How to insulate an attic space for a living room. The second floor in the attic: the pros and cons. We carry out facing works

Do-it-yourself superstructure of the second floor is a responsible occupation. Without taking into account the strength of the foundation and walls, or by incorrectly calculating the load on the interfloor ceilings, instead of building a second floor, a major overhaul of the entire house may be required!

What you need to know when building a second floor with your own hands

When building a new house, where the second floor has already been included in the project, you don’t have to worry about the foundation and walls - they are designed for the given loads. If it is necessary to increase the living space of a habitable house, it is better not to save money and order an examination. From its results, you can find out:

technical condition of the foundation and walls;
recommended measures to strengthen load-bearing structures;
the most suitable methods of superstructure in a particular situation;
calculations for the future superstructure.

If it is not possible to order an examination, it is better to do the second floor using load-bearing supports on your own foundation.

What to choose - a full floor or an attic?

Most often, the choice is based on financial capabilities. The attic floor is cheaper - there is no need to build walls, and all costs go to the insulation of the roofing pie. The load on the building is also less, which makes the walls and foundations less durable and, as a result, cheaper.

But in rooms with sloping walls, you will have to think carefully about the interior design - wardrobes, showers or bunk beds, most likely, will not work. For these purposes, it is better to build a full-fledged floor with an unheated attic. Construction costs will increase significantly, but in the long run, such a house is much more convenient for a large family.

Where to put the ladder?

Thinking about the superstructure of a floor in a residential building, they rarely think in time about how they will have to go up there every day. But you will have to install a ladder, and the convenience and safety of use depends on its shape and size.

If the house is small, then a straight marching staircase is categorically not suitable. So, with a step size of 30x15 cm and a staircase slope of 35 degrees, its span will be 5 m, and the length of the base will be 4 m. Of course, if it is possible to donate part of the first floor, then under such a staircase you can conveniently organize a wardrobe. In its highest part there will be hangers for outerwear, and in the lower part - drawers for shoes.

Marching turning stairs allow you to halve the length of the site, but increase its width. It will no longer be possible to use the space under it with maximum benefit - depending on the design, you can install a sofa, a couple of chairs or a rack with plants under it.

Spiral staircases are the most compact and the most inconvenient. Enough to imagine how it will have to raise or lower furniture or other bulky items. But if there is no alternative, it is better to choose the maximum possible diameter of the spiral.

Features of the construction of the second floor in a house under construction

Making the second floor is no more difficult than building the first - the construction of the walls is the same, and the interfloor ceilings are made in the same way as the floors of the first floor. Both in a wooden and in a brick house, wooden floors are most often used - they are beautiful, environmentally friendly and very easy to do with your own hands.

The device of interfloor overlappings

It is not recommended to make spans greater than 6 m, and the average load value for a residential second floor is 350-400 kg / m2. If you plan to install massive and heavy furniture, a cast-iron bath or a heating boiler, you will have to make a special calculation.

When laying floor beams, you need to consider a few points:

If the temperature differences between floors are significant, then the floor pie should consist of:

filings from the side of the 1st floor;
vapor barrier;
sound insulation (more dense material);
insulation;
vapor permeable membrane;
finishing floor of the 2nd floor.

In no case should vapor-proof materials be used from the side of the colder upper floor - condensation is guaranteed and the floor beams rot.

Second floor walls

You can raise the walls immediately after laying the beams and the subfloor. Very often you can find houses where the first floor is brick, and the second is wooden or frame. In this case, it is important not to forget about laying waterproofing between wood and brick. The principle of arranging the second floor is similar to building a house on the foundation - the lower trim is made and the bars are laid.

The disadvantage of this solution is the different heat capacity of the walls, and, as a result, the thermal load on the heating system. This must be taken into account even when planning before buying a boiler - its power may not be enough for the whole house.

The principle of adding another floor to an already finished building is almost the same, with the exception of dismantling - the roof and attic floor are completely removed. Using columns on your own foundation, installed along the outer perimeter of the house, you can not only increase the bearing capacity of the building, but also significantly expand the living space.

Columns can be of screw or bored piles, or built of brick. In the first case, the piles are deepened to the bearing layer of soil - for sandy and sandy loamy soils, this is to a depth of 1 m. For brick columns, corner dressing is required for structural strength.

The roofing cake should be designed so that condensation does not form on the insulation, and air circulates freely under the roofing. And how to design and plan an attic is described in detail in the video:

An attic in a private house can be a very cozy place if it is properly furnished. Under the roof, you can successfully place a bedroom, a nursery, an office and even a living room - it all depends on your needs. The design of the attic has its own specifics, associated primarily with low ceilings, small windows and a sloping roof. However, all these details can be interesting to play with the right design solutions. Then the features of the room in the attic will become the highlight of the interior.

Peculiarities

In order to competently and beautifully design a living space in the attic, it is important to take into account the specific features of this type of room. They can relate to both the visual design of the room and practical convenience. In addition, it all depends on the size and layout of your attic, as well as the specific room decor that you plan to place there.

Primarily, the attic can be warm or cold. If you have an insulated roof, a brick house, and installed heating, it is likely that the temperature in the attic will be comfortable at any time of the year. If the house is wooden or there are problems with heating, you should think about how to additionally insulate the attic.

The roof can be independently trimmed with mineral wool, polyurethane foam, sawdust or felt. This will create a barrier to cold air.

Also, for warming in the room, you can place a regular heater or a decorative fireplace, make a heated floor, or simply supplement it with a soft carpet.

Most often, the attic is a small room, although there are exceptions. Since it is physically impossible to redo the layout and expand the room, it is worth choosing design solutions that contribute to the visual expansion of space:

First of all, you should prefer light colors and glossy textures.
It is recommended to avoid small details.
Also, you do not need to pre-purchase any decorative accessories and extra furniture. It is important that you feel comfortable walking around the room, sitting in a chair or at a table. The functionality of things in a room in the attic should come first.
Pay attention to the entrance. In spacious rooms it is possible to build a semblance of a corridor and a door. However, if the attic is completely miniature, the stairs can go straight into the room. This is not a very significant difference in the attic room, but it is important that the entrance is convenient.

If you have a steep spiral staircase, make sure that the area around it is free (no furniture that obstructs the passage).

The specifics of lighting in the attic will depend on whether you have windows on the roof and how big they are. If there are no windows, this room is unlikely to be comfortable as a nursery or living room, but it is quite possible to make a small bedroom or study out of it. It is good when there is at least one small window in the attic. Additionally, several light lamps can be placed here, which will provide sufficient lighting.

In modern houses, panoramic windows are often made that cover a significant part of the roof. This is a great solution to make the room especially pleasant and cozy, however, if you equip the attic as a bedroom, you will need to take care of the curtains or blinds.

The height of the ceilings will also play an important role when considering the layout of the room. If the roof is very low, such a room is best used as a bedroom (it is unlikely to be suitable for something else). You can make a low roof attic and a nursery, but when the children grow up, redevelopment may be required.

Ceilings in this part of the house are almost always a little lower than in other areas, but if you can comfortably fit in a chair in the attic, it will be suitable for almost any room.

Purpose

There are many ways to equip the attic in the country or in a country house for living space. It all depends on your needs and the layout of the rest of the building. It can be a nursery, a bedroom, an office, a living room or any other room that you need.

Let us consider in more detail the most successful design options for such a room.

In a residential building in the attic, many place a bedroom. This is a great option as attic ceilings tend to be low and windows small. Thanks to the triangular roof, you can create a unique interior with a special atmosphere in the room. Particularly relevant options in the Provencal style or country style. Even if you have a very small attic, it is quite possible to equip a bedroom there, because this requires a minimum of furniture. For the most concise room, a low bed and a pair of bedside tables with lamps will suffice.

When determining the best purpose of the attic many decide to take him under the nursery. Indeed, you can create a cozy place there by placing beds for children, toys and even allocating a place for study. However, in this case, it is important to take care of good attic lighting. In addition, the steep stairs that lead directly to the room may not be safe for small children. Therefore, if possible, it is better to make a symbolic entrance hall and a separate door to the children's room.

Can be done in the attic and living room. It can be the only one or additional if you have a large family. Armchairs, a coffee table and a TV are all you need for this room. To give the interior an unusual look, you can consider lighting with colored LEDs, decorative beams or large pile carpets. The attic will become a pleasant place for meetings with friends or family conversations, board games and watching movies. It is good if there is an opportunity to make a large window, because it is from the attic that it is best to admire the stars.

If you need a separate room to work from home, you can equip it in the attic. This room is called an office. There you can enjoy the silence and working atmosphere. Even in the smallest attic, you can easily place a desktop and an armchair. The great advantage is that the attic is largely isolated from the rest of the house, so even if you have a large family, you can count on not being disturbed here.

Art lovers often make a studio out of the attic for their hobbies. If you are passionate about painting, you can place easels there without fear of staining the walls, floors and furniture in the rest of the house with paint. If you're into music, you can soundproof your attic by lining the walls with felt. So you can do what you love at any time of the day without disturbing other family members.

If you like books and have a large collection, the attic could well serve as a library. It is enough just to put a few racks, a couple of chairs and a coffee table. The attic of a private house can become a quiet and cozy place, ideal for relaxing with a good book.

Style and design

The design of the attic can be different - it all depends on the style of the interior of the house, as well as on the purpose of the room. In some cases, finishing can be done by hand, but some options may require the help of specialists to bring to life. For example, lighting problems often arise if several fixtures are planned to be installed. It is also difficult to independently install false ceilings or floor heating.

More simple attic design elements can be quite budgetary. But before deciding on the design, it is important to choose the style of the room.

Often wooden or even brick country houses are decorated in country style. Rustic aesthetics allows you to feel like a part of nature and surround yourself with pleasant natural materials (mostly wood is used in decoration). The country-style attic ceiling can be laid out with clapboard and decorated with beams. Wall and floor decor in this case is usually also made of wood. Textile and leather elements, as well as long pile carpets imitating animal skins, can organically complement this design.

If you want to bring romantic notes to the interior, you can opt for Provencal style. The simple and refined interior of the French country house features a light color scheme, a combination of wood, metal and textiles. You can paint the wood walls, floors, and furniture white, choose a few brushed metal accessories, and use plaid or floral print fabric for curtains, tablecloths, and pillows.

The options for finishing the attic in the Art Nouveau style look relevant. For the attic window, you can choose a mahogany frame, decorate the walls with textile wallpaper, and decorate the space under the roof with a massive chandelier. This is an excellent option for arranging a bedroom or living room. It will be quite easy to choose furniture for such an interior, and it is not necessary to keep the whole house in a strictly unified concept, because modern can be interestingly combined with neoclassicism and eclecticism.

A room in the attic can be equipped even in a minimalist high-tech style. It is good if the area of the room on the top floor is spacious enough, because modern design gravitates towards large spaces. As a floor covering, you can choose tiles or laminate, and the walls can simply be painted. Glossy furniture will perfectly fit into such an interior, several sources of lighting are desirable. A combination of different textures will be successful (for example, metal and wood can look very interesting together).

Color spectrum

For the successful arrangement of the attic, the selection of the right color combinations is important. After all, if the small details of the interior can go unnoticed, then the primary colors immediately catch the eye, affect the impression and mood of those in the room.

Primary colors should depend on what kind of room you are equipping - a bright design will be appropriate in a creative workshop, restrained tones are more suitable for a bedroom or library.

It is also worth proceeding from the size of the room. The most difficult thing is the decor of a small attic, which you want to visually expand. To do this, it is customary to use light shades, as well as limit yourself to a couple of primary colors. No need to overload the space with an excessive variety of colors.

Consider the main fashionable combinations of pastel colors:

Cream, ocher and milky shades will create a warm and cozy interior. This is a neutral color scheme that will suit almost any stop and any interior style. However, the traditional combination can look boring if bright accents are excluded. You can add small details in crimson, emerald or blue colors.

The combination of gray and beige will look unusual and give your interior a modern look. This combination is suitable for decorating the attic in high-tech style. Such a color scheme is also ideal for a living room in modern or country style. As for additional accents, you can use both cold and warm shades that will contrast with the main palette. However, remember that a small attic should not be overloaded with details, a couple of catchy accessories will suffice.

pastel blue shades fit perfectly into the Provencal style, neoclassicism and eclecticism. Best of all, this range is suitable for a bedroom or a nursery. Blue wall decoration and textiles in blue tones will look great with both light and dark wood. In addition, the interior can be diversified with white furniture or accessories, as well as metal and forged elements.

Pink and purple interior will be a good solution for the living room. It is not recommended to make the finish monophonic. It is better to combine pink with a second color (for example, olive, beige or milky). This color scheme will create a unique, slightly romantic atmosphere in the room. You can also support pink shades in the interior with the help of bright accessories in brown, purple or yellow.

If you have a fairly spacious attic, you can show more imagination in choosing a color palette. In this case, almost any color that harmoniously combines with each other will do. In this case, you can combine two or three colors.

Now in fashion khaki, which is perfectly combined with terracotta and dark brown. This range is suitable for both modern and modern style. With the help of these colors, you can visually divide the room into zones. To freshen up such an interior, complement it with small accessories in white, blue or bright yellow. Pure light shades perfectly beat a complex and sophisticated color scheme.

For living room, study or library can be used dark burgundy tones. They will make the interior interesting, but will not look too catchy, unlike the brighter shades of red. You can combine burgundy with gray, beige, blue or white. This is an almost universal color that successfully sets off any other shades. It is worth avoiding unless pink and purple tones, it is especially not recommended to combine warm and cold shades of the same color together. To diversify the color scheme, you can choose accessories in metallic, ivory, as well as details in beige and ocher shades.

In modern interiors it is accepted combination of dark and light colors. Black trim in a spacious room can look boring, but if you choose dark brown, dark green or navy blue, the interior will turn out to be trendy and sophisticated. You can combine such tones with white and any pastel shades.

Furniture

To create a comfortable attic environment in a private house, you should also think about furniture. If you want to visually expand a small area, horizontal elements will help you with this, but if you have low ceilings, you can choose several elongated narrow cabinets for arrangement.

It is desirable that the furniture in its color scheme and style be combined with the overall design of the room. In addition, its functionality is also important, especially if you want to create a comfortable place to work and relax in a limited space.

To equip a bedroom in a small attic, it is better to take a minimum of furniture. A bed, several bedside tables, a wardrobe or a chest will make up a functional and concise set. If there is a lot of space, you can place a dressing table, a chest of drawers, an ottoman and additional cabinets in the room. You can even divide the room into several zones (for example, a sleeping area and an area with a mirror and cabinets).

In private houses of the old type, old trash was stored in the attic, which is a pity to throw out, carpentry tools, sports equipment, in extreme cases, clothes were dried. The modern design of the attic assumes its full use as a place to work, relax, sleep, practice your favorite hobbies.

Bright interior of the guest room with windows-dormers

In the countries of Europe, the West, it is called the beautiful word "attic". This additional floor in many houses is an elite housing - there are high ceilings, an open plan, all communications are connected, panoramic windows are equipped with a wonderful view.

But in Russian reality, not every attic can be made residential, especially when it comes to private houses from the middle of the last century. The height of the ceiling here is most often small - it allows you to walk normally only in the very middle, the ceilings are not always designed for the installation of massive furniture.

Ceiling beams can not be hidden under the skin, but on the contrary, highlight them with dark accents on a light background

Design solutions for this room are used almost the same as for all others. To make residential, special documents are not required. It is important to make a strong staircase, organize sufficient ventilation, take care of insulation, summing up the necessary communications - light, water, heating.

The walls are finished with plasterboard, wood, covered with wallpaper, the floor requires thermal insulation, the roof is equipped with sound insulation so that the noise of rain, the sounds of bird steps, etc. are not heard. The design is mostly light, reflecting light well.

For small windows, use light colors for decoration

Important: sometimes for the arrangement of the attic floor, it is necessary to strengthen the structure of the entire building.

Attic room interior design

Depending on the area of the attic, one or more rooms are equipped here. For large spaces, installing additional partitions is a very labor-intensive business, therefore zoning is done using screens, light screens, a few pieces of furniture, and curtains.

The main thing is not to clutter up the interior with unnecessary details, but to rationally use every corner

The ideal form for arrangement is a round, five-pitched roof. At the stage of drafting the project, all measurements are made, if the configuration is complex, this is also indicated in the plan. The attic rarely occupies the entire attic - the comfortable height of the room is at least 160-200 cm, which greatly limits the field of activity if the roof is flat. The maximum height is made arbitrary, up to the roof ridge - usually 2.5-3.5 meters.

Advice. The attic is quite suitable for organizing a multifunctional space: an office with a library, a bedroom with a dressing room, a hall with a place to sleep.

Attic insulation

A room intended for life at any time of the year must be insulated. Warm air tends to rise up, the insulation will not let it "leave". The material for insulation is selected:

fireproof;
vapor permeable;
eco-friendly;
thickness from 10 cm.

Many prefer mineral wool

Sufficient thermal insulation will significantly save on heating. For the roof, floor, polystyrene foam, mineral wool are suitable. The ideal solution is a combination of rigid, semi-rigid insulation, which is placed between the outer wall and the interior finishing material: clapboard, drywall, plywood.

Advice. On request, heated floors are arranged in the attic.

Window, entrance

Windows allow you to save on lighting during the daytime. They are made at the ends or directly on the roof. The size of the windows is made at least 10-15% of the entire attic area. In summer it will be very hot here, so you should definitely install air conditioning.

There will be much more light if skylights are installed between the rafters

Windows need to be supplemented with roller blinds

The stairs should not be too steep, the slope is preferably 35-45 degrees. She happens:

march straight or with a turn;
curvilinear;
screw.

It is installed along the wall, sometimes in a niche. On the second floor, the opening is closed with a hatch, fenced with a railing, which is necessary as a security measure. Sometimes a PVC window acts as a hatch. The stairs are made outside the house, along the outer wall, if there is not enough space inside. Glass, wood become the material for the stairs inside the room, on the street it is appropriate to make a staircase of stone, concrete, with forged railings. For very tight spaces, an attached, folding one is used.

Classic single-flight staircase made of natural wood

What style to decorate the space

The stylistic design of the attic space largely depends on its area and purpose. A cramped attic in the loft or baroque style does not look too good, but minimalism, modernity, will be appropriate. A small room is decorated in light, warm colors, especially if it is not possible to make large windows. A spacious room with a high ceiling is finished with colder, darker tones.

The interior of the attic room can be decorated in any style

The most commonly used styles are:

Minimalism - there is a lot of space, little furniture. A folding sofa of a strict geometric shape, a small table, large windows. A maximum of two colors are used at the same time, one of which is white, there are practically no accessories.
Loft - open floor plan, exposed wood beams, brick walls, metal accessories. The windows are very large, without curtains. The furniture is antique, artificially aged, made of dark wood.
Ecological - wooden finishes, furniture, indoor plants are often present, a whole winter garden. Natural colors, natural fabrics - linen, cotton, silk.
Scandinavian - stylish plain furniture, bleached wood, laminate, metal. The colors are mostly light, individual color accents are acceptable, there are not many accessories.
Provence - pastel colors, floral prints on textiles, wallpaper. Light, bright furniture, "cozy" accessories - rugs, pillows, wardrobe trunks.
Oriental - a low table, bed or sofa is a mattress on the podium. Light wallpaper with hieroglyphs, cherry blossoms, a lot of light.

Scandinavian minimalism will allow you to create a cozy and calm room with a homely atmosphere, using a minimum of funds.

Rafters and load-bearing racks are the best fit for interior design in a loft style

Classic design will require a lot of money, and it will look only in a fairly spacious room.

What room to make in the attic

The attic floor is used for arranging both one room and a full-fledged apartment, if there is enough space. It is advisable to consider the purpose of the premises at the planning stage in order to know what communications to carry out.

A children's room on the site of an old attic - the wonders of alteration will allow you to organize a fabulous space. Above all else here is safety. Finishing materials are selected the most environmentally friendly. The staircase is as gentle as possible, always with strong railings, the hatch to the floor is securely closed. Good lighting is essential throughout the room. An indispensable attribute of a nursery is toys. They are placed on shelves, in boxes.

Children's room in a marine style

Bedroom in the attic - practical, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing. In the center there is a double bed, if it is a matrimonial bedroom, two singles along the walls - for the guest room. Places for storing bed linen and other things are done under the bed. The overhead light is soft, diffused, but if you are supposed to read or work on a laptop in bed, local bright lighting is made. Dressing table, wardrobe also have their own local lighting.

Cozy bedroom in a small attic of a country house

The design of the living room in the attic room has its own characteristics. Everything that is needed for a family vacation, friendly gatherings is located here. Furniture should not be excessively bulky, heavy, high. The TV is placed on a narrow console, attached to the main wall, and with a good acoustic system, they arrange a home theater. Panoramic windows will allow you to admire the view of a flowering garden, river, flower bed. The artificial fireplace in the living room also looks good.

Large sofas with many pillows will be the best place for a friendly pastime

The arrangement of the office requires a well-lit workplace. Additional sound insulation, the remoteness of the room from other rooms, will allow you to fully concentrate on the tasks at hand. Office equipment will be placed on the table, shelves, the lighting directly above the table becomes bright.

Natural light is best for a home office

The workshop on the attic floor should have enough storage space for materials and tools. The number of work surfaces depends on the intended activities.

The attic room can be an ideal place to organize a home workshop due to its isolation.

The library in the attic includes numerous shelving. The reading corner is located by the window - in the brightest place in the room. Artificial light is sufficient to find the right books, reading in the evening should also be comfortable.

The reading area should be well lit

The dressing room is equipped with hangers, rods, pantographs, hooks for belts, ties, umbrella stands, shoe racks. For storage of small haberdashery, hanging shelves, a chest of drawers with drawers are made. Some things are stored in cardboard boxes, plastic boxes. In addition to clothes, small household appliances, which are not often used, an ironing board, and sports equipment are often stored here. Here you can easily use every centimeter of the attic area.

Ceiling bevels impose certain restrictions on the use of store furniture

Billiard room, gym, rest room in the attic will be very appropriate. Sufficient lighting is mounted above the billiard table; for equipping the gym, additional reinforcement of the structure, sound insulation, and ventilation are required. A shower will also come in handy.

The atmosphere of the attic room perfectly contributes to the appropriate mood for a measured game of billiards

A kitchen in the attic is rarely done, but its arrangement is quite possible. To do this, you will have to carry out water, put a powerful hood. Ventilation is also carried out through the windows, and one of the work surfaces becomes a continuation of the window sill. LED lighting on the top and bottom of the headset will make the interior modern.

Industrial motifs in the design of the attic kitchen

The arrangement of a bathroom, a combined bathroom in the attic space is quite possible. It is made out with moisture-resistant materials, water supply and its removal are organized here. The bath itself is often mounted under the slope of the roof, the shower stall is placed closer to the middle of the room, where you can stand up to your full height. Often the bathroom is located next to the kitchen or above it. Panoramic windows will create a unique interior.

In a large family, an extra bathroom will not hurt

The highlight of the attic interior

The design of the walls, floor, ceiling, contrasting with each other, bright cushions, poufs are quite capable of becoming a kind of "highlight" of the attic interior. A round bed or a sofa in the shape of a month, hand-painted walls, hanging chairs of the original form look very original. Numerous, diverse sources of light, paintings on the walls, photo wallpapers, home-made rugs, draperies on the windows, mirrors - what is better to focus on in each case is decided individually.

Hanging accessories accentuate sloping walls

Bright wallpaper on the accent wall will help to revive the interior

Conclusion

The attic is quite suitable for expanding the living space of a private house. It is easy to organize almost any room here, if it is well insulated, beautifully decorated.

Today, when literally every centimeter of space counts in a house, not using the attic is simply an unaffordable luxury.

When problems arise with the independent improvement of the attic, professional interior designers will come to the rescue, who will develop the project “from and to”, in accordance with the wishes of the customer.

The attic is usually the room in the house where they store those things that did not find a place in the house, as well as supplies. But, if a new member appears in the family, or guests often come, or simply because of the desire to create a cozy corner, there is a need to convert the attic into a living space.

To implement the plan, you need to design in advance the room that will turn out as a result, make all the necessary calculations and perform work in strict accordance with the technology. This article will tell you in detail how you can make the attic residential.

Stages of attic conversion

Before you start converting the attic into a living space, you need to draw up a work plan that must be followed throughout the alteration of the attic. The main steps are:

Planning for future space. At this stage, a living room project is being drawn up. It must be as intended by the owner. For greater efficiency, you can use special computer programs when designing a room.
Calculation of financial possibilities. Based on the finished project, it is necessary to calculate the financial component of the issue and, if necessary, change something in order to meet the budget.
Purchase of materials for alteration of the attic.
Attic cleaning. Since the attic space is used to store unnecessary things, you will have to work hard to take them all out and find a new storage place for them.
Important! When cleaning the attic, you need to be extremely careful, as nails sticking out of the rafters can cause injury.
Taking measurements indoors. It is worth remembering at this stage that for each roof the ceiling height will be different.
Work to identify defects on the roof and floor of the attic. If there are any structural defects, then they need to be repaired. After that, you can start organizing the entrance to the attic. For the correctness of its creation, it is necessary to plan the work at the design stage of the attic space itself.
Carrying out the necessary communications to the attic, for example, electricity, heating and others.
Thermal insulation of the room, starting from the floor and ending with the roof.
Decorating the house inside and out.
Arrangement of a certain room in the attic space.

Attic conversion

Let us consider in more detail the main stages of the direct work on converting the attic into a dwelling.

Transformation of the truss system

After creating a project for the premises, it is necessary to identify the changes that need to be subjected to the rafters in order to re-equip the attic. There are several options here, depending on the design of the truss system.

If the made attic is high enough to decorate a full-fledged room in it, then it is not necessary to disassemble the roof, it is enough to inspect the truss system for defects. Some damaged parts can be repaired or replaced with new ones.

If the supports are in good condition, then you will need to lay a good floor in the attic. For this, insulation is laid between the lags, and chipboard sheets or ordinary boards are mounted on top. You need to fix the new floor in the room with self-tapping screws.

Important! To exclude the penetration of steam from below, it is necessary to lay a layer of vapor barrier membrane before insulation, which is also laid on top of the insulation.

Stone wool is usually used as insulation for the attic, depending on the need, it can be laid in 2 layers, but the joints should not coincide in two layers.

If the attic space is not naturally lit, then you need to additionally equip the windows. Only skylights that are intended for use in this room need to be installed.

After that, a ventilation device is made in the roof space.

Roof insulation

Insulation of the attic roof is a very important point that allows you to create the right microclimate in the room. Before doing the work with your own hands, you will need to calculate the thickness of the heat insulator that will be applied in the attic. To select the right insulation, climate maps and ready-made tables are used. Pitched roofs are insulated with basalt-based material, the density of which is 35 kg / cu. m.

Important! For steeper slopes, a denser insulation is used.

Warming of the room should be carried out only after the installation of all utilities in the roof, such as wiring, heating and other elements. All of them must be placed in a special corrugation.

A waterproofing film is laid in front of the insulation layer. Next, put the insulation as close to each other as possible to exclude cavities between the joints. Again, a waterproofing film is laid on top, which is fixed with staples to the logs.

After that, the roof of the attic can be sheathed with sheets of OSB or GKL, while covering the joints with putty.

Arrangement of access to the attic

For the convenience of climbing into the attic, you need to install a safe ladder. The staircase can be made on the street and combined with a balcony on the attic floor, or it can be mounted inside the house. The second option is used everywhere and much more often than the first. The stairs to the attic can be of different designs, but the most convenient and safe are the screw and marching stationary types. Stairs are most often constructed of wood, but in modern interiors metal models with glass inserts can be used.

Facing works

For a successful and concise equipment of a room in the attic, you need to take care of some very important conditions:

The right choice of paint or finishing material. It is best to use light colors for decoration in a small room, as they will visually expand the space and create a peaceful atmosphere. A bright color can be used on one of the walls or in decor elements.
Good arrangement of furniture. Do not force the attic space with a lot of furniture. In this room, it is necessary to save space and use the most compact furnishing options. Bulky cabinets are best replaced with hanging shelves, and the bed is installed under the roof slope.
Mandatory addition of interior accessories. In the form of accessories that will support the overall style, roof curtains are used, as well as textiles. Necessarily, additional elements should, in design, overlap with the main shades in the interior.

The space in the attic can be turned into almost any room, including a bedroom, a nursery, a dressing room, a workshop, a rest room and other functional rooms.

Nursery in the attic

To equip a children's room in the attic, it is best to use safe and hypoallergenic materials. The decoration can be bright or calm, but it is better to combine these two solutions and make the sleeping area more delicate, and the play area can be enlivened with colors. The floor covering can be the most diverse, but it is better to have a carpet or a small rug in the play area. As furniture, a bed, a small bedside table and shelves for toys are used. If space permits, you can install a children's chest of drawers.

Bedroom

An attic bedroom is an ideal location, as the room itself has a very homely and cozy atmosphere, which is very important for a good rest.

Very few items are used in the furnishing of the bedroom - this is a bed, storage space for bedding, a dressing table. It is worth paying attention to the lighting in the bedroom, as soft diffused light, which can be obtained from wall sconces and floor lamps, is best suited for this room.

Study

Making an office in the attic is a good solution, because the room is separated from the rest of the house and you can concentrate on work there. It is better if the interior is made in bright colors. From everything you need to work, you will need a table, chair, racks for storing papers and office equipment.

Important! Lighting in the office is given a special role, as it must be of high quality.

Living room

If you competently approach the issue of refurbishment, then it is quite possible to arrange a living room in the attic, where it will be pleasant to receive guests or spend evenings in the company of the family over a cup of tea. If you create large windows in the attic, then the view will only emphasize the beauty of the room and become its highlight.

Important! Furniture for the living room should not be high.

Conclusion

It is quite possible to convert an attic space into a living room if you approach this issue responsibly. A well-designed and created room will delight the owners with an additional usable area and its functionality.

To increase the living space of a private house is the dream of many owners. But sometimes adding another room can be very expensive. Indeed, in this case, you need to make an extension. There is another way to get a new living space - a room in the attic. In this case, the costs will not be so large. And how the attic is made from the attic with your own hands and will be discussed in this article.

Purpose of the premises

Converting an attic to an attic is not a difficult job. To make it with your own hands, every owner of a private house can do it. But in order for you to understand the plan of action, you should first make out what are the differences between the attic and the attic. Both of these concepts refer to the space under the roof. The word attic is used when the room is not intended for living. At the same time, things can be stored here. If the room under the roof is fully equipped and adapted for comfortable living, then it automatically “turns” into an attic.

Based on the foregoing, in order to make a residential attic with your own hands, you need to insulate it, equip it with the necessary communications, finish it, and so on. In this case, the room under the roof of the house will be called an attic.

Before making the attic residential, it is worth deciding on the purpose of the new premises. There can be a lot of options here. For example, in a room in the attic there may be:

The bedroom is one of the most popular options especially in large families;
Children's. In this case, it is advisable to take care of the living space under the roof of the house even at the construction stage. Indeed, in such a room there should be good natural lighting, an efficient heating system and much more;
Office or library and so on.

In addition, a room located in the attic under the roof of the house may not be used for living. For example, if you have a lot of valuable things that are best stored in a warm and well-protected room, then the attic can be equipped as a pantry. This option can be considered the most easily feasible, since it does not require large expenses for arrangement.

Most often, the attic is used as a bedroom. According to many experts, this option is the most effective way to use additional space under the roof of the house. How to equip a room in the attic for a bedroom will be discussed in the next part of the article.

Future work plan

An attic bedroom or other room begins with a plan for the upcoming work. Without such a “document”, it will be difficult for you to complete this work and not forget about all sorts of little things. In addition, making such a plan will allow you to be better prepared financially. The costs can be quite significant and it is better to know about them in advance.

The work plan related to how to make the second floor in the attic will include the following main steps:

1. Calculation of the dimensions of the future room in the attic. This takes into account the area of the attic itself, the height of the slopes.

2. Arrangement of windows. A room in the attic will not be cozy without natural light. You can simply expand the dormers from the ends of the roof. This option is inexpensive. But for greater convenience, it is better to make windows in the slopes themselves, the so-called attic option.

3. Attic, this is not quite the second floor, so during construction it is rarely equipped with a good staircase. But a living space, such as a bedroom, must be equipped with a convenient device in order to get into it. Therefore, it must be included in your work plan;

4. Alteration of the attic into a living space under the roof of the house is impossible without laying good thermal insulation. Of course, you can do without such insulation. For example, if you will use a room in the attic only in the summer. If you want to operate it all year round, then you can not do without thermal insulation. In the process, it is worth inspecting all the elements of the roof and ceiling well, perhaps some of them already need repairs.

5. Summing up all communications. It will be difficult to make a living room in the attic without electricity, ventilation and other systems. Without such communications today it is difficult to imagine the comfort of living.

6. In order to make a living room out of the attic, you need to do the finishing. Without proper decoration and design, a bedroom or other room in the attic will not be cozy and easy to use.

It is impossible to make a residential attic without fulfilling the above points. As you can see, there is a lot of work to be done. A significant part of them can be done with your own hands, and some can be entrusted to professionals. For example, an electrician is best able to conduct electrical wiring. In this case, the safety of further operation is increased.

Warming is the most important step

The bedroom located in the attic, or any other room in the attic, should be warm. Therefore, your most important task will be warming. At the same time, the arrangement of the heat-insulating layer is done both on the attic floor and under the slopes.

First of all, it is worth choosing the right material for insulation. The most popular options are:

Mineral wool, or rather its basalt variety. This insulation has a low thermal conductivity, resistance to biological attack (it does not rot), does not burn and is inexpensive. The disadvantage of mineral wool is that it is able to accumulate moisture. And the more the insulation gets wet, the less heat it can hold (for more details, see the material -).
Polyfoam and its modern varieties. This insulation has similar characteristics with mineral wool. But unlike it, the foam is not afraid of moisture. But there are also disadvantages. This material can burn, and when heated to a certain temperature releases toxic gases.

There are also more modern materials, such as polyurethane foam. This insulation has the best thermal conductivity compared to the above options. And this means that the layer of polyurethane foam can be much thinner. But even here it was not without drawbacks. The fact is that such material, or rather its installation, is quite expensive. For its application, special equipment is used and one cannot do without hiring a specialized team.

If you decide to make a room in the attic, then it is better to use mineral wool or polystyrene for insulation. The work on the installation of the heat-insulating layer will look like this:

The first step is to insulate the attic floor. First, a layer of vapor barrier film is laid;
Next, the thermal insulation material is mounted. Mineral wool or polystyrene is cut into pieces with a width slightly greater than the distance between. In this case, the insulation will fit tightly into the place allotted for it;
After that, a layer of waterproofing is laid and a finishing floor can be laid;
After insulating the attic floor, you need to start arranging the thermal insulation of the slopes. In this case, the work is carried out in the reverse order. First of all, the insulation cut into the necessary pieces is laid. This is done between the rafters;
Next, a layer of vapor barrier material is mounted;
In conclusion, a crate is made to create a ventilation gap. On it, the installation of finishing material is carried out.

After such insulation, the room under the roof will be reliably protected from the cold. But the living attic room itself is not yet ready for operation. In order for a bedroom or other room to be cozy and comfortable, you need to think over the design and finish it.

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