what case can an attic floor be completed?

If you plan to build this room in a finished house, you need to take into account several important factors. Construction of an attic requires not only adherence to a certain technology for performing the work, but also an assessment of the condition of the house before construction. It is necessary to carry out a calculation that will show whether the house can withstand the addition of a floor. The foundation and walls of the building are checked.

If this is an old house, then the walls of the structure are dilapidated and will not support the weight attic floor. Old foundation during the construction of the attic structure it can crack and “float”.

Do-it-yourself construction of an attic floor is also not recommended on buildings made of brick and foam blocks. The reason is that these are very fragile materials from which load-bearing walls cannot be made.

Attic floor superstructure, photo

Important: At the design stage, it is necessary to provide for the remoteness of all communications from the attic floor. Also at this stage, the roof structure, its elements, and appearance are determined so that it blends harmoniously with the house.

The construction project must include insulation and finishing of the attic floor. The extension must be well insulated so that it retains heat and the structure itself can breathe.

How to make an attic with your own hands with high quality

The construction of the attic floor requires the use of the following materials:

• wall panels for covering the ends of the building;
• beams for the construction of an attic roof;
• wooden crossbars;
• roofing material for the roof;
• insulation for walls and pitched roofs;
• insulating materials;

Please note: Materials for construction should be light so as not to weigh down the floors between floors.

Design

The construction of a wooden attic begins with the development of a project. At the design stage, calculations and selection of the roof structure are made.

Roof structure

The constructed room can be triangular, broken, asymmetrical in shape, occupy the space above the entire house, or only above a part of it. It depends on the type of roof.

The most simple design- single-slope. It is a plane fixed on load-bearing walls Oh different heights, and tilted to one side.

We build an attic with our own hands - a lean-to structure

The most common is the gable roof, which consists of two inclined planes, not adjusted in opposite directions.

Cozy country house with a gable roof

There is also a broken attic design. It is used in big houses and consists of two or more parts that form a broken line.

A sloping roof is used to enlarge the attic space, or for decorative purposes

A hipped roof is also found in the construction of country houses.

The roof, which has four slopes, makes the attic structure comfortable for living.

To give the house an original shape, complex conical, domed and pyramidal roofs are built.

Attic with a domed structure

Advice: When choosing a roof structure during the construction process, be sure to take into account its load on the foundation. It is also important to follow the same style of finishing of the roof of the attic floor and the house so that it meets the design and operational requirements.

The mansard roof can be of any shape. It is mounted on a special frame, built taking into account the desired parameters of the future room.

As a rule, the roof is laid on a frame with a slope angle of 30-60˚ and combines the roof itself, the ceiling and the walls.

The best option is a gable sloping roof, which provides more living space. For its construction, inclined rafter systems are used, which are fastened to the walls of the building. They must be strong enough to withstand vertical and horizontal loads.

On a note: It may be necessary to construct additional internal walls, which will be used as load-bearing structures to support the roof.

We are building an attic - the general design of the structure

Rafter system - roof frame. Subsequently, the sheathing is attached to it and mounted finishing coat. The building frame is processed by special means for protection against fire and moisture.

If the installation of an attic was not initially included in the house design, care should be taken to install stairs, windows, as well as heat and sound insulation of the room.

To maintain heat in the house, tiles, slate, and plastic coverings should be used as roofing materials.

Important: Work on the construction of an attic floor requires high professionalism and deep knowledge of construction technology. Constructing an attic roof with your own hands, without experience in performing this type of work, can have undesirable consequences.

Glazing

The phased construction of the roof also includes the installation of windows in the attic floor. They are vertical and pitched. Their angle of inclination must coincide with the slope of the roof. The windows are located at a height of 70 cm, 1 m from the floor.

Installing pitched windows allows more light to enter the room on the top floor, and at night they offer a beautiful view of the starry sky

The choice of windows for a built attic depends entirely on the preferences of the home owner, but we should not forget that they must be of high quality.

Installation of an attic window

When the room is built and windows are installed, the attic floor is connected to the rest of the living space using a ladder and finishing work is performed.

How to properly and efficiently organize the construction of an attic with your own hands - video:

Construction of an attic - options

Can be erected in a short time frame attic with your own hands.

It can be built simultaneously with the construction of a house made of wood or timber.

DIY wooden frame attic, photo

This perfect option for a quick and inexpensive expansion of living space by adding an attic floor.

The log attic looks beautiful and colorful

Also additional floor can be built on the finished foundation of a brick house.

Wooden structure on the base of a brick and aerated concrete house

In large houses with a strong foundation, the frame of the structure can be made of metal.

Metal frame of the attic floor

An example of how a cozy attic is created from an old attic with your own hands - video:

Bottom line

The attic floor in many houses has long ceased to be empty - it began to be used as an additional functional room. Completing an attic in a house or in a country house with your own hands will give you the opportunity to get a full second floor, which you can use at your discretion.

The construction of an attic floor is possible both during the construction of the house itself and after, if these actions were not originally planned. In both cases, do-it-yourself attic - this good way.

Construction of an attic floor with attic walls

With an attic wall, as a rule, an attic is installed, as in the diagram above. In the case of making a hipped sloping roof, such walls do not need to be built. The design provides the height necessary for comfortable use of the room.

Do-it-yourself frame attic: construction is carried out from wood, there is no need to attach attic walls

Reinforcing lining of the walls of the attic floor

Now it is necessary to perform the reinforcing lining of the walls. Its installation is required regardless of whether we laid attic walls or not. This will ensure the strength of the structure made of aerated concrete or brick and will prevent it from creeping to the sides. Also, by tying the floor, the mauerlat will be attached, on which, in turn, we will build.

The reinforcing strapping is made monolithic and runs inextricably along the entire perimeter of the walls. It is assembled from longitudinal reinforcement rods intercepted with clamps. In the picture below you can see what this design looks like. The distance between the longitudinal rods may vary depending on the thickness of the walls.

How to build an attic: construction of an armored belt in cross section

Important: The reinforcing strapping must be connected only with clamps; welding cannot be used. The structure of the building will never be 100% static, and even with small movements the welded frame may break. The use of clamps will give the armored belt the necessary elasticity.

We arrange permanent formwork for strapping. To do this, we use either U-shaped blocks, as in the upper part of the picture, or, if the walls are brick, we make prefabricated formwork. You can see both options in the photo.

Do-it-yourself attic: photo of laying the armored belt frame in foam block formwork

When the framing frame is laid in the formwork, we install studs or anchors with threads and a nut into it for the subsequent installation of the Mauerlat. Studs must be taken with a diameter of 12 mm, the distance between them is 1.0 m.

Attic construction: the reinforcing belt is filled with concrete, anchors are visible from the outside

Important: Between the frame and the outer wall of the formwork it is necessary to lay a layer of insulation. In the future, it will have to dock with, so the same material should be used in both. Thermal insulation should protrude to the surface to the thickness of the Mauerlat.

We fill the frame with concrete and wait until it hardens completely, after which we can continue construction.

Attic floor superstructure: an armored belt with insulation is installed on the attic wall

Now we build the gables. They can be either with or without windows - in this case the window openings are made in. After this, you can begin installing the Mauerlats. In the photo you see the construction of an attic floor with your own hands with the construction of attic walls.

Do-it-yourself attic, photo taken during the construction of the gables

DIY attic: the video contains useful information that is worth studying before starting construction.

Mauerlat installation

The Mauerlat is made from timber with a cross-section of 150 mm. If there are no beams of the required length, then we connect several short ones using anchors. We drill holes in the beams for the anchors, which we previously installed in the reinforced belt of the attic floor.

We lay a layer of moisture insulation on the armored belt. Roofing material cut into strips is suitable for this purpose. The material is overlapped and fused. Now we lay the Mauerlat so that the anchors fit into the holes made for them, and tighten everything with bolts from above. We leave the structure to stand for two or three days, then tighten the bolts again. The figure below shows a diagram of attaching the Mauerlat to the armored belt of the attic floor.

Attic design: installation of a Mauerlat frame

If the house is built of logs, then the installation of a mauerlat will not be required; the rafters will rest against the upper logs of the load-bearing walls.

How to properly attach an attic floor: resting the rafters on a load-bearing wall log

Do-it-yourself attic construction: video of mounting the Mauerlat.

Important: Before installation, the Mauerlat beams, like the entire rafter system, must be treated with an antiseptic compound. If this is not done, the frame will be susceptible to fungal infections and rotting, which can lead to loss of strength and, consequently, destruction of the entire attic roof structure.

Now that the installation of the Mauerlat has been completed, you can begin construction and laying thermal insulation on the gables and walls and finishing work.

Making an addition to the attic floor

Building an attic that was not previously planned will cause you certain troubles: both the construction itself and obtaining permission for it. However, the result will fully justify the effort expended. Despite some time and financial costs, building an attic with your own hands will be more profitable than purchasing a separate house or apartment.

Important: Before making an attic on an old house in which it was not planned, you must first find out whether this is possible. The extension will increase the load on the walls and foundation of the house, and to assess their load-bearing capacity you will have to call a specialist who will carry out the necessary

Construction work on the attic floor

Once all permits for the superstructure have been obtained and its drawing has been made, construction can begin. First of all, we need to dismantle the roof and the old rafter system, and then the floor gables. The latter are dismantled due to the fact that we will need to increase their height.

Raising the pediments should be carried out to the height of the mauerlat - approximately two bricks, or to the height of the attic wall, if one is being built. The picture shows what it will look like. Alternatively, stone gables can be replaced with sip panels, which will reduce the load on the foundation and walls.

We build an attic with our own hands: raising the gables

The next step in the addition of an unplanned attic floor is the installation of the Mauerlat. If we build an attic with an attic wall, then further actions can be produced using the technology described above for complex construction. If this wall is not built, then the Mauerlats will have to be secured using brackets and wooden corks. In the figure below you can see how this can be done.

How to make an attic with your own hands: fastening mauerlats using brackets

Important: the beams for the construction of the mauerlat should be as long as possible. The fewer butt joints there are, the stronger the entire structure will be. In addition, if the Mauerlat is made under frame roof and has the shape of a closed frame, it must be reinforced at the corners with brackets.

If you have made such a decision on how to build an attic, it will be correct. Before building an attic in existing house, first you need to decide on its shape, and whether the roof will be completely converted into an attic floor or not.
After all, the construction of an attic is considered not only more economical, but is also a process that will require much less labor in comparison with the construction of the next floor. It is these facts that make the construction of an attic very popular. Projects country houses with an attic, as a rule, they have a special or, as builders call it, a “broken” roof, since it makes it possible to make maximum use of the usable area.

When deciding how to build an attic, special attention must be paid to the quality of the roof. Since it must have not only aesthetic appearance, but also have excellent thermal insulation, and also have good waterproofing. The best thermal insulation material for roofing is either slate or ceramic tiles, but in no case use metal tiles, as they tend to get very hot in the sun. In this case, how to build an attic with your own hands? On initial stage During the construction of a building, it is possible to make calculations of the load-bearing structure with maximum accuracy.

It should be taken into account that the rafters must be installed at an angle (from 30 to 60°), since an increase in the degree of inclination leads to a decrease in the usable area of ​​the attic.
To solve the problem, you can insulate the attic from the inside using mineral wool.

A residential attic space requires a large layer of insulation. The material must meet the requirements fire safety and not be toxic. Mineral wool is one of the most suitable options.

Types of material

The main types of mineral wool are basalt wool and glass. Each has its own properties, pros and cons.
Basalt wool

Basalt wool is produced from gabbro-basalt rock. Carbonate rocks are specially added to it, which allows you to regulate the acidity module. Material with higher acidity is more resistant to moisture and more durable. Adding to basalt wool binders: bitumen, synthetic, composite, bentonite clays - holds fibers together and helps give the desired shape.

Glass wool

Glass wool is mineral material, for the production of which raw materials used in glass production are used, as well as waste and broken glass.

The properties of glass wool are different from basalt, its thickness is 3–15 microns, and its length is several times greater than basalt. Therefore, glass wool slabs are more elastic, have greater strength, and are resistant to vibrations. Glass wool is fire resistant and can withstand temperatures up to 450 °C.

Despite all the advantages of glass wool, there is one significant drawback that reduces the popularity of its use. When laying this material, many small particles are formed that are harmful to health. Therefore, installation is carried out in special clothing, shoes, and a protective mask. You won’t be able to clean them after work; you’ll have to throw them away.

Nuances of isolation

When insulating a roof, it is better to use cellulose wool, it provides better moisture conductivity and does not allow moist air to accumulate under the roof.

The main difficulties of insulation appear when working on the slopes of a roof that has a truss structure.

Here it is necessary to use dense wool, which can be securely placed between the rafters. It should be light and elastic.

The main advantages of mineral wool remain its non-flammability, soundproofness, good thermal insulation properties, vapor permeability, high environmental friendliness, and relatively affordable price. It is produced in slabs, mats, cylinders, and there are options coated with foil.

If the size of the insulation is larger than the distance between the rafters, it is cut into the necessary pieces, adding a few centimeters for a tight fit.

This method is well suited for insulating attics and living spaces located directly under the roof. The disadvantage can be considered a decrease internal dimensions due to a layer of wool, drywall and additional finishing.

Thermal insulation methods

Depending on which structural element of the building is insulated, there are 2 ways to insulate the roof from the inside.

Thermal insulation of the floor

The first option is to insulate the floor. The method is inexpensive and very easy to implement. Consists of laying cotton wool on concrete plates grounds or, in the case wooden floor, between structural elements. Any type of mineral wool will do, even soft and granular. Installation is simple, there is no need to go around the rafters, as when insulating roof slopes, you can easily fill all the gaps and cracks.

Thermal protection of stingrays

The second option is to insulate the roof slopes. If the room in the attic is not used, then this option is not economically viable. The consumption of materials increases significantly, more time is required due to bypassing the rafters and additional fastening mineral wool.

Insulation of slopes can be done in two ways: on top of open rafters or between them. With the first option, wooden beams remain visible indoors and have an additional decorative function.

Sequence of work

Regardless of which method of mineral wool insulation is used, the general algorithm of actions is as follows: surface preparation, waterproofing, installation of insulation, laying a vapor barrier, sheathing.

Preparatory activities

Before starting work on thermal insulation, the surface to be insulated must be prepared. The structure is inspected, if necessary, identified defects are eliminated, and cleaned of dirt and debris. Preparatory work also includes calculating the amount of material.

The thickness of the insulating layer should be at least 15–20 cm, so if you choose wool of a smaller thickness, it will need to be laid in two layers.

Waterproofing

To protect the roof from moisture, waterproofing is installed on the insulated surface. It is laid overlapping, secured with a stapler and gluing the joints with tape.

Important to install waterproofing membrane so that between it and the insulation remains ventilation gap, and the material completely covered the entire rafter system and slightly extended onto the walls.

Then, over the insulation, a batten of battens is nailed to the rafters, which will secure the material and provide a ventilation gap. It is better to treat all wooden structural elements with a special antiseptic.

Laying insulation

After installing the waterproofing, you can begin installing the insulation. To do this, mineral wool is cut into pieces approximately 5 cm wider than the distance between the rafter beams. Then, after installation, the material will straighten out and better fill the space. Installation of mineral wool should be carried out in such a way that the material fits as tightly as possible to the beams and there are no gaps left.

Arrangement of vapor barrier

After laying the insulation, it is necessary to protect it from water vapor coming from inside the room. If this is not done, mineral wool will gradually get wet and lose its thermal insulation properties. Therefore, a vapor barrier is installed on top of the insulation. Special foil materials are used as a vapor barrier, polyethylene films or roofing felt.

To ensure tightness, the vapor barrier is laid with overlapping layers, and the seams are taped. It is important to install foil vapor barriers with the metallized side inside the attic. The structure is fixed with wooden slats, onto which the sheathing (lining or drywall) is subsequently attached.

Roof insulation with mineral wool is one of the most available ways arrangement of a warm and cozy attic. The main thing is to strictly follow the technology. And then everything will work out.

Try to pay attention to insulating the attic roof Special attention. If the roof is not insulated, do not expect heat in the attic. A roof is a roofing covering. The mansard roof is " roofing pie", consisting of several layers: a vapor barrier layer on the inside, a waterproofing layer on the outside, insulation between them and an air gap.

Various materials are used as insulation. The characteristics of the materials used depend on several factors: functional purpose room, humidity level, critical temperatures, loads, and so on. Non-flammable basalt materials are the best option.

Various materials are used as insulation for the attic from the inside. The most popular and simplest is mineral wool.

Polystyrene foam is not recommended. It's flammable. Has poor vapor conductivity. Mineral wool is perfect. It is pressed into a slab. WITH inside, a vapor barrier layer is located. On the outside there is waterproofing (special layer).

Nowadays, the use of sprayed polyurethane foam to insulate the attic from the inside has become quite popular. This method is also quite economical and very effective.

If an attic is made from an old attic, then, as a rule, the rafters are retained. The load is minimized by using low-density insulation materials, since they are much lighter. The disadvantage is that they are blown by the wind. Additionally, windproof, vapor-permeable material is laid.

Approach the installation of insulation with due care. Do not forget about the presence of sufficient ventilation space between the roof covering and the insulating layer.

The attic is warm in winter and cool in summer only when all the work on insulating the walls and roof is done correctly. Do not ignore these rules and your budget will have a tangible effect.

Attic - fashionable architectural element. F. Mansara (French architect) three centuries ago was the first to use attic space not only for economic purposes, but also for housing.

Nowadays it is quite widely in demand in civil and industrial construction. IN individual construction the attic is experiencing a real boom. It is equipped both during the construction of a new house and during the repair of attic spaces (roofs).

The house takes on an expressive appearance, and the attic space is used functionally and efficiently. The area occupied by the attic is decent. Additional space for a nice recreation room (billiard room) or a wonderful summer bedroom. Keeping it warm and dry will make it habitable.

A well-insulated and well-made attic can become an excellent relaxation and work room.

How to properly insulate an attic from the inside? A pre-developed project is required. It will allow you to prepare well and provide for all the nuances. A competent approach to attic insulation and mandatory use quality materials will help you avoid mistakes that can play a very bad role over time.

In a private home, as a rule, there are large heat losses. Basically, this happens through the ceiling and upper floors. The processes of wetting (drying) of insulation occurring under the roof worsen its quality. Microclimate disturbances often cause cold inside the house. This occurs mainly due to poor quality construction work associated with the attic.

It is recommended to insulate the attic not only from the outside, but also from the inside. Insulation is a technically quite complex process. The impressive area of ​​the attic floor, its maximum contact with external environment, the complexity of the design requires certain knowledge and skills from the one who will be involved in its insulation.

Attic structures are distinguished by the fact that they can be constructed from the most various materials, for example, made of wood, metal, reinforced concrete. There are no restrictions here, you just need to ensure stability and proper insulation. Ceilings in rooms can also be very different: inclined, flat with one inclined wall, formed by two slopes converging at an acute angle. All this and much more has made the attic so popular for more than four hundred years.

The main advantages of such a roof are as follows:

1. The possibility of adding an attic, that is, using the infrastructure of an existing building. In this case, there is no need to completely disassemble the entire roof, which allows significant savings during the work. This is an additional floor that can be used for its intended purpose.

2. The living space of the house is increased by reconstructing an unused attic space. This allows you to add a full second floor at relatively low cost.

3. In places with fairly dense buildings, an attic second floor is the best way out.

4. The appearance of the building improves, the structure acquires a finished, holistic appearance.

5. Attics can be built on more than just one level. If necessary and compliance with all rules and requirements, it is possible to build a two-tier attic, which will decorate any building, adding additional living space to it.

6. When constructing an attic, heat loss through the roof of the house is greatly reduced. This also results in lower heating costs during the winter months.

7. Construction of attics is possible even in a residential building without the need to move out residents. To do this, it is not necessary to use heavy construction equipment; all work is carried out directly on the roof of the building in the shortest possible time. New floor can be erected practically without problems and costs.

But the construction of an attic also has its disadvantages, as with any structure. It is worth noting such disadvantages as:

1. When constructing such a room, some of the usable space is lost.

2. Beveled and sloping ceilings greatly reduce the height of the walls; ceilings in attics are usually low, not exceeding 2.4 meters.

3. In many cases, windows can only be located in the ceiling, which is not always convenient.

4. Rafter structures begin to quickly degrade due to lack of ventilation. Typically, their service life is about three times less than with a cold attic.

5. Large amounts of snow often accumulate on roof windows in winter, which reduces the level of already insufficient lighting.
Types of designs

When deciding how to make an attic, you must first decide what type of rafter system will be used. Characteristic feature attic structure are its broken, rather steep configurations, but we must not forget that this is not an aesthetic function, but a purely practical one. Such broken shapes provide:

· correct transfer of all loads to load-bearing walls;

· allow you to effectively protect the entire structure from precipitation;

· give resistance to such negative phenomena as sudden temperature changes, rainfall, snowfall, formation large quantity ice.

The most simple form a residential attic is a triangle, the most complex one is with a break. All horizontal joists and vertical racks It is recommended to make it from thin wooden beams.

Among the rafter systems used for the attic floor, the most commonly used are:

1. Hanging type rafters. They rest on the walls, creating a horizontal load. If you decide to build an attic second floor using this type of rafter system, then you need to take into account the design features. To connect the beams here intermediate supports are not used, only special puffs made of metal or wood.

2. The inclined type of rafter system is recommended for small cottages in which the load-bearing wall is located in the center or there are intermediate supports. The rafters rest on the outer walls, the middle part of the structure rests on the inner wall. Apply this simple system it is possible only for those houses in which the distance between separate load-bearing walls is no more than six and a half meters.

3. Hanging and inclined rafters can be in the form of right triangles, which have a stop behind the load-bearing wall. In this case, there is no need to erect a mauerlat; ordinary beams are used for rafters. Struts are required, all racks cut into the floor beams, rafters are secured with anchors.
Construction stages

So how to properly assemble an attic structure? The sequence of all work should be strictly observed, which will allow you to build a strong, reliable attic. It is imperative to correctly determine all loads, which only experienced designers can do.

The construction of the attic involves the following work:

1. Dismantling the old roof. In this case, it is not necessary to completely disassemble the ceiling. Unless this is provided for by the project.

2. If necessary, the floor structures are strengthened. This is done so that the second floor (attic) does not place unnecessary loads. If necessary, an additional layer of waterproofing is laid at this stage.

3. Construction of the rafter system, insulation of the attic itself.

4. Installation of windows.

5. Internal and external finishing of the building.

To build an attic, it is recommended to use wooden beams that have a cross-section of fifty by one hundred and fifty centimeters. In this case, the following sequence of work is observed: first, the frame of the future structure is made, after which the support beams and rafters are strengthened. After installing the stepped bevels, waterproofing work and installation of insulation are carried out. Now you can strengthen the sheathing and lay the roofing material. Finishing work is carried out last, after all the windows are installed.

The attic second floor must be insulated to ensure the safety of the structure and comfortable living conditions. For such a process to become effective, it is necessary to observe the construction of a multi-layer “pie”, which includes:

· internal finishing material on the ceiling of the attic room: moisture-resistant plywood, plasterboard, etc.;
· vapor barrier membrane;

· insulation (usually mineral wool in rolls or slabs);

· laying waterproofing;

· installation of roofing covering (tiles, corrugated sheets, etc.).

The insulation layer should be two hundred and fifty to three hundred millimeters; often a special frame is made for its installation, attached perpendicular to the rafter system. During installation, gaps and cavities should not be allowed between the insulation boards, as this will lead to significant heat losses and low thermal insulation efficiency.

The attic is not only beautiful, but also a very functional architectural element that is capable of fulfilling the numerous tasks assigned to it. This is a great place for living space. Here you can arrange a children's room, a playroom or a large gym.

The technology of attic construction consists of high-quality and consistent performance of the following work:

1. Development of a project for the construction of an attic floor or its conversion.

2. Dismantling of old roofing structures.

3. Strengthening the wall structures of the upper floor.

4. Installation of waterproofing and thermal insulation of ceilings.

5. Construction of the end walls of the attic room.

6. Construction of an attic roof, its insulation and finishing.

7. Installation of attic windows.

8. Arrangement of a new living space.

To work, you will need to purchase materials and tools. It is usually necessary to have Wall panels(or other material) for cladding the end walls of the attic, thermal insulation materials for walls and pitched roof, roofing materials, beams for roof structures, Decoration Materials etc.

After preparing everything that is required for construction and developing the project, you can begin the main work. First you need to make a frame for the roof. The rafters can be made from beams measuring 50x150 cm. The structure must be well secured, install slings, support blocks, erect attic walls and install rafters. Rafter structure must be installed securely and accurately. After this, stepped wall slopes and attic partitions are installed, and work on insulation and waterproofing of the attic is carried out. Next, you should build a sheathing for the attic roof, lay a heat insulator on it, strengthen it and then finish the roof with roofing material. After this, the installation of doors and windows, interior decoration and arrangement of the premises are carried out.

Attic roof

In order to understand how to make a roof in the attic correctly, knowledge about the features of such a room will not be superfluous. Leaks in the roof and other roof defects will negatively affect the entire building to a much greater extent than the same defects of a conventional attic roof. In this case, water will flow into the living room, which will most likely lead to repairs to the room.

The main feature of an attic roof is that it is exposed to moisture both from the outside and from above (snow, rain, etc.) and from below (the formation of condensation from the moisture in the air in living spaces on the lower floors). To eliminate this problem, the attic construction technology involves installing a special vapor barrier layer that prevents the penetration of moist and warm air from living rooms to the tiles.

It is also necessary to waterproof the roofing material and ensure sufficient ventilation of the roof of the attic space. As a roofing covering, you can use soft bitumen shingles or metal tiles.

Insulation and arrangement of the attic

Due to the fact that the attic is usually used as a living space, great importance is attached to its thermal insulation. High-quality insulation of the attic roof ensures the creation of a comfortable microclimate in such a room and other rooms of the house, effective heat retention and a long service life of the entire building. There are several ways to insulate an attic. Insulation from the outside implies general insulation of the entire house.

The optimal and most effective way is additional internal insulation, which involves the use of a multilayer thermal insulation structure consisting of the following layers:

· The first layer (internal) – finishing material, for example, sheets of plasterboard, plywood and other materials that form the ceiling of the attic room

Second layer – vapor barrier film

· The third layer is a porous thermal insulation material (mineral wool, etc.)

· The fourth layer is a waterproofing material, laid to form a small gap and allow water to easily drain out

The fifth layer is roofing (metal tiles, soft roof etc.).

Advice from the master!

In addition to insulating the attic roof, it is also necessary to insulate its walls and floor. Arranging a room in the attic includes performing such work as installing skylights, internal partitions, doors, as well as decorative finishing.

Installing pitched roof windows is the best solution for an attic. Glazing can occupy a significant surface area of ​​the attic, minimally 12.5%. The glass used in such windows is special: it does not break under strong pressure or impact, but crumbles into granules that do not have sharp or cutting surfaces.

The specificity of attic rooms allows them to be equipped in a special way, decorated in an unusual and original way. Many designers recommend using translucent plastic partitions or partitions decorated with translucent fabrics to zone these rooms. When choosing a shade for wall decoration, it is recommended to give preference light colors, which will make the interior light and pleasant. It is not recommended to decorate roof windows with curtains, but it is better to choose light-colored blinds.

Having learned how to build an attic yourself, arrange it, create a comfortable, cozy and unusual room, you can try to build an upper floor at home. This is a great way to make your home unique and individual, increase its usable area and equip additional living space.

You should also take into account that the attic must be at least 3 meters wide, and the height in the center of the room is at least 2.2 m. But in this case, how to build an attic that was not originally planned? Additional questions always arise, such as, for example, the arrangement of stairs. You can place a ladder in the area attic hatch, which will simplify construction, and the spiral staircase will also make it possible to save space. In order to prevent the wood from rotting and being damaged by pest beetles, all wooden elements of the roof must be treated with an antiseptic.

To increase fire resistance, it is necessary to impregnate with fire retardants (special wood fire retardants). Also, when deciding how to build an attic, it is necessary to take into account that the attic and the attic differ primarily in climatic conditions. The attic is a less ventilated room, which causes condensation to form on the insulation. Therefore, it is necessary to leave a space between the insulation and the roof (at least 50 mm), and another layer of vapor barrier should be laid on the inside of the insulation. When carrying out thermal insulation work, you should also not forget about insulating the walls, which are thinner in attic structures. Their thermal insulation layer must have a thickness of at least (250-300 mm). Independent construction of an attic floor is possible, but for this it is necessary to carefully plan the implementation of all work and thoroughly follow the existing technology.
Of course, it would be much easier not to disassemble it, but to reinforce the ceiling above the premises of the house. Beams or channels can be used as load-bearing structures.

After the ceiling has been strengthened, you need to decide on the size of the attic rooms; their height at the walls should not be less than 1.5 m, and in the middle part there should be standard height 2.5 m, or even more. After this, a guide profile (PN) is attached to the floor for drywall, and above it, the same profile is attached to the rafters. Markings are made using a plumb line, tape measure, or strong cord. Then the profile of the racks (PS) is installed in the guide profiles, the pitch of which should be 600 mm. On sloping ceiling surfaces metallic profile Can be mounted horizontally. After this, when the location of the rooms is clearly visible, several skylights can be installed on the roof so that the rooms are well illuminated with natural light. In addition, it will be necessary to make an opening in the ceiling to install a staircase to the attic. The least amount of space on the ground floor will be occupied by a single-flight staircase with goose-step steps.

After this, with outside the frame of the attic partitions can be sheathed with waterproof plasterboard, and then laid inside the frame electrical wiring, for connecting switches and sockets. Next, mineral wool slabs with a thickness of 100, or, in extreme cases, 50 mm are placed in the frame. On the inside they are closed with a vapor barrier, and attached interior lining made of waterproof plasterboard, holes are made in it for the installation of sockets and switches, and wires are brought out into them for connection. Then the ceiling and inclined surfaces are hemmed, which are also insulated with a mineral wool board.

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

When creating a new building, the issue of constructing an attic is decided in advance in the project. If you are building an attic yourself in an old house, then you need to carefully study all the requirements for reconstruction or an extension to an already finished building.

What is an attic

An attic is a living space resembling an attic, which is formed on the upper floors of houses with an attic roof. Anyone with special skills in the construction process can build an attic on their own.

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

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

Types of attics

Kinds gable roofs: options for the purpose of the building

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

Attic roofing comes in the following types:

• 1-slope;
• 2-slope;
• broken line;
• hip;
• tent (pyramidal, round, conical).

Let's consider in detail:

• A pitched roof is erected very rarely. Due to the high difference between the heights of the walls, such an attic will become asymmetrical and it will be difficult to install windows.
• A gable roof often involves arranging the attic symmetrically. It will have sloping internal walls. When constructing this roof, elongated boards are used, which is not cheap. True, the performance indicators of this roof are quite high. A serious advantage is that with such a roof it is possible installation full windows and doors along which there is an exit to the balcony.
• Broken roof. The attic will have vertical walls. The structure 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.
• A hip roof makes it possible to create a comfortable and small attic. It includes 2 slopes, shaped like a trapezoid and a triangle. The windows are on the ceiling slopes.
• Hip roofing is also used for the construction of an attic. Windows must have a special shape and are made according to individual projects.

All of the above types of structures have their own advantages and disadvantages. Symmetrical structures have a more straightforward design; the project does not involve complex calculations, compared to the installation of asymmetrical coatings.

What is needed for construction

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

Materials, tools and project

To build an attic you will need the following materials:

• wooden beams (section sizes vary depending on the dimensions of the building and the angle of inclination of the slope);
• wood boards for sheathing;
• material to sheathe the end walls;
• fasteners for roof installation;
• 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 work, since without its presence it is not recommended to start the construction process itself.

If you are not conscientious at this stage, then you can easily lose sight of some detail, which then requires large financial resources to eliminate the error. Before constructing the attic, you will need to make a thorough analysis of the layout features of the room that is to be refurbished.

Well-known requirements that serve as a template for construction are found in SNiP. In addition, you need to take into account the following details:

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

Construction of the attic

The layout of the attic can be carried out both during the construction work and during the construction of the attic on a pre-finished building. You should first carefully check the foundation of the building.

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

Detailed step-by-step instructions

Mansard roof rafter system

1. First you need to have wood beams. They should be placed on top waterproofing material. The optimal ones include roofing felt or roofing felt, sold in rolls. When working with them, you do not need any specialized skills. In the case of creating a wooden floor, there is no need to install an auxiliary beam.
2. Next, the racks are mounted on the beams. They represent the 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 post must be level. After installation, it is recommended to sheathe them on both sides. You must remember to lay the insulation in the middle of the studs. Each rack must be individually secured using spikes and brackets.
3. Then the top beam 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 it is ensured high level strength of fastening of roof rafters to the wall. 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 underneath it to avoid further rotting.
5. If the Mauerlat is properly secured, then it will protect the roof from the influence of wind, snow in winter time. To secure it, use annealed wire with a diameter of up to 0.5 cm.
6. Next, the rafters are installed. Markings are first applied to the rafter frame and mauerlat in the place where the rafter legs will be installed. Only boards with a perfectly flat surface are suitable for rafters.
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 essential part of the structure. If rafter legs length is less than 8 m, then ordinary guy wires will be quite useful.
8. Installation of fillies. It is carried out in the same way as the rafter legs.
9. Then the 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 installed. Their total area is no less than 13-14% of the area of ​​the side walls. In the place where windows are installed, the rafter legs should be strengthened. For these purposes, transverse 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 work, associated with an increase in its resistance to the effects of mechanical and natural factors.

Insulation and waterproofing

• At self-creation Attic roof insulation plays an important role. The implementation of these works begins after the installation of the rafters. Area of ​​connection with environment is quite large, so you need high-quality insulation (for example, mineral wool). The insulation itself is protected on both sides. Steam can penetrate inside, and water can penetrate from outside. The most popular material is membrane film.
• From the outside, where the ventilated air layer is located, the insulation is protected by waterproofing, a windproof, vapor-permeable membrane. Use for installation in the roof or attic, as waterproofing and windproof membrane, materials that are also vapor barriers are impossible. 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. After installation, waterproofing joints are carefully taped. Waterproofing is installed in order to protect the insulation from high humidity from precipitation that gets into the gaps during gusts of wind, as well as from condensation on the other side of the roof.
• The ventilation of the attic floor should be carefully arranged. Since now this is a living space, it is necessary to create proper living conditions. the main problem with its microclimate lies with 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.

Insulating the attic with foam plastic

Attic finishing

Finishing work of the attic with plasterboard

First, the roof slopes and gables are sheathed, then the ceiling is finished. To sheathe the roof slopes, beams are mounted horizontally on the rafters in increments of 1 m, then horizontal beams are mounted in the gaps.

The next step will be to measure the drywall according to the given dimensions and its subsequent installation on the base. quite simple, but at the same time quite labor-intensive process. When everything is completed, all gaps and cracks should be sealed.

Finishing work of the attic with clapboard

Wood-look finishing work is quite in demand for attics, and the installation of the lining itself is simple. It is cut to the required height and nailed onto a wooden base using nails at the joints, so the cap 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 distortion at the end of the wall. When the installation of the lining is completed, it should be covered with several layers of varnish.

• Choice optimal option the attic roof increases the living space in the building. Various types roof structures can be installed not only during the construction of the building, but also during the reconstruction of the building. With the latter option, you need to calculate in advance the ability of the base and walls to withstand additional loads.
• The design of the attic roof involves the installation of a rafter system made of carefully dried wooden beams. To make structural elements, beams of various sections are used. Installation of the attic is done using light and safe material.
• Insulating the attic inside the room, which is located under the roof, loses heat more quickly 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 a vapor barrier on the room side. A well-made pie ensures a long service life of the entire roofing system. For interior decoration of the attic room it is most often used natural wood. But the sheathing of walls and ceilings can also be done with other sheet materials, including plasterboard.

The attic floor today - required element modern private buildings. Between the roof and top floor At home 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 completely simple process if you carefully study all the nuances of the construction process, and also comply with all the requirements and expert advice described above.

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

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

Rules for organizing an attic in an old house

What is an attic? This is a room under the roof of a house. That is, above her, except roofing structure there is nothing. Therefore, an 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 comfortable living in the attic space. That is, it should not only be 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 through everything carefully. Firstly, it is necessary to resolve the issue of constructing a durable floor with laying the floor base. Secondly, the issue of roof insulation. These are the two main tasks. After which you can install heating systems, water supply and sewerage systems, install air conditioning, and decorate new premises.

Attic floors

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

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

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

Across them laying boards tightly to each other.

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

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

On top of beams lay vapor barrier.

From top to bottom installing plank floors from tongue and groove boards. You can use plywood or OSB boards, on which the floor covering (laminate, linoleum, tiles, etc.) will subsequently be laid.

The main task of the workman is to make the floor smooth, durable, and heat-protected.

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

overlap levels out concrete screed small thickness (3-5 cm);

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

along the perimeter of the attic room lay the bars with a cross section of 70x70 or 100x100 mm, they are attached to concrete floor anchors;

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

into the resulting cellular structure expanded clay is poured medium or small fraction;

the top of the sheathing is covered vapor barrier membrane;

on top of the thermal insulation cake on laid bars the plank floor is being filled or slab, sheet material.

If slab heat-insulating materials are used as insulation, then everything is done in exactly the same way. The only thing you need to pay attention to is to tightly press the insulation boards to the elements of the floor sheathing so that no cold bridges remain.

Roof insulation

If the roof truss system, sheathing 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 are being processed at first antiseptic composition, after it dries fire retardant;

along the rafters vapor barrier film is installed 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 to tightly press the material to the ends of the rafter legs;

on top of two laid materials stretch the waterproofing film;

after which the entire structure covered with slab or sheet material , for example, it can be plasterboard, plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB, etc.

On our website you can get acquainted with 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 the attic superstructure can be built, as they say, “from scratch.” What does that require. First of all, the project. You can’t just buy building materials and start construction. The attic is not a heavy structure, but this does not mean that it should be treated with less responsibility.

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

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 using anchors that were previously installed in the reinforcing belt. The latter is poured onto the external walls of a private house. How this turns out in the end result is very clearly visible in the photo below.

Attic projects

The first construction operation has been completed. It is carried out regardless of what configuration of 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 pitched roof. It would seem not quite good example, but such projects also exist, which means this confirms that you can live under roofs of any configuration.

And yet there is one design that is called attic. It has a broken roof, which cannot be confused with any other.

Construction of a classic mansard roof

This type of roof has two slopes, divided into two parts. First top part- With small angle slope, that is, sloping, the other has a lower one with a greater slope, that is, steep. This is the main difficulty of constructing an attic superstructure on an old house or a new one.

This problem is solved like this:

The project should have exactly stated the place where the slope breaks.

It is in this place that it is laid from wall to wall load-bearing beam floors. There will be two of them for each break.

Along each beam vertical racks are installed, determining the useful height of the attic space. Usually this 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. Installation of two beams along the mauerlat between the floor beams is carried out.

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

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

Installed on racks horizontal ridge girder.

Mounting rafter legs gentle slopes. Their upper edges rest against the ridge beam, their lower edges against top harness buildings.

Form cool lower slopes of the attic. Here they also install rafters, whose upper edges rest against the upper frame of the attic structure, and 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. All that remains is to form the floors of the room, carry out insulation and cover the roof with roofing material. And only then move on to the final finishing work.

How to make insulated floors has already been described above. How to insulate an attic roof too. But there is one point here that makes it easier to carry out thermal insulation measures roofing structure. The thing is that the roof is not yet covered, which means that it is better to lay the vapor barrier membrane on top of the rafter system.

This can be seen very clearly in the photo below:

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

over insulation and rafters install slats, which will perform the functions of a counter-lattice. Its task is to create a ventilated gap between the thermal insulation 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 sheathing;

carry out installation of roofing material.

The remaining operations: laying insulation and waterproofing are carried out from inside the attic.

Assembly diagram of an insulated attic roof

Formation of gables

This is an important part of the attic roof design. In fact, the two gables are the walls of the new room. 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.

Everything is simple with insulation. It's like in a frame house:

from the outside lay a vapor barrier membrane;

carry out external cladding sheet or panel materials: lining, plywood, OSB, etc.;

from the inside lay insulation;

cover the gables waterproofing membrane;

carry out interior lining.

In principle, the attic is ready. It remains to be finished inner space. There are no strict restrictions here. The attic is a residential 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 modern style in the photo below.

Advantages and disadvantages of the attic

The main advantage is to get additional residential square meters for a small capital investment. 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 erected later than the main house.

As for the disadvantages, according to the method of construction, a classic mansard roof is more complex than a single- or gable roof. A large number of different elements are used here, which will have to be cut and adjusted to the required dimensions, which leads to the generation of a large amount of waste.

Video description

In the video, the specialist discusses the advantages and disadvantages of houses with attic superstructures:

Conclusion on the topic

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