A high-quality mansard roof can completely replace the construction of a second floor in a house. At the same time, become a cozy and functional room. Modern projects make it possible to create an ideal roofing option, significantly increasing the amount of territory used. The final choice depends on the foundation and finishing materials. It is extremely important to create an accurate calculation. Take into account wind load and possible amount of precipitation.

The advantage of attic spaces

The construction of an attic is one of the most interesting jobs in the construction process. Thanks to the competent design of houses with a mansard roof, you can get additional living space from an ordinary attic. Today, playrooms for children, libraries, sports corners, and cozy offices are created on the attic floors. Having thought through sufficient light penetration through windows, you can equip a winter garden there.

All this allows you to optimally use the unnecessary attic and significantly improve the appearance of the entire structure. The attic floor project is possible if the roof of the house has a sloped or broken shape. The main condition of the task is the correct location of the roof and facade. Their intersection line should not be higher than 1.5 meters from the floor.

The attic design must include a wall height of at least 1.4 meters, otherwise the maximum useful use of the floor will be very difficult.

Such a roof is erected on the basis of building codes. Attic projects should be handled by professionals. The chosen type of structure depends on the total area of ​​the building, roofing material, climate characteristics and other factors.

The advantage of developing a roof project for a house with an attic:

increasing the usable area of ​​the house;

aesthetic improvement of the appearance of the roof;

speed of installation;

the possibility of erecting an additional floor under the roof in an already used house.

Note! If you are planning to build an attic in a finished house, you need to assess the condition of the load-bearing walls and the foundation itself.

Types of attic

Shed roofs are the simplest roofing, having the appearance of an inclined plane. As a result, we can get a structure with one full wall.

Gable roofs are most often used in the construction of houses. Such a roof is mounted from two slopes that face in opposite directions.

Hip - a technology for constructing attics with four slopes. This is a more complex design that allows you to significantly increase the area of ​​the structure.

Dome or conical roofs are used in buildings with a rounded shape. It is rarely used in ordinary residential buildings, as it relates to more specific attic projects.

The mansard type of roofing predetermines the removal of the slopes from the building, thanks to special consoles.

The multi-tongue version is also a fairly complex type of construction that can be used in large structures. It is very attractive in appearance, but requires an extremely professional approach.

The simplest type of roof that you can make with your own hands is a gable roof. It is suitable for one-story houses, garages and other small buildings. But its classic version limits the area. In practice, gable broken structures have become very popular. When using them, you can get real architectural masterpieces. Thanks to the special breaks in the slopes, we can create a broken geometry - two rectangular walls inclined towards each other, at the junction they form an edge. The difference between a conventional symmetrical and a gable broken structure can be seen in the photo.

Gable sloping roof

You can build such a roof yourself, but on the basis of a high-quality engineering design for an attic with a gable roof. It is necessary to take into account all possible loads on the floors. The architect will also draw a diagram of the future structure and break it down into individual elements. All this will allow you to calculate the volume of the attic and purchase the required amount of material.

The quantity and quality of the material also depend on the weather conditions of the region. In places with significant sedimentation, it is necessary to increase the angle of inclination of the roof.

Please note: Today, a project for an attic with a gable roof can be done using the Internet. There are special websites with a calculation formula; online you can get the necessary drawing. But to understand the resulting scheme, you need some skills in construction.

Scheme of a sloping roof rafter system

Selection of materials

For a sloping roof, it is better to use wooden materials. Wooden rafters will significantly lighten the roof and ensure the reliability of the structure. The roof installation itself must be done using brackets.

Insulation

Thermal insulation is of great importance for the optimal use of the attic. In this case, the layer must be at least 20 cm. Insufficient insulation will reduce the heating of the room in winter and heat the room too much in summer. The material you can use is foam glass or polystyrene foam. Unlike ordinary mineral wool, foam insulation will last longer. Also, modern materials have sound insulation, have a good effect on moisture, do not burn and have high frost resistance.

Attic insulation technology

Types of attics

The simplest type of roof that you can make with your own hands is a gable roof. It is suitable for one-story houses, garages and other small buildings. But its classic version limits the area. In practice, gable broken structures have become very popular. When using them, you can get real architectural masterpieces. Thanks to the special breaks in the slopes, we can create a broken geometry - two rectangular walls inclined towards each other, at the junction they form an edge. The difference between a conventional symmetrical and a gable broken structure can be seen in the photo.

The attic roof allows you to have additional space without affecting the area of ​​the site

At its core, an attic is a modified attic of a private house. But the requirements for an attic roof are much higher. After all, the roof is affected not only by weather disasters, but by various factors from the inside. What should be the design of an attic roof, how to properly insulate it, make it reliable and durable? We'll talk about all this in this article.

Features of attic roofs

At first glance, it seems that minor alterations to the attic roof and interior decoration are quite enough to build an attic. But in fact this is a common misconception. Only understanding the design features of the attic of a house will make it possible to create a reliable and durable room with a durable roof.

Experts consider the fundamental difference between an attic and an attic to be the height of the room. If the walls under the roof are more than one and a half meters, then this structure can be considered an attic. The height of 1.5 meters allows a person to sit in a sitting position.

The attics of the house differ in their structure; the room can be:

• triangular in vertical cross-section;
• broken (polygonal);
• asymmetrical;
• occupying the entire space under the roof.

The main advantage of an attic is that it increases the living space of an existing home. The useful area, as a rule, is used to arrange a living room or some utilitarian purpose (gym, for example). This expansion of the house area is cheaper than an extension. At the same time, the landscape of the site does not change and the garden area does not decrease. The advantage is that the attic looks quite presentable, improving the appearance of the house. For example, a gable, broken roof with unequal slopes and a straight break looks very impressive. And placing an attic under a straight roof is much more convenient.

To be fair, some disadvantages should be mentioned.

• Increased cost of the entire house structure compared to a simple attic.
• The complexity of designing a roof with an attic, the need to contact specialists.
• Order and .
• The complexity of the roof installation work requires special care and painstakingness.

Even minor inaccuracies in the installation of an attic roof can lead to the need for repairs after a short period.

Roof types

The specifics of an attic roof largely depend on its type. There are several types of roofs that differ in their design:

1. Single-pitch. The simplest option looks like a right triangle in cross-section. Attics are rarely installed in such roofs.
2. Gable. Sometimes called gable roofing, a roof structure with two inclined planes. An attic space fits perfectly here.
3. Broken. A variation of the previous type, which has slopes with a kink (changed angle). Allows you to create a comfortable attic with an optimal configuration. A large number of modern houses can be seen with sloping roofs.
4. Hip (half-hip) Hip roof, which allows you to conveniently place an attic under it.
5. Conical or domed. As a rule, it is used for buildings of polygonal or round shape; it is most difficult to build an attic under such a structure.
6. Multi-pincer. Non-standard design, which also allows for the installation of an attic. But such a design, as well as the option with a sloping roof, requires painstaking calculations; only an experienced architect can make a good project, and the cost of the work is very high.

Attic roof insulation

An important nuance of attic roofs is the fact that the roof is affected not only by external weather factors, but also by internal ones:

• heat from the living space;
• evaporation;
• condensation formed from the temperature difference in the attic and outside.

Consequently, the requirements for attic roofs contain additional conditions. This includes laying vapor barrier materials, a heat-protective layer and waterproofing. In addition, it is necessary to arrange effective ventilation of the under-roof space, otherwise the room faces constant dampness.

To reliably insulate an attic, mineral or eco-wool is usually used; in combination with a waterproofing and vapor barrier film, good protection against external and internal influences is obtained. And the air gap between the different insulators will ensure ventilation of the gable and roof.

Roof material

The roof of the attic should be light, since in addition to its own weight, the walls of the houses are also loaded by the attic room itself with all its contents. Therefore, for attics, a material with a low specific gravity is selected:

• metal tiles;
• metallic profile;
• soft roof (for example, ondulin).

Heavier materials are used only when it is necessary to maintain the uniformity of the wooden house with neighboring buildings. But in these special cases, additional load calculations are required.

The same requirements apply; here it is also recommended to use durable materials with low weight, aluminum structures or wood - the most suitable and common option for constructing an attic roof frame. Stone and cement-concrete elements are not suitable here. When installing the roof, remember that it must be resistant to mechanical loads and reliably protected from bad weather.

Attic roof project

As mentioned above, the key to a reliable and durable roof must be a well-designed project. As a rule, it consists of several sections and drawings. It contains calculations and all information about the roof structure:

• first of all, the project determines the main parameters - the shape of the roof, its dimensions, the slope of the slopes, the presence of a pediment;
• the second, and no less important point, is a list of all materials for each unit, indicating their quantity;
• a separate section should be devoted to the calculation of load-bearing structures, indicating the cross-section of rafter beams, the dimensions of floor elements and other components;
• drawings in various projections detailing the main components;
• section with calculations of the thermal properties of the roof structure and instructions on insulation and waterproofing with a list of recommended materials;
• recommendations for roofing material based on calculation of maximum loads on the structure.

Calculation of the attic roof

We emphasize once again that calculations should be carried out by a specialist with experience in designing such objects. Even small errors can lead to incorrect load distribution of load-bearing units and elements. Excessive roof weight that exceeds the strength of the rafters can lead to a weakening of the overall structure and dire consequences. This is especially important for a broken structure.

For calculations, an important parameter is the area of ​​the attic space and its useful volume. The latter is calculated using lines connecting the points where the height from the floor to the ceiling plane is 90 cm. The rest of the space is generally considered non-living, suitable only for organizing closets and storage rooms.

The total area is taken from the house and attic plans. The roof area is calculated based on the total area of ​​the internal structures. The entire roof frame can be represented as a set of elements with different geometries. By calculating the area of ​​such figures separately and adding the values, you can get the total area of ​​the roof structure. This value is necessary not only for further calculations of the strength and weight of the structure, but also for calculating the required materials.

The next stage of calculations is to calculate the angle of inclination of the slopes, the dimensions of the pediment and the selection of roofing covering material. An incorrectly chosen slope of the slopes can lead to accumulations of snow crust, the weight of which can cause the roof to collapse. On the contrary, a slope that is too steep and a high structure is exposed to winds, which also negatively affects the integrity of the roof. Therefore, calculations must be carried out taking into account local climatic conditions.

Attic calculation

Roof insulation

An important part of the attic roof calculations is the section devoted to insulation. To create an atmosphere suitable for living in the attic, the roof must be reliably and efficiently insulated. In addition, vapor barrier and waterproofing films are laid together with insulation. To prevent leakage from the outside and accumulation of condensation from the inside, special modern materials are used. In this way, a “layer cake” is formed, laid between the roofing and the attic room. Such a “pie” should include the following layers:

1. Vapor barrier. Special, airtight film materials laid from the inside of the attic with sealing of the joints. The purpose of this layer is to prevent moisture from penetrating into the upper layers of the “pie”.
2. Warming. Foam plastic or penoplex boards, mineral wool, eco wool, etc. are used as heat insulators. Laying is done with an overlap or with subsequent sealing of the seams with construction foam.
3. Waterproofing. Special film membranes that protect the insulation from precipitation and prevent the formation of condensation. They are laid along the rafters while maintaining an air gap between the film and the roofing material.

Proper insulation of the attic and attic ceiling

Mansard roof rafter system

The rafter system is the basis of any roof, its skeleton. Its main purpose is to give the roof strength and reliability. In addition, the rafter system is designed to evenly distribute the load on the walls of the house. There are several types of rafter systems that allow you to build an attic:

1. Hanging or hanging rafter system. With this design, there are no intermediate pillars to support the rafters, and the connection is made with wooden or metal ties. Very convenient for installing an attic.
2. Layered system. As a rule, it is used in gable roofs. Used with intermediate supports or in house structures with a central load-bearing wall. The rafters are installed with one end supported on the walls and the other on intermediate posts. SNiP regulates the installation of a similar design for gable roofs only in cases where the distance between load-bearing walls is no more than 6.5 meters.
3. Sloping roof rafter system. Complex design requiring good design and careful calculations. For a sloping roof, it is possible to make the attic higher and minimize the unused area.

Often a combination of the above roofing systems is used. It is important that the rafter diagram is calculated at the building design stage. Based on the results of calculations carried out using a complex methodology, it is necessary to obtain data on the loads per 1 sq.m of the rafter system. SNiP regulates the standard value of 50 kg per sq.m. Also, based on the calculation results, you can choose one or another type of rafter system.

Important!

To increase the living space of the house, it is necessary to prefer the design of a multi-slope, sloping attic roof.

Rafter system of a gable mansard roof

Installing support rafters

1. Next, we proceed to installing the support posts. As a rule, they are made using 10x15 cm timber. We fix the stand to the rafters along the pediment. Checking the verticality (using a plumb line), we fasten the supports using jibs.
2. After which, we proceed to installing intermediate supports along the beams in two parallel rows, also controlling verticality.
3. Then we install the purlins using a 10-15 cm board with a thickness of 4-5 cm. We fasten the purlins with nails, additionally securing them with corners.
4. Next, you should lay the crossbars from the board. To make the structure reliable and rigid, we fasten the board at the end. To make it easier to lay the roofing material, you can place temporary supports under the crossbars so that the structure does not sag. For the same purpose, you can secure the tightening with boards or slats.

Installation of rafters

Installation of the rafter system, starting from the bottom. To make rafters, you can use a board 4-5 cm thick and 15 cm wide. The rafters should rest with their lower part on the mauerlat, flush against the floor beams, and their upper part should be fixed to the purlin using a corner.

To mount the rafters, you need to mark the central axis of the roof along the ridge. The rafters should be measured and cut to the same size in advance. You can use a template (a board with cuts made at the ends), according to which all the rafters should be prepared.

Advice!

At the junctions of rafters and purlins, a fastening unit should be made from metal plates.

Installation of the attic roof rafter system

Lathing

At the end of the installation of the attic roof frame, we proceed to the sheathing. If floor beams are installed in wall openings, then we attach fillets to the first rafters from below, which will help make the roof overhang. In cases where the ceiling is laid along the Mauerlat, there is no need for fillers, since the beams in such a structure protrude beyond the perimeter of the walls, thereby creating an overhang of the roof.

Important!

The type of sheathing is selected in accordance with the planned roofing material. The lathing is done either with small gaps, or continuous, with the boards laid closely.

We lay a layer of waterproofing on top of the sheathing. Now you can sew up the gables and begin installing the finishing coating.

Building your own home is an event that has been discussed and planned for a long time. One of the main problems is living space. You can get the maximum possible at minimal cost if you equip the attic floor. Photos of house roofs with an attic, as well as descriptions, will help you choose a good option.

The type of object depends on the capabilities and needs of the developer. Today, designers distinguish two types of premises: single-level and two-level.

The first attics are of three types:

1. Mansard roof under a gable roof. The convenient location of the slopes does not delay precipitation, the installation of a warm attic does not require lengthy calculations, because such options are considered the simplest, most practical and reliable.
2. An attic room under a sloping roof. A little more complicated in design, the room has an increased volume of living space and looks very original.
3. House with an attic with remote consoles. This option is the most difficult to implement, but at the same time a large living space appears in the attic. The offset of the roof, forming a canopy, is used to arrange a veranda and garage.

A two-level attic design is essentially two rooms that are located on different levels. The convenience of the form is beyond doubt, but supports of a mixed type are needed.

In addition to being divided according to general characteristics, types of mansard roofs are divided by shape, type, and even country. The fact is that residential under-roof space has existed for more than one century, but this type of housing came to us much later than it appeared in Europe and other countries. Wooden huts and towers either had a full second or third floor, or a cold attic. Look at the photos of mansard roofs of different variations, perhaps this will help you in deciding the shape of your house.

Norman or French style

France can be considered the “ancestor” of the attic; the room was named after the architect François Monsarou, who was the first to apply the principle of arranging an under-roof room in the 17th century. The mansard roofs of private houses, photos of which are presented, have undoubted advantages and vary in style. The use of well-selected materials and a harmonious combination of design colors gives such buildings a unique charm.

Fact! French roofs of houses with an attic, photos of which are presented, are, as a rule, one-story buildings, slightly increased in area, but not in height. In this case, the practice is to place a living room under a roof above the garage, which allows you to use more space with a small footprint.

The harsh climatic features of the northern regions of the country are reflected in half-timbered houses. The attics here are equipped with dormer windows, pediments and, despite all the severity, look perfect.

And here is the “garage” version of the attic

– a little more calm and gentle. Add glazing and the result will be functional, aesthetically pleasing, moderately subtle and unusual. The roof of a complex shape complements the French chic, but will fit quite organically into our open spaces.

Alpine chalets are a separate matter. Here the gable wooden roofs are complemented not only by large windows, but also by a balcony. The interior decoration looks especially elegant if the wooden elements are not covered with cladding. A characteristic feature of the chalet is the elongated slopes, which can be explained by the snow cover. At the same time, the warmth of enlarged window openings and spacious balconies allow you to enjoy the warmth of the Alpine mountain summer.

Mediterranean motifs dictate the design of the roof of the house. In this case, there is a limited form, a certain compactness. It looks best in combination with a multi-gable form and not one, but two or three attics. Of course, such a do-it-yourself attic is not accessible to every craftsman, but the work will pay off with interest: in a small area you get two or more full-fledged additional warm rooms.

Old English classics

This country can challenge the primacy of housing under the very roof. The stiffness of the classics does not in the least prevent the cottages from looking more than charming, and the honor of imparting comfortable living and aesthetics belongs to the mansard roofs. They smooth out the severity of the lines and provide enough light thanks to the large windows.

Characteristic features of this form of roofs can be considered slightly curved lines of roofs on the gables and asymmetry of the elements.

And, of course, you should carefully choose the shades of the cladding: the windows must contrast with the general background, otherwise you will not achieve “Old English chic”.

Fact! If you want to maintain English aesthetics, when designing, you should include an increased slope of the slopes and asymmetry of the pediments. New chic - an interpretation of the Victorian hip roof.

Attic with many small balconies. The design will require additional expenses, but the house will definitely look original, and you will be able to enjoy the views of rural spaces.

New trends in attic space

Leaving aside all historical motives, architects offer a completely new design for houses with a residential roof. The construction principles of the northern peoples were taken as a basis, where harsh conditions forced the under-roof space to be built as warmly as possible. For example, an ultra-modern option: a hipped roof with cladding made of the same material as the facade.

The roof of the house with an attic, the photo of which is presented, is made in dark colors - this is a tribute to the frost: the sun warms up such a roof faster, which means the house will be warm.

For those who are building two houses, a suitable option is in the form of several residential volumes connected by one roof. It turns out 2-3 houses with attics - quite comfortable small-format housing.

Panoramic windows, the right selection of materials and the end result is stylish and comfortable housing of sufficient space. Small-format houses with a roof without finishing with roofing materials are another modern option. The projects provide for limited space, so the issue of housing under a roof is especially relevant.

Windows in the attic provide sufficient warmth and lighting.

As for pitched roofs, contrary to the opinion of domestic builders, they can also be very convenient for placing living rooms. Despite its minimalism, the option is distinguished not only by its economic benefits, but also by its variety of options. For example, a curved roof for an attic with windows looks very attractive.

The types of roofs in a private house are endless. For example, in order not to add serious loads to an old house, a glazed “living roof” built using the lightest materials is suitable.

Such solutions and designs are good for small houses and for houses built from foam concrete and other lightweight materials. And if you want not only practicality, but also an incredibly futuristic structure, you should choose a glazed and maximally open design.

A solid glazed pediment, a luxurious balcony - such a country mansion not only fits perfectly into the landscape, but also allows you to literally “not feel the walls.” An option with an asymmetrical arrangement of gable roof slopes and an attic with a balcony is another eco-design.

And for those who love unusual shapes, a remote attic, slightly overhanging the main building, is suitable. In addition to being spectacular, this design allows you to make maximum use of the attic space, obtaining a spacious “second floor”, and also creates a good canopy for the veranda.

The various types of roofs of private houses make you think about your choice. The convenience of a warm attic is also that, if there is sufficient space, the room can be equipped even if the buildings are already dilapidated. You just need to correctly calculate the possible load, choose lighter flooring options, renew the roof and insulate the attic - the finished room will become cozy, homely, just put in a little effort and imagination.

During the construction of a private house, everyone wants their house to be beautiful in appearance, unlike others. At the same time, you need to take into account the functionality of the house and its convenience, because you need to live in it. Ideally, such a building should not be very expensive, since not everyone can afford a huge castle. A mansard roof allows you to solve all these problems at once. Externally, the house will have an attractive appearance, it will be interesting, and by combining several roofing coverings you can make it unique.

Cost of building an attic

Creating an attic floor is considered a relatively inexpensive pleasure, since there is no need to construct and erect walls, but this is only partially true.

First of all, you need to spend a lot of money on creating a rafter system. Its price directly depends on the type of attic roof, as well as the cost of lumber. Secondly, the lion's share of financial costs will be taken up by thermal insulation and vapor barrier of the roof. It is logical that the roofing material is not enough to provide the required air condition for the living space.
If the attic is residential, then it must be properly insulated using a thick layer of heat-insulating material. On average for Russia, the layer of mineral wool should be at least 20 centimeters; if these are cooler regions, then even more. In addition, you must not forget about the waterproofing and vapor barrier layers.
Thirdly, expensive skylights. If the windows are made dormer, then you need to build a special rafter system, which will also lead to an increase in financial costs for materials and their installation. Also, the window can be located in the plane of the roof, in which case it must be carefully sealed so that snow or rain does not penetrate into the attic. Because of this, the cost of roof windows is twice as expensive as regular ones, and their installation will also cost a pretty penny. Dormer windows must have a more complex structure, their frame must be stronger. Reinforced glass is used to cope with loads, and the frame is rotating. In total, there are two types of skylights - those in the roof and vertical.


A popular and inexpensive roofing option is a metal-based material, such as corrugated sheeting or metal tiles. However, it is worth noting that all of them are not suitable for covering an attic roof and here’s why:

• These coatings have high thermal conductivity. Metal easily transmits heat, which means you will have to increase the thickness of the thermal insulation layer. If this is not done, then in winter it will be too cold here, and in summer it will be unbearably hot.
• Noisy. During precipitation in the form of rain it will be very noisy here, because the roof will beat like a drum. Inside, this problem can be overcome with high-quality sound insulation, but outside this problem cannot be eliminated, so it is best to abandon metal-based materials. In addition, if the house is located in close proximity to neighbors, they may be unhappy with the constant noise, which can subsequently lead to disputes and conflicts.

If you calculate all the costs of increasing the layers of thermal insulation and sound insulation, then it turns out that there was no financial benefit in building an attic, so it is better not to use such roofing material. It is better to initially buy a more expensive coating so that in the end it turns out to be more profitable. That is why you need to calculate all the pros and cons even before roofing work.

Advantages of building an attic floor:

• The lightness of the attic floor. Thanks to this, there is no need to build an overly powerful foundation, which will save money in the initial stages.
• If there is not enough money, then the construction of the attic and its insulation can be postponed for some time until new funds become available. It is also worth noting the fact that such a delay will be useful. During construction, wood species with high humidity are used. If the insulation process begins immediately, the moisture will be absorbed into the thermal insulation layer. If the “pie” is made correctly, then the moisture will leave correctly. If there are violations, there may be problems, so a short pause will even be useful, because the material will be able to dry out a little, losing excess moisture.
• Using the attic floor you can create an original and even unique building. In general, a private house with an attic always has an interesting appearance and is able to express the individuality of the owner and his decisions.

Roof types

An attic roof can have different design options; any type of roof, except a flat one, is suitable for an attic floor.

Houses with a pitched roof will always look original and non-standard. The installation and installation of such a roof is quite simple; the bevel is carried out using different heights of the walls. The slope angle ranges from 30-45%; this range is very easily explained. If you make the angle of inclination smaller, then snow will accumulate on the roof, and this will create a load on the roof and supports; additional supports will have to be created, which will reduce the space of the attic floor. If the angle is greater, then difficulties will arise in installing the roof, and its strength will decrease significantly. In general, using such a roof is the simplest and most affordable option.

The most popular is the gable roof; the cost of its construction is not very high, and externally such a structure looks quite attractive. When building such a roof, you need to take into account the functional feature of the attic, whether it will be residential or not. It is necessary to calculate the height of the roof so that it does not interfere with free movement in the attic. In general, there are two types of gable roofs: symmetrical and asymmetrical.
A sloping roof is a type of gable roof; the only difference is that one plane is divided into two, having different angles of inclination. When building such a roof, there is no need to erect walls, and the space will be only 15-20% less than on the 1st floor of the house. The rafter system here is much more complex and needs to be given special attention.

A hip roof is a complex option that requires calculations. The roof surface is larger than in previous options, which means costs increase significantly. The advantage lies in its high resistance to winds and other “whims” of nature, as well as in its original appearance, which is considered the most attractive.

During the construction of low-rise buildings, the question often arises about what is better to prefer: an attic or an attic? If it is necessary to increase the living space of the house, then the advantages of the attic in this case are beyond any doubt. In addition, they look very beautiful, impressive and stylish. Mansard roof projects, or more precisely, their design features are directly related to the geometry of the roof.

Original attic project

The attic can be designed in a triangular shape or with a broken perimeter line, symmetrical or asymmetrical.

When developing a project, it is necessary to remember that the above factors have a significant impact on the amount of living space in the future premises.

Attic projects with an inclined roof plane have so-called “dead zones”, that is, small areas in the room that are not suitable for habitation.

To make the room more functional, it is recommended to install various cabinets or utility rooms in such places.

Mansard roof projects must fully comply with all existing rules and building codes, created on the basis of accurate engineering calculations.

One of the most important factors accompanying the design of an attic is the shape and size of the rooms, depending on their location relative to the interior design. When creating a project, you should take into account partial or full glazing of the room.

In addition, you can combine window inserts with roofing elements, thanks to which the building will delight its owners with a special architectural style.

The layout of the attic elements and enclosing structures is determined using the totality of the architectural form of the building and structure, as well as the wishes of the customer himself. The construction of an attic roof with a steep slope requires special attention and approach to the selection of material with which to cover the roof, which is necessary for high-quality thermal and waterproofing.

Due to this, you can significantly increase the living space of the house, while maintaining the planned building area, increase the comfort and convenience of living, and also significantly reduce the heat loss of the home, if you approach the issues of its design and construction correctly.

Designing houses with an attic has its own specific nuances. It is advisable to keep in mind that in this case the combined insulated roof will act as the enclosing structure. Accordingly, all design features and rules are equated to the requirements that are mandatory during the construction of an attic.

Considering that the attic floor has a significant impact on the appearance of the building as a whole, architectural solutions should be worked out and the most optimal schemes of load-bearing structures should be determined with special care.

In addition, it is necessary to ensure reliable thermal protection, tightness, vapor and air permeability. Remember that the main difference between an attic and an attic is the arrangement of additional space suitable for habitation.

Here you can see how you can arrange the attic floor and make it another very cozy residential floor of your home with an original and beautiful design.

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Projects of Finnish houses and cottages

When building a house with an attic, the width of the structure must be at least 4.8 meters, while the internal space of the rafter structure must have a volume that is sufficient for arranging living quarters.

As a rule, the attic is located under a gable roof with a rafter angle of 60 degrees, as well as a sloping roof with two rafter slopes that are different from each other. If the slope of the roof is 45 degrees, then a simple rafter system is used, resulting in sloping ceilings in the attic.

If the roof designs of a house with an attic provide for a slope of 60 degrees, long boards and beams are used for the rafters.

Basic sandwich for attic arrangement

Arranging an attic is cheaper than building a full second floor due to the almost finished main space. The volume that is formed under the roof is used. In order for the attic to be transformed into an attic, only minor structural changes are necessary and, most importantly, insulation.

Since classic walls are mostly replaced by roof slopes, it is the roof that will have to be insulated. The success of the entire work will depend on the materials used and a well-designed sandwich.

Selection of roofing material

Roofing material is the topmost layer of the entire structure. He is responsible not only for functionality, but also for the aesthetics of the entire building. In houses with an attic, the roof area is much larger than in houses with a full second floor, or a simple attic. You can choose:

• metal tiles;
• bitumen shingles;
• slate;
• corrugated sheeting

This is the layer that will protect the house from rain, wind and snow. First of all, the choice depends on the personal preferences of the home owners, as well as financial support.
However, you should not save much at this stage. For example, although corrugated sheeting will be more economical, it may be too noisy during operation and being in the attic will become extremely uncomfortable.

Roofing film and waterproofing

This is the second layer of the sandwich. It is mounted directly under the roofing material, regardless of how the roof is finished.

Such films solve several problems at once:

1. Protect the under-roof space from dust and soot coming from outside.
2. Prevents the penetration of moisture resulting from precipitation - snow, rain.
3. Protect the insulation layer from getting wet and destroyed.
4. Prevents premature corrosion of the roofing due to the formation of condensation.
5. Remove moisture from the insulation.

Which material to choose for this layer depends on the type of roof and the type of insulation used.

Depending on the purpose, only one film can be used - a construction membrane, but in some cases it is necessary to stretch two different films at once.

For example, an anti-condensation film directly under the roof and waterproofing or a membrane above the insulation.

The design of the sandwich will also depend on the choice of roofing films. In most cases, two ventilation gaps are required, but a number of modern membranes - diffusion and superdiffusion - make it possible to eliminate these requirements.

Rafters, sheathing, counter-lattice

Structural elements of the roof that support the roof. The amount of material required, angles of inclination, permissible pitch and geometry of the entire structure are calculated individually, based on the selected type of roof.