Houses with attics structure. Attic superstructure in an old reconstructed house

How to increase the living space of an old house without additional extensions? The best option is the arrangement of a new mansard-type roof. For its construction, it is necessary to complete the calculation part, to choose the right truss scheme and the material of the roof covering.

First, you should find out the optimal mass of the new structure, since not all walls of the old house are designed for additional load. Total weight roofing cake equal to the sum of the following components: rafters, battens, insulation and waterproofing. At the same time, the light frame structure must be serviceable: it must withstand not only standard snow and wind loads, but also the mass of a person.

Taking data from the table, you can calculate the optimal load on the load-bearing walls. Let's assume they are made from solid brick with a masonry thickness of 400 mm. Then the constant load will be equal to: 400*1800/1000= 720 kg/m². In this case, the walls are able to withstand the weight of the attic, made of beams with a density of 300 kg/m³ and covered with ceramic tiles.

If the walls can't bear total weight attic, you can equip an additional foundation. Bearing vertical supports are installed on it to create the foundation of the roof. This design will avoid stress on the walls of the house.


Most often, a new attic is made in the form of a gable broken roof. This is due to the large interior space that can be used as a living space.


Before starting construction, you need to make the correct calculation of the optimal distance between the rafters (see Gable roof truss system). Not always an old wooden house can withstand the load of a new roof, so you should choose the installation step of load-bearing structures based on the estimated weight of the roof. Data about this parameter can be taken from the table.

Then, based on the calculated data, the material is purchased - wooden beams, rafters and laths for lathing. The last step depends on the coating material. Often it should not exceed 400 mm. But the final parameters are determined based on the recommendations of the manufacturer of the roofing material.

Mauerlat installation

Mauerlat are horizontal bars on which the load-bearing elements of the roof will be mounted. It is intended for uniform distribution wall loads.

For execution installation work will be required the following materials and tools:

  1. Hammer, wood saw.
  2. Nails up to 50 mm long. The amount depends on the area of ​​the roof.
  3. Measuring tool: plumb building level, roulette.

Most often, a wooden bar with a section of 150 * 100 is used for mounting the Mauerlat. Its quantity is determined by the perimeter of the roof. To connect the beam with bearing wall it is recommended to use mounting dowels.

Installation of the truss frame and lathing

At the first stage, it is necessary to install load-bearing beams on the Mauerlat. Then vertical racks are attached to them, interconnected in the upper part by bars - runs. On the resulting frame, rafters are mounted for the future attic roof.


The crate is intended for the installation of roofing. Its size and configuration depends on the protective material used. Usually, 40 * 150 mm boards are used for the manufacture of crates. They are stuffed over the rafters, forming a mounting platform.

final stage

The above technology for the construction of a mansard roof is universal. As a waterproofing layer, it is recommended to use a special rolled microfiber. It is attached to the crate. Roofing is already being installed on top of it. To improve the thermal insulation properties of the roof, you need to perform internal insulation. This is done using basalt wool or extruded polystyrene foam.

What you need to pay attention to when arranging a mansard roof in an old one-story house? First of all, correctly calculate the total weight of the structure, install a reliable roofing pie and select the appropriate material. The result of the work is an additional living space, the comfort of living in which will be no worse than in the rest of the rooms of the house.














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

Rules for organizing an attic in an old house

What is an attic. This is under the roof of the house. That is, above it, except roof structure there is nothing. Therefore, the 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 a comfortable stay in the attic room. That is, it should be not only 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 carefully about everything. Firstly, it is necessary to solve the issue of constructing a solid floor with laying a floor base. Secondly, the issue of roof insulation. These are the two main tasks. After that, you can engage in the laying of heating systems, plumbing and sewerage, install air conditioning, and carry out the finishing of new premises.

Floors in the attic

If we are talking about a wooden house, then the floors in it are formed by load-bearing beams from timber, on which boards are stuffed. wooden flooring must be insulated. The same construction is often found in brick houses. But in most cases with brick buildings are used concrete plates ceilings, which are also insulated.

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

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

    across at them stacking boards close to each other.

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

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

    over the beams lay the vapor barrier.

    Top across installing plank floor from grooved boards. You can use plywood or OSB boards, which will later be laid flooring(laminate, linoleum, tile, etc.).

The main task of the manufacturer of works is to make the floor even, durable, and heat-resistant.

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

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

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

    along the perimeter attic room stack the bars section 70x70 or 100x100 mm, they are attached to concrete floor anchors;

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

    into the resulting cellular structure expanded clay falls asleep medium or fine fraction;

    on top the crate is covered vapor barrier membrane;

    on top of the heat-insulating cake along the laid bars boarded floor or slab, sheet material.

If slabs are used as insulation thermal insulation materials, then everything is done in exactly the same way. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the tight pressing of the insulation boards to the elements of the floor crate so that there are no cold bridges.

Roof insulation

If the roof truss system, the crate 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 processed first antiseptic composition after drying flame retardant;

    on rafter legs vapor barrier film is laid 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 the tight pressing of the material to the ends of the rafter legs;

    over two stacked materials stretch waterproofing film;

    after which the whole structure covered with tiles or sheet material , for example, it can be drywall, plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB and so on.

On our website you can find 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 building new house or the roof of the old one does not meet modern operating requirements, then it is possible to build an attic superstructure, as they say, “from scratch”. What does that require. First of all, the project. You can't just buy building materials and start building. The attic is not a heavy structure, but this does not mean that it should be treated with a lesser degree of responsibility.

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

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 with anchors that were previously installed in the reinforcing belt. The last one is poured over outer walls private house. How it turns out in the end result is very clearly visible in the photo below.

Attic projects

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

And yet there is one design, which is called the attic. She has a broken roof, which you will not confuse with any other.

Construction of a classic mansard roof

This type of roof has two slopes, divided into two parts. The first upper part is with a small angle of inclination, that is, sloping, the other lower part is with a large inclination, that is, steep. This is the main difficulty in building an attic superstructure on an old house or new.

This problem is solved like this:

    The project must have exactly stated fracture site.

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

    Along every beam vertical racks are installed, which determine the useful height of the attic room. Usually it 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. Two beams are installed along the Mauerlat between the floor beams.

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

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

    Installed on racks horizontal ridge run.

    Mount rafter legs gentle slopes. With their upper edges they rest against the ridge beam, with their lower edges against the upper trim of the structure.

    form steep lower attic slopes. Rafters are also installed here, which with their upper edges abut against the upper trim attic construction, lower in Mauerlat.

Video description

The video shows in detail how to build a classic mansard roof:

So, the frame of the attic structure is ready. It remains to form the floors of the room, conduct insulation and cover the roof with roofing material. And then move on to the finishing touches.

How to make insulated floors - has already been described above. How to insulate a mansard roof too. But there is one point here that facilitates the implementation of thermal insulation measures for the roof structure. The thing is that the roof has not yet been covered, which means that laying vapor barrier membrane it is better to spend on top of the truss system.

The photo below shows this very well:

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

    over insulation and rafters mount rails, which will perform the functions of a counter-lattice. Its task is to create a ventilated gap between the heat-insulating 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 crate;

    carry out installation of roofing material.

Other operations: laying insulation and waterproofing is carried out from the inside of the attic.

Scheme of assembly of insulated mansard roof

Formation of gables

This is an important part of the design of the mansard roof. In fact, two pediments are the walls of the new premises. And they must meet strict requirements. 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.

With insulation, everything is simple. It's like in a frame house:

    With outer side install a vapor barrier;

    do the outer lining sheet or panel materials: lining, plywood, OSB, etc.;

    from within lay insulation;

    close the gables waterproofing membrane;

    carry out inner lining.

In principle, the attic is ready. It remains to finish the interior space. There are no strict restrictions here. The attic is a living 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 small capital investments. 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 bearing walls buildings. If you think carefully about the exterior decoration of the entire building, it will not be noticeable that the superstructure was built later than the main house.

As for the disadvantages, according to the method of construction, the classic mansard roof is more complicated than a single or gable roof. It uses a large number various elements, which will have to be cut, adjusted to the required dimensions, which leads to the formation of a large amount of waste.

Video description

In the video, the specialist discusses the advantages and disadvantages of houses with attic add-ons:

Conclusion on the topic

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

When building a residential building, the owners always want to find as much living space as possible, providing space and comfort in the house. One of the great ways effective use living space is the construction of an attic space instead of a conventional attic.

The attic floor superstructure is the most rational use roof spaces. If we add to this the special charm and attractiveness of attic rooms in private houses, one can understand why they became widespread first in the West, and then in other countries.

However, in order for such a structure to bring aesthetics and pleasant feelings to private life, it must be properly equipped to protect it from rain, wind and other negative external factors.

Design features of the attic superstructure

The construction of an attic building, with building skills, can be carried out on its own or entrusted to professionals, but in any case, before building an attic floor, you should take care of its design.

The design of the attic superstructure may be different, but you need to know that any, even a light attic, refers to load-bearing structures that carry significant loads during operation. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to take care of the strength of the supporting structures and the foundation of the attic structure. It is on them that the bulk of the load falls. If their strength turns out to be insufficient, then columns are erected on the outside of the house. separate foundation performing additional function supports for the frame of the attic floor.

Support columns can also be used in another situation: when the supporting structures are generally reliable, but subject to significant wear. This can take place, for example, if necessary, build an attic with your own hands on an old house. In this case, worn-out roof structures are dismantled, after which a roof is built on such supports. new frame. The load-bearing structures of the outer walls in this case do not take on the entire load, but only some of it.

The superstructure of the frame attic floor necessarily provides for the arrangement of a strapping belt. Most often, it is made of reinforced concrete beams in the form of a cantilever crossbar, located in the outer walls of the building under the ceiling and monolithically connected to the walls of the attic being built. The function of the strapping belt is to distribute the load of the superstructure on the residential building, as well as to combine the attic with the main part of the building.

Frame structures attic and ordinary attic as a whole are identical to each other. In fact, the attic is an attic floor equipped for living, which entails certain changes in the arrangement of thermal and waterproofing, as well as the interior.

How to make a truss system

The initial stage of the construction of the attic is the installation of the rafter system. This is a very important process that should be given maximum attention when building an attic floor with your own hands. It is on the strength of the rafters that the reliability of the entire structure as a whole largely depends.

When installing the rafter system for the attic floor, climatic and weather factors should be taken into account. Roof structures must be able to withstand wind and snow loads along with the weight of the roof itself. The material for their construction should be decided even before making the attic.


The main materials used for the construction of attic rafters are the following:

  • black metal;
  • thin-walled galvanized profile;
  • wood;
  • combinations of these materials with each other.

Ferrous metal is the best in terms of strength, but thin-walled galvanized profile products are more convenient to use for installation in difficult areas. They can be mounted both by welding and by means of bolts and rivets. Wood is used where the welding process is not possible, for example, in the absence of electricity. Before use, it is treated with an antiseptic - in order to protect against putrefactive processes, and a flame retardant - to impart fire resistance. Depending on the situation, there may be a need for various combinations of the listed materials with each other.

The rafters, like other load-bearing structures of the attic (rod trusses, frames, etc.) are attached to the Mauerlat, which is located along the perimeter of the building wall. If the gaps between the bearing elements are significant, then, in order to give additional strength, runs are mounted on them.

Walls and gables of the attic floor

According to its structure, the design of the attic is a kind of box, in the formation of which wall and roof structures. The choice of material for walls and gables has some important features. They should be mentioned when talking about how to properly make the attic floor.

In particular, if the construction of the attic is planned from the very beginning when building a house, then the foundation of the building is calculated for the corresponding load, which means that the choice of material can be anything: concrete slabs, bricks, metal structures, etc.


If initially the construction of the attic was not planned, and only then it was decided to build it, then the material for construction should be light: most often wooden beams, aerated concrete and sip panels are used here.

Wall and pediment structures mate as much as possible with the walls of the main structure. The most commonly used option is the construction of attic walls, which are a superstructure to the load-bearing walls of the building.

Do-it-yourself attic roofing

The attic roofing pie consists of the following structural parts:

  • vapor barrier layer;
  • waterproofing material;
  • insulation;
  • ventilation slot;
  • crate;
  • roofing itself.

Laying a heat-insulating layer can be carried out in two ways: either above the truss structure or under it. In most cases, the first option is preferable.


The best insulating material for flat roofs is polystyrene foam, and for pitched roofs- basalt insulation. Use of materials that are not resistant to fire or impact high temperatures is not recommended as it carries some risk.

Attic roofs are always pitched, and therefore, to equip the roof of the attic floor with your own hands, you should prepare basalt insulation plates. Their laying is carried out in several layers with an overlap, in order to avoid the penetration of cold through free gaps.


In order to protect the insulation from exposure to moisture and vapors from the room, with inside a layer of vapor barrier is laid from it. As a vapor barrier material, you can use ordinary polyethylene, be sure to glue it with mastic at the butt sections. The purchase of a special vapor barrier film will cost significantly more. True, this material is of better quality, since it allows vapors to pass both inside and out, providing "breathing" of the heat-insulating layer.

Another undesirable process from which attic roofing should be protected is condensation due to temperature changes. This can lead to decay processes inside the layers of the roofing cake, as well as to the wetting of the walls of the building. To protect against condensation and wetting, a ventilation space is arranged between the roofing and the insulation, and a layer of waterproofing is laid on top of the insulation. For this purpose, special "breathing" membranes are used. Their structure is different from the film for vapor barrier, and one material cannot be used instead of another.

Selection of skylights

There are two types of window structures for the attic: vertical and inclined. Inclined type windows are located in the plane of the slopes and provide much greater illumination, but at the same time, snow can accumulate on them in winter. Therefore, the choice of one or another type of window structures to a large extent depends on climatic and weather conditions.


Vertical windows have special tides at the bottom for the outflow of water, and inclined ones are equipped with a system of gutters through which water flows from the roofing. The specific layout of the windows in the attic is determined by the design of the roof and the preferences of the owners of the dwelling.

interior

The final stages of arranging a beautiful and stylish attic are its interior decoration and decoration. In general, there are a lot of options here, and a lot depends on individual preferences. However, some general recommendations regarding the interior design of the attic, it should still be taken into account.


The height of the attic wall structures is usually small compared to the roof slopes. If it does not exceed 0.5 meters, then “deaf” zones appear in areas near the walls, which are difficult to use rationally. They can accommodate bedside tables, small built-in wardrobes or shelves. If the height of the walls is 0.8-0.9 meters, then you can place a bed in this place, and if the height is more than 1.3 meters, you can equip working area with a table.

In the attic room you can equip a bathroom and a bathroom. When choosing a location for them, again, the rationality of the use of housing space should be taken into account as much as possible.

The main nuances associated with the construction and arrangement of the attic structure, as well as its internal design, should be considered when drafting the project, before building on the attic. Properly approaching the construction process, you can get an excellent replacement for the second floor, as well as a cozy place to relax and have a good time.

The most probably The best way to increase the useful area of ​​​​your own house is to replace the gable roof of the house with a mansard. In this way, one, two or even three additional rooms can be purchased without carving out additional space on the site and without getting involved in the very laborious processes of pouring a new foundation and erecting walls. And in order to find out how to make the attic correctly, you need to consider all the stages of its arrangement, starting with calculations and ending with the roofing of the roof and finishing the resulting additional premises.

In order for all work to be successful, first of all, you need to make sure that the existing walls (if the add-on will be built in the old house) are able to withstand the additional load. It will depend on this factor whether it is worth starting such a construction site, and if so, on which design of the mansard roof it would be better to stop.

It should be noted that the load on the load-bearing walls will increase significantly - due to the greater number of rafters, due to the mass interior decoration walls and floors, windows and doors, insulation systems, as well as all elements of interior filling of attic rooms. All of these factors suggest that you need to start with a choice. optimal design attic, with calculations, drafting and drawings of the future superstructure.

Types of attic superstructures

According to current building codes an attic is a room under a roof, having a height from the ceiling to the ridge of at least 2500 mm. If this parameter is less than the specified limit, then the room is considered an ordinary attic.

  • If the vertical racks that determine the height of the walls of the room are 1500 mm in size, then the attic space can be considered a full-fledged floor.
  • A semi-mansard is an attic room in which there are no vertical racks, or if they have a height of 500 to 700 mm.

At the heart of any roof structure are always triangles with their “rigid” structure.

There are several types of attic superstructures, but the most popular of them are high gable and broken structures. Their popularity can be explained by simpler calculations, relatively simple installation work and ease of use. In third place, after gable and broken structures, one can name a shed version of the roof, which is also sometimes used to equip the attic. Unfortunately, this type of superstructure can not be used in every house design, since it requires not only the reconstruction of the roof, but also raising the height of already built walls, which significantly increases the load on them and on the foundation.

If a new house is being built, and a second floor is planned in the form of an attic, then a shed roof option is well suited for this purpose. In addition, it will help save on roofing material.

More complex structures - domed, four-pitched, as well as with various protrusions-consoles arranged in the roof slopes (single-level and multi-level), are used extremely rarely and only in exclusive projects, as they have a complex design both in engineering calculations and in installation.


The figure below the numbers shows:

1 - Gable attic.

2 - Broken attic

3 - Single-level console attic

4 - Multi-level attic.

Gable attic

attic space under d with a wuska roof, which is arranged at an angle between the slopes of 80 ÷ 90 degrees on the ridge, it may well be converted into an attic. To create full-fledged living quarters under it, it will be necessary to carry out a number of necessary reconstructions, for example, very often it is not possible without strengthening attic floor. All these alterations and plus to this - necessary insulation will certainly "eat" a significant part usable space under the roof, so you should not expect that the rooms in such an attic will be spacious and with high ceilings.


Of course, if the dimensions (length and width) of the house are large enough, and the roof has a significant angle of inclination (45 degrees or even higher), then after the alterations it will be possible to count on a relatively spacious attic room.

broken roof

A room under a sloping mansard roof will be much more spacious and with a fairly high ceiling. Such an attic can be easily divided into two separate rooms.


The interior of the attic, made according to the "broken" type

The sloping roof has four planes of slopes. Place them under different angles- the upper slopes are called ridge, and the lower slopes are called lateral. They, for the most part, play the role of walls.

This type of mansard roof is somewhat more difficult to design and install, but the result will please spacious rooms and respectable appearance Houses.

One-level console attic

This type of attic has even more complex structure than the previous one, as it implies a displacement of the attic space in one direction or another.


Using this version of the attic device, you can get spacious rooms, much larger in area than under a gable roof.

The design of a single-level mansard roof can repeat not only a gable, but also a shed version - this will depend on how much it is supposed to take the console out of the attic and raise its ceiling.

Layered add-on

A multi-level structure is the most difficult to design and install. In its development and construction, the help of qualified specialists will definitely be needed. The supports for the levels of the attic rooms are different truss systems and ceilings, which are combined with the main one. A multi-level system involves the location of rooms at different levels of the attic, which is why the consoles should be located that way.


Having chosen the most desirable type of attic, it is necessary to determine whether it is possible to arrange it on the old walls of the house, or whether they will have to be strengthened. Therefore, it is necessary to accurate calculations and make a project.

Roof truss basics

Most roofs, and the attic in this matter is no exception, have one of two types of truss system, or a combination of them. Each of these varieties has its own characteristics, which depend on the location of the load-bearing walls of the building.

Hanging system

The hanging truss system is determined by the fact that it is supported only by two external capital walls located along the length of the building, in which there are no internal capital partitions.


Such a system is used provided that the distance between the main supports is no more than 13 ÷ 14 meters. In any case, this design gives a fairly large load on the walls and foundation of the building.

To reduce the loads in this system, various support structures are used. elements - crossbars, grandmas, struts, puffs, racks and other details.

For example, headstocks, as it were, suspend the entire system to the ridge beam with the help of a puff, and struts pull the overlapping beams to the rafter legs.

For the attic floor in this system, it is necessary to use thick bars, logs or boards that are installed on the edge. Their thickness can be determined from the table given in this publication, based on the distance between the support points.

In order for the floor to be reliable and durable when using a hanging system, you need to carry out accurate calculations, and if it is difficult to do it yourself, then it is better

Layered construction

The layered system is distinguished by the fact that it has supports not only on external main walls, but also on internal partitions, which have a foundation under them.


Therefore, starting the construction of a house in which an attic is planned, you need to think in advance about the location of the internal capital partitions.

For a house with an attic, a layered system is best option, since the beams blocking the house will be firmly and securely fixed to the walls and partitions.

When erecting a broken attic roof structure, you can use combined option rafter system, that is, use elements of both a hanging and a layered system.

Attic design

When drawing up a project for the construction of any type of attic, it is recommended to consider it in different projections in order to visually determine the location of all supporting elements. Calculating all the parameters of the attic, they must be immediately included in the project.

Based on the calculations made, the places and methods of installation of all structural elements of the truss system are determined. The calculation is also necessary for exact definition materials needed for the construction of the attic and their parameters.

Structural elements

Any of wooden structures mansard roof consists of certain elements that are interconnected connecting nodes with different configurations. To better understand the design of these connections, it is recommended to draw each of them, and when carrying out installation work, be sure to have this drawing on hand.


The design of a broken mansard roof includes the following components of the system:

  • Mauerlat - element, made from wooden beam and laid on the main walls of the building in its length. It serves to evenly distribute the load from the structure of the truss system to the wall and foundation. Rafter legs are installed and fixed on the Mauerlat. This element is mounted both in a gable and in a broken structure of the attic roof.
  • Floor beams, which are laid on the main walls of the building and are the basis for the future floor of the attic and the ceiling of the first floor, as well as for the installation of the entire truss system.
  • The rafter leg consists of one straight element - bar or boards in a gable type of roof, or from two parts - in a broken structure. In a broken mansard roof, the upper part fixed to the ridge is called the ridge, and the lower part, which forms the walls of the attic, is called the side. Obviously, the side leg will be installed on a layered basis, while the upper ridge rafter- usually becomes hanging
  • For the ridge, a beam or board of a certain thickness is used. Sometimes they do without it, connecting the upper ridge parts of the rafter legs together, which form the ridge.
  • Racks are the supporting elements of the system. They support the rafter legs and take some of the load off the walls and foundation of the building. Racks in the future will become a crate for the walls, which will be installed in the process of finishing the attic.
  • Bevels or other elements installed diagonally are additional supports that hold the rafters and retaining beams together, making the system more reliable.
  • Between the rafter legs for rigidity, bars are installed, called inter-rafter runs - they also give the system rigidity.

Carrying out basic attic calculations

It is quite difficult to develop a mansard roof project on your own, since this process requires certain knowledge and skills in designing and carrying out specific architectural calculations. If you make mistakes at the same time, the design of the attic will be unreliable, and besides, with its weight it can damage the walls and foundation of the building.


Everything must be taken into account in the calculations - from the beginning of construction to the finishing of the premises.

However, if a not too complicated design is conceived, then you can try to cope on your own.

Skate Height Calculation

The size usable area attic room depends on the height of the roof ridge, and the latter is determined by the selected slope of the slopes - the smaller this angle, the lower the ceiling and, accordingly, less effective area attic space.


H=L×tgα

H- the height of the skate;

L- ½ the width of the building (if we are talking about a gable symmetrical roof);

α - the angle of inclination of the slope of the truss system.


Scheme - for clarity

As an example, you can substitute the above data into the formula:

Building size 8×10 m, slope angle 30°, tangent 30°= 0.58

H \u003d 8/2 × 0.58 \u003d 2.32 m

The height of the skate will be 2,32 m.

In great detail, with all possible nuances and necessary reference tables, the process and all other parameters associated with it are described from a separate publication dedicated to this particular issue.

The area of ​​​​the interior space of the attic

The technique used to determine the area of ​​​​the attic space will make it possible to calculate the amount of material needed for the construction of the truss system, for insulation and decoration. Especially accurate calculations are important if the attic will be used to equip additional living rooms, as they require special design.

Usually the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room under the roof is calculated, that is, both useful and the so-called "deaf". The living space is limited to the installed racks, which will be the basis for the installation and finishing material of the walls. The zone behind them is considered deaf, that is, most often not used.

The total area is calculated quite simply: the width of the overhangs on both sides is added to the width of the building. The resulting amount is multiplied by the length of the building.

It is also easy to find the area of ​​\u200b\u200bliving space: for this you need to measure the width of the attic space between the racks installed under one and the other slope of the roof, and multiply the resulting parameter by the length of the attic from gable to gable.

Roofing area

To determine in advance the amount of roofing material, it is necessary to calculate the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe roof slopes.

If a decision is made to install a broken or even more complex structure, it is necessary to calculate the area of ​​\u200b\u200ball sections of the roof. To do this, it must be divided into separate geometric figures, and then calculate the area of ​​each of them and add the results.

For those who do not firmly remember the formulas for calculating the areas of flat figures, a "cheat sheet" scheme is given.

Shed roof area

If the attic roof is pitched, then its area can be calculated using the formula: Sabcd = Lcd × Lbd.


The area of ​​​​one slope - there is nothing easier

Pay attention to the drawing. When calculating, not only length and width are taken into account roof structure slope - we must not forget about the cornice overhangs on all sides.

gable roof

With a symmetrical arrangement of roof slopes, for calculating a gable roof, it remains only to multiply the value obtained above by two.

For example, take the same example as discussed above. The size of the building is 10×8 m. The angle of the slope is 30 °, the height of the ridge H = 2.32 m. It is easy to determine the length of the rafter - S

S = H / sin α = 2.32 / 0.5 = 4.64 m

We accept cornice overhang 0,7 m, gable overhang 0,7 m. According to the shed roof formula, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bone slope is calculated.

(10 + 2 × 0.7) × (4.64 + 0.7) = 60.88 m²

Then, to get the total area of ​​​​the two slopes, the resulting result is multiplied by two.

Q = 121.76 m²

This technique is designed to calculate the continuous surface of slopes, excluding windows, ventilation channels and a chimney.


If the roof has a very complex structure, then it is better not to take risks and still seek the help of professionals who will make the necessary calculations using special computer applications.

When using slate, soft roofing, other profile materials, you can use a simplified calculation formula.

Starting from the drawing:

So, the following formula is applicable for calculation:

Q\u003d K × (B + 2A) × (L + 2C)

Qrequired amount roofing;

V the width of the building (along the gable wall);

A- the width of the planned eaves overhangs roofing;

Ltotal length building;

C- the width of the side overhangs of the roof.

TO is a coefficient that takes into account the angle of inclination of the slope with respect to the horizon (α). By by and large, he is trigonometric function secant (sec) equal to the reciprocal of cosα.

In order not to delve into the theory, it is easier to give a coefficient table TO in absolute, that is, numerical measurement:

Tilt angle, degreesK factorTilt angle, degreesK factorTilt angle, degreesK factorTilt angle, degreesK factor
1 1.0002 18 1.0515 36 1.2361 53 1.6616
2 1.0006 19 1.0576 37 1.2521 54 1.7013
3 1.0014 20 1.0642 38 1.2690 55 1.7434
4 1.0024 21 1.0711 39 1.2868 56 1.7883
5 1.0038 22 1.0785 40 1.3054 57 1.8361
6 1.0055 23 1.0864 41 1.3250 58 1.8871
7 1.0075 24 1.0946 42 1.3456 59 1.9416
8 1.0098 25 1.1034 43 1.3673 60 2.0000
9 1.0125 26 1.1126 44 1.3902 61 2.0627
10 1.0154 27 1.1223 45 1.4142 62 2.1301
11 1.0187 28 1.1326 46 1.4396 63 2.2027
12 1.0223 29 1.1434 47 1.4663 64 2.2812
13 1.0263 30 1.1547 48 1.4945 65 2.3662
14 1.0306 31 1.1666 49 1.5243 66 2.4586
15 1.0353 32 1.1792 50 1.5557 67 2.5593
16 1.0403 33 1.1924 51 1.5890 68 2.6695
17 1.0457 34 1.2062 52 1.6243 69 2.7904
35 1.2208 70 2.9238

Let's go back to our example:

Q= 1.1547 × (8 + 2 × 0.7) × (10+2 × 0.7) = 123.74 m²

With considering overlaps slate sheets - it turns out almost the same as in calculations carried out by a different method. Definitely on advice experienced builders, to the area obtained when acquiring roofing material, another 10 ÷ 15 %

(The figure shows a gable roof, however, the formula is fully suitable for calculations with the required level of accuracy for shed or hip roofs. True, with a caveat - hip roof the steepness of the main and side slopes must match. If not, then the calculation is carried out for each pair of slopes separately, and then the value is summed).

Total weight from truss system and roofing

It is equally important to choose wisely optimum material for roofing and correctly make a crate under it. This calculation is carried out taking into account the length of the rafters and the angle of their slope.

The crate for roofing material can be sparse, mixed or solid. For example, a metal tile, corrugated board or slate is fixed to a sparse crate, and soft roof- only on a continuous one.

When choosing a roof, you need to get information about it performance characteristics. It is from them that the durability and reliability of the roof structure will depend. roofing material it is also necessary to choose taking into account the specific region and its climatic conditions, especially factors such as temperature changes and strong winds.

An important factor is the weight of the roofing, especially if the mansard roof is installed on old walls. Therefore, you should estimate the weight of the roof in advance and find out how much the load on the building structure will increase, and whether it will be acceptable.

Roofing material for mansard roofRoof pitchMaterial weight kg / m²
Asbestos cement slate sheets with medium profile1:10 to 1:211
Slate with reinforced profile1:5 to 1:113
bituminous tilesFrom 1:10 and more6 - 8
Soft roofing, taking into account the continuous lathingFrom 1:10 and more9 - 15
Galvanized metal sheets with single seamFrom 1:4 and more3 - 6,5
With double foldsFrom 1:5 and more3 - 6,5
Ceramic tiles1:5 to 1:0.550 - 60
Cement-sand tiles1:5 to 1:0.545 - 70
metal tileFrom 1:5 and more5 - 7
OndulinFrom 1:10 and more3 - 3,5

Most often, a soft roof or ondulin is used to cover attics, since these materials are one of those that have the lightest weight and are easy to install.


For example, you can calculate the weight 1 square meter roofs where ondulin is used for coating, taking into account the crate and insulation - sprayed polyurethane foam. To do this, you need to find the sum of the weight of each of the materials and multiply by a factor of 1.1 (this factor takes into account the overlap on adjacent sheets of roofing material).

  • The weight from a flat crate, 20 mm thick (plywood or OSB) is 14 kg / m².
  • Insulation - polyurethane foam, 100 mm thick, has an average weight of 3 kg / m²
  • The average weight of ondulin is 3.3 kg / m²

We get in total:

(14 + 3 + 3.3) × 1.1=22.3kg /m²

To calculate the total weight load of the roof on the walls, you need to multiply the weight of one square meter by the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe entire coating. In our example, this will work:

M = 123.74 × 22.3 = 2751.82 kg.

A lot - almost 3 tons gives only a very light roofing with a crate and also a very light type of insulation.

But that's not all! Snow loads on the roof winter period, plus wind pressure, all year round. These parameters must also be taken into account when calculating the necessary wooden elements construction of the truss system and floor beams, and taking into account the total load of the roof structure on the walls and foundation of the building.

- Then, the whole system is closed with a vapor barrier film, which is fixed on the logs with brackets.

- Boards or plywood sheets can be laid on top of it.


- A decorative coating is laid on them - it can be linoleum, laminate, parquet board and other materials.


Additional insulation can be created by laying an electric cable or infrared warm floor under the decorative coating. It is better to read about these possibilities separately in the article devoted to

  • If the floor is mounted on floor beams, you will have to work from the side of the first floor.

- From the side of the lower room, boards are mounted on the floor beams. It is desirable that they be even, you can even use a floorboard for the subfloor.

- After that, a vapor barrier film is laid on these boards from the attic side, which will cover not only the subfloor, but also the floor beams.


- On top of it, another layer of vapor barrier is laid and attached to the beams.

- Then, logs are fixed to this coating perpendicular to the beams.

- Another layer of insulation is mounted between the lags, for it it is better to choose mineral wool, as it, straightening out, is tightly installed between the bars, leaving no voids.

- Then it should also be covered with vapor barrier material.


If it is decided to cover the floor with one of decorative coatings, then plywood sheets are laid on top of the log, and then laminate, linoleum or other materials are laid on them. Again, nothing prevents in this case from using, for example, film floor heating.

Installation of insulation on the walls and ceiling of the attic

Having finished the installation of the floor, you can proceed to the installation of insulation on the walls.


- If material in mats is chosen for this process, then before laying it, sheets of vapor barrier material are fixed on the rafters.

It is fixed in such a way as to close the entire space and deepen it between the rafters.



If the vapor barrier is fixed on the other side of the rafters, then the mats will independently hold between two wooden surfaces.


- If one of is selected, then you do not need to pin under it vapor barrier film. It will be enough waterproofing, which is laid on the rafters outside the structure.


Spraying polyurethane foam - quickly and efficiently, but requires special equipment and work skills

To use this insulation technology, you must have special technological equipment, or you will have to invite a specialist who will do the work in one day. It is not easy to carry out this operation on your own without experience - in order to do the work without harming your health, you need to know the process technology and have the necessary protective equipment.

After carrying out insulation work, wall cladding is carried out.

Prices for popular types of heaters

insulation

Attic wall decoration

Before you start decorating the walls, you need to resolve the issue with electrical wiring, the cable of which must be well insulated with double-layer corrugated pipes.


After the wiring of the electrical cable is done, you can safely proceed with the installation of the finishing material.

Usually used for decoration wooden lining, drywall or plywood with a beautiful textured pattern.

For any of these materials, it is desirable to rafter legs and uprights make a crate of slats with a cross section of approximately 20 × 70 mm. These guides are fixed in increments of 500 ÷ 600 mm. In addition to the fact that the crate of the slats becomes the basis for fixing the finish, it also forms ventilation gap between finishing material and vapor barrier.

  • made quite simply. It leaves walls smooth and neat, ready for painting, traditional wallpapering or even liquid wallpapering.

Therefore, drywall finishing should be chosen by those homeowners who like to often change the interior design of the premises.


  • Clapboard wall decoration is a longer and more laborious process than. For such a sheathing, a crate with the above parameters is also perfect. The only thing to think about is the direction of the lining boards, that is, it should be located vertically with the horizontal orientation of the crate and vice versa.

If desired, after installation, the wood can be varnished on water based or give it a deeper color by using stain.

Wood is an amazing material that can create a special atmosphere in the room with the aroma of the forest, which has a positive effect on the structure and well-being of residents. That is why natural lining is very often chosen for flooring, walls and attic ceilings.

Video: insulation of the attic room and finishing it with clapboard

  • You can come up with a beautiful plywood finish. But that's only if it will not be covered with paint on top, then you need to choose quality material with a beautiful natural pattern. Plywood is mounted much faster than lining, and makes the walls even, covering large surfaces at once.

This material can be covered with varnish, paint or any kind of wallpaper, but you can leave the walls in their natural state only by carefully cleaning possible defects in the form of protruding splinters or burrs.


The construction of an attic is a rather laborious and complex process that requires high experience in the construction craft. If there is no one to understand the above technological operations, then you should not take it on your own - it is better to invite professional masters to perform the work. They will save you from unnecessary problems and build an attic according to the project conceived by the owner of the house.

Video: an example of the construction and decoration of the attic

In order to build an attic above the house, you first need to make sure that the structure is reliable, which will bear almost the entire load of the superstructure. If it is not strong enough, then it is necessary to install columns on the foundation. It is they who will be the supporting structure for the constructed attic.

Please note that the structure, which bears the entire load of the superstructure, must not be damaged. If it is not, then its frame should be replaced with a more reliable one. In this case, part of the attic load will be borne by the walls.

The strapping belt is an integral element of such construction work. He distributes the load of the attic on the restored house, combining their walls together.

Such a belt is made mainly of reinforced concrete, but expanded clay structures are also found.

To build an attic over a multi-storey private house, it is recommended to use metal carcass, it is more reliable. It is necessary that the overlap between the house and the attic is solid.

The supporting structure of the attic in a private house

The attic and attic of the house are very similar in design. When erecting a superstructure, it is necessary to take into account all the weather conditions of the area in which the house is located. The superstructure floor must withstand the wind and the pressure of the snow layer.

To build an attic, it is best to use the most durable materials. These are metal, wood or galvanized profile. Any combination of the above materials can be used if desired.

It should be noted that wood is best used where there is no electricity, since welding in such structures is difficult. Before working with a tree, it must be antipyrated. This is the fire protection of wood, it is needed so that this material does not ignite in extreme situations.

A variety of frames, columns and rafters are load-bearing structures. They are attached around the perimeter of the outer wall.

It is best to choose lightweight materials for the structural structure, as they can be assembled with bolts and rivets without the need for welding. These are wood or galvanized profile.

In order to have an idea of ​​how to build an attic, it is recommended to watch the video tutorial in the next tab.

Insulation pie in the superstructure of the attic floor

When building an attic structure, it is necessary to approach the choice of material with which the superstructure is insulated with responsibility.

There is no thermal cushion in the attic floor, so the room loses about 25% of heat.