Diy dormer loft conversion: DIY loft conversion – YouTube

How to Create A Home Office Loft Conversion

If you’re considering a home office loft conversion to create a private, personalised space to work at home from, then you’re in right the place.

The onset of Coronavirus has led to a huge increase in home working, with lots of us setting up makeshift offices in kitchens, bedrooms and under-stair nooks. But with the shift to remote working set to continue, converting your loft is the ideal solution for creating a quiet, comfortable workspace.

Here we outline the benefits of having a home office loft conversion, things to consider before going ahead, and ideas for your dream home office layout.

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hat are the benefits of a home office loft conversion?

Turning a loft into a multi-functional home office offers several lifestyle and financial benefits, including:

  • Providing a private, dedicated office away from distractions
  • Turning dead loft space into desirable living space, increasing the value of your home
  • Creating extra square footage – converting your loft means there is often room to accommodate not only a home office but an additional bedroom and en suite  

How much extra space can you get with a home office loft conversion?

This depends on the size of your current loft space, roof structure and where the loft staircase can be located.

To give a broad estimate, a small office loft conversion in a two-bedroom property can add 200 square foot of space, whereas a large office loft conversion in a three-bedroom property can create over 400 square feet, essentially adding an entire new floor.       

What are the different types of home office loft conversion?

The type of office loft conversion you can acquire depends on your existing roof structure and property position.

There are four main types: First-Fix loft conversion, Dormer loft conversion, Mansard loft conversion and Hip to Gable loft conversion.

First- Fix Loft Conversion

Also known as a Shell Loft Conversion, this is the cheapest way to achieve a home working space. Here, a loft company undertake all the major planning and structural work.

For example, at Absolute Lofts we carry out the design process and aspects such as installing floor joists, altering the roof structure, and adding loft windows, doors and a staircase.

The project is then handed back to you complete. It’s the ideal option if you’re on a modest budget or are keen DIY-er.

Dormer Loft Conversion

A Dormer loft conversion will create a substantial home office, with room for other amenities, such as bedroom and en suite.

It involves building a box shaped extension into the existing sloped roof. This adds generous headroom and solid room proportions with vertical walls and horizontal ceilings. Unlike loft conversions which retain slanting walls, desks and shelves can sit flush against straight walls, maximising space.

The windows within the Dormer often house large windows, including floor to ceiling windows, bi-fold or French doors allowing plenty of natural light and giving amazing outdoor views – perfect for when you want to relax and take a breather.

Mansard Loft Conversion

Like a Dormer, a Mansard loft conversion delivers a considerable amount of extra space. Constructed in a similar fashion to a Dormer, the main difference is that face of the Mansard is slightly sloping, helping soften its external appearance.

A Mansard interior offers up an impressive amount of internal space. Depending on the size of the property, Mansards often have capacity for a home study, an extra bedroom and bathroom.

The grey tile exterior of this Mansard conversion blends beautifully with the existing home

Hip to Gable Loft Conversion    

A Hip to Gable loft conversion is suitable for hipped roof homes with slopes on all four sides.

To gain adequate head room, a hipped roof section is removed and replaced with a triangular shaped gable wall. To enlarge the space even further, a flat-roof Dormer can be added too.

A Hip to Gable and Dormer combination will create a seriously spacious home office with room for at least two desks and acres of storage. With room to spare, it is often possible to add a bedroom and cosy bathroom.

Is my home suitable for an office loft conversion?

The first question to ask is, is it a suitable height?

Measure the distance from the loft floor to the ridge beam. To create an office that feels light and airy, the ideal height is 2.2 metres+. This means once the flooring and ceiling are in place, you will have a ceiling height of around 2 meters.

The other key factor is the staircase height. Current building regulations require a minimum of 1.9 meters headroom height in the middle of the staircase.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the necessary height, it is often possible to achieve it by lowering the ceiling joists of the floor below or other structural engineering solution. 

I live in a modern home with a truss roof, can I have an office loft conversion?

While the proportions of older London Victorian or Georgian terraces or semi-detached properties lend themselves well to loft conversions, it is also possible to convert attics in modern post 1960s homes and new builds.

Construction involves removing the ‘W’ shaped fink trusses in the roof void, opening the space up, and reinforcing the joists to support the weight.

To check your home’s suitability, get in touch.

How much does a home office loft conversion cost in 2021?

The cost of an office loft conversion depends on a variety of factors, such as the type of conversion, the size of the roof space, how many rooms the design involves, and the level of internal finishing.

To give an indication, a Dormer loft conversion in 2021 starts from £35,000, while a Mansard starts around £38,000. A Hip to Gable, which is a more complex build, starts at approximately £45,000.

If an office loft conversion costs several thousands, wouldn’t it be better to just buy a garden office?

While this is tempting in the short-term, the cost of a high-spec garden office (up to £30k), rivals the cost of full Dormer loft (£35K+), while a First-Fix conversion is significantly less.  

Additional pros and cons to consider include:

  • Converting the loft opens the possibility of not just a home office but a further bedroom and en suite, increasing the home’s value. Latest figures show that adding a loft extension of this kind increases a home’s value by 20%.

An uplift of this percentage will comfortably cover the cost of doing the conversion if you decide to sell. 

  • Unlike a garden office, which is a single-purpose outdoor building, a loft office conversion can double as a comfy guest bedroom, games room or child’s bedroom – giving you room to grow.
  • An integral part of the home, a loft office has comfy flooring, heating and lighting, plus a toilet and kitchen nearby. Trudging up and down the garden in all weathers to grab a cuppa or answer the door is less appealing and eats into productivity.
  • If a garden office is left vacant even for a few weeks, deterioration can set in quickly. Regular maintenance of roof and timbers is needed to keep it in tip top condition.
  • Unlike a loft office tucked away on the top floor, a garden office takes up otherwise useable garden space and, due to its construction, can be vulnerable to break-ins.   
  • As a garden office is a totally separate structure, the cost of heating a secondary building can soon add up. Furthermore, as a loft conversion is part of your main property this comes with additional security benefits (useful if you work on high value laptops or desktops) which a separate outbuilding may not benefit from. 

Will I need planning permission for an office loft conversion?

Most loft conversions fall under permitted development rights, as such planning permission isn’t usually required. 

Circumstances where permission might be needed is if your new loft will exceed 50 cubic meters or you live in a conservation area or listed building. Our loft conversion specialists will be able to advise you if planning is required and can help you submit the appropriate application.

Regardless of planning permission, the loft conversion will need to meet latest building regulations. These cover a host of structural details, such as structural stability, fire safety – providing an escape route and fire alarms, suitable stairs accessing the loft, and sound insulation.

Again, our expert loft team will take necessary steps to ensure a safe, fully regulation compliant new loft space.

How do I design a home office loft conversion?

This is the exciting part! Once you’ve established suitability for a loft office then it’s time to plan the best use of space.

Depending on your end goal, think about how much space you have to play with and layout possibilities.  

Do you want to dedicate the entire space to a stylish home working environment? Or are you looking to maximise your investment by adding a bedroom and bathroom too?

Whether you’re planning a big or bijou loft office, here are key design considerations:

  • Office furniture – what items do you want to make space for? A desk, office chair, monitor, printer, storage and shelves?
  • Comfort – having an en suite on the same floor makes taking comfort breaks easy and relieves pressure (and queues!) for the main bathroom. You could even install a compact kitchen so you don’t have to go downstairs.
  • View – what do you want to see while you work? Consider factors such as window placement and where the light will fall. Do you want a direct outside view from your desk?
  • Light – a loft home office should be bright and airy. Think about ways to introduce light and airflow, such as a having a central skylight, over-sized windows or bi-fold doors.
  • Features – lofts, especially in older homes. are full of rafters, beams and nooks which add visual interest, think about ways of integrating these into the scheme. Can you leave an exposed wooden beam for character?
  • Storage – Most homes have pitched roofs creating handy spaces under the eaves. Think about how to use these areas effectively. For example, constructing low level storage cupboards or recessed shelves to keep the space calm and clutter free.    

Looking for loft home office ideas? Here are some recent conversion projects we’ve developed.

Keen for a productive, stylish workspace, we created an L-shaped Dormer office loft conversion in this home in South East London. A custom-created feature window overlooking the garden makes a stunning focal point and lets in plenty of natural light, making an idyllic work from home setting.

This loft home office’s large feature window makes a great focal point

This Dormer office loft conversion in Walthamstow, East London allowed for a large-scale loft conversion comprising an office space, music room and chill out area. The French doors and glass Juliet balcony let ample natural light in. 

A light, airy office loft conversion with French doors

Spending more time working from home, our busy client wanted a spacious, separate place to focus. We added a generous Dormer office loft conversion to this modern Beckton home, in East London. The build created a smart home study – the desk and PC sitting snugly in the eaves – with a super-sized TV screen for playing games. The loft extension also allowed for an extra children’s bedroom and full-sized family bathroom.

This multi-use loft office is also a games room and music room

Not all home office loft conversions have to have to be cavernous, this Dormer office loft conversion in Poplar, East London is a great example of a cosy working space. A large roof light illuminates the room while rustic real wood flooring adds character and warmth.

Create a characterful loft home office with real wood flooring

Ready to transform your loft to get the home working life you crave? Absolute Lofts are the industry experts, having over 35 years of designing and delivering exquisite loft conversions across London and South East. Contact us today to arrange a free, no obligation site survey.

DIY Complete Guide to Loft Conversion for Your Requirement

22 May 2021

Loft conversion is among the popular choice for people who want to create extra living space in their house in UK. Lofts are usually believed to be those damp areas where you store old furniture. But the addition of a loft can give extra space you require without making further extensions that consume a part of the garden.

When you are planning to convert the loft, there are a few things to consider before starting with the work. Some designs to check for include:

  • The height of the ceiling
  • The kind of loft
  • Lighting problems
  • The services you need to install
  • Whether you require a planning permission
  • Building blueprint that denotes the strength of floor and fire escapes.

Step 1: Know if the loft is suitable for a conversion

There are some lofts that cannot be converted. Before you decide to do the conversion, try to conduct a survey to know whether the loft will be suitable. The things you need to check for are height, space, roof structure, felt, chimney or services.

Roof structure: You need to see if it is a traditional cut than roof or trussed roof or purlin roof.

Height: Check whether the loft has sufficient height and you require a traditional roof which should be 2.2 to 2.4 meters. The minimum height for m trussed roof has to be 2.4 to 2.6 meters.

Space: Check whether the loft space is enough to be converted into a usable roof.

Services or Chimneys: You should see that chimneys or services run through loft space and there is no movement required.

Felt: Check if the roof is weather proof or has a felt under the tiles.

When the loft meets all these specifications then, you should search for the type of loft conversion you require.

Step 2: The kinds of loft conversions

There are three factors that decide on the kind of loft conversion you might have. These factors consist of the exact use of the loft, the kind of roof type and your estimated budget. Depending on these factors, you will find three kinds of loft conversions. These include – dormer loft conversions, conversions that require the restructure and removal of the roof and internal loft conversions.

Internal loft conversions require expert help and they are budget friendly. Dormer loft conversions are highly preferred in the UK due to the additional space they offer. Loft conversions that require complete restructuring and removal will probably satisfy all the needs and they are very expensive.

Step 3: Change the structure of roof and floor support

Most roofs have been built with internal support structures that are located in the loft. All roof support in the loft need to be removed and then replaced with new ones which won’t take up the space available in the loft.

With different kinds of loft conversions, one thing which is common in them is that the ceiling cannot act like a floor. You may turn the ceiling into a floor for extra support and this can be achieved by fitting new support next to the old roof support structure.

Step 4: Loft Conversion Stairs

When designing stairs for a loft conversion, this seems to be quite challenging as the space for the staircase is restricted. With narrow and winding stairs, you will find it to be the common staircase design though this might be impractical as it is really difficult to shift furniture into a loft having narrow staircase.

If you require advanced design for the staircase, then it is wise enough to select staircase design that has been approved by the Building Control officer before moving ahead. The design of loft staircase design might cause an external hall or door. When you select an open-plan design for staircase where they are located in a room, you need to change the plan by installing a new partition wall or other escape routes.

Step 5: Building Windows and Attracting Natural Light

When fitting the windows for loft conversion, you should not do significant structural alterations to adjust with skylight windows and roof-light at the time of dealing with the project. Mostly, the windows should be fitted on either side of roof-flight.

One of the most preferred options is dormer windows that have been fitted at the back of the house so that they do not need a planning permission. But when the dormer windows are situated at the front of the house, planning permission will be required and so, people select skylight or roof-light windows.

Step 6: Upgrade the loft for fire safety

If you stay in a bungalow, then loft conversion project will probably block the fire escape. You need to be sure that windows are spacious for being used in the form of emergency exit. If the loft conversion creates additional storey, then there are problems you will have to manage.

Step 7: Insulation for loft conversion

The authorities have already enhanced the standards for energy efficiency over the years and it is really difficult to insulate the loft than before. If the conversion includes replacing roof tiles, then you may place insulation in between covering and the rafter. This will provide you with good airtight insulation.

When you select to replace the roof, check the sloping ceiling as it requires insulation to be fitted in between the rafters and at the rafter’s underside.

Step 8: Insulating the loft against noise pollution

The newly constructed floor in the loft requires soundproofing and this may be attained easily by placing mineral fibre between the supports. You need to use heavy materials for sound insulation and not the lighter ones for thermal insulation. The internal stud partition between bedrooms and bathrooms has to be insulated with heavy sound proof material.

Step 9: Lighting the converted loft

Lighting a converted loft will need inclusion of different light sources unlike other rooms of your house. Some light sources you require to include are ambient lights that may be used in the daytime,, task lights for thins such as working and reading and accent lights that can improve the ambiance of lighting.

Step 10: Proper ventilation

Maximising energy efficiency will need to make roof space tight. But balancing between ventilation and energy efficiency requires controlled ventilation to avoid water vapour from condensing further.

Step 11: Heating

Adding an extension can increase the heating requirements of your home. The quick solution is to upgrade the boiler and other options are installing heat radiators, combination of these methods or under floor heating. But when the best loft conversion in London is added for an extra bathroom, you will have to upgrade the boiler system.

Step 12: Plumbing

Plumbing is extremely important for conversions that require adding another bathroom. The location of the plumbing services has to be considered before starting with the building works. A suitable solution is to supply new loft with plumbing services with the help of present plumbing system. This can usually be done with flexible plastic piping.

Step 13: Electrics

Electrical alteration might be needed at the time of a loft conversion. You can expand the present circuit based on the age and condition of the present system. In certain cases, you will require distribution board and new circuits.

Step 14: Regain the lost storage

When turning the loft into a bathroom, bedroom, office, bar or for other use, you will lose some storage space. You may even make storage space just behind the partition. When you want to turn the loft into a bedroom, you may install the already built wardrobes to get additional storage.

Thus, when you are aware about different kinds of loft conversions in London and the method for converting them, these steps can help to explain some relevant issues and get them solved as soon as possible.

how to balance the space, increase the height of the ceiling, choose windows, equip a bedroom in the attic, expert advice

Before you equip the attic in a private house on your own, you should take care of the layout of this room. It is best if the roof of the house is gable, as this option is the most convenient for developing the design of the attic floor.

Before planning, it is important to study all the details, including the number of slanting walls, the possibility of installing windows. Under a hip roof, consisting of 4 walls, the size of the attic living area will be less than indoors or in the attic under a gable structure. nine0003

Contents

  • 1 What you should pay attention to
  • 2 Attic design (video)
  • 3 Recommendations for arranging attic windows
  • 4 7 main rules for insulating the attic of a private house (video)
  • 5 How to equip a bedroom on the attic

Things to watch out for

The attic space is quite large if the house has a sloping roof. Projects of houses with complex roof structures of large sizes are in high demand. They open up space for the creative imagination of specialists in architecture and design. Attics of modern country houses are often a fashionable element, created on the basis of the latest advances in the science of interior design. nine0003

When arranging an attic in a country house, it is very important to take into account the presence of windows on this floor. How many of them should be, what sizes they should have – it depends on the size of the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. The shorter the period of natural daylight, the more artificial light sources will need to be equipped, which can further lead to large energy losses.

The design of the room also depends on the floor beams, which give the attic room a special decor. An additional window can be placed directly on the roof, which is a very original solution that allows sunlight to enter the attic directly from above. Here it is important to remember about the automatic increase in the heated area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room in the absence of a ceiling. nine0003

In the process of designing an attic room, you can use additional thermal insulation materials or selectively equip the ceiling. The space left under the roof can be used as a storage room. Often in the area under the roof canopy there is a heat exchanger or a ventilation unit. The ceiling makes it easier to carry out installation work, since it is convenient to lay communications on it.

Attic design (video)


nine0022 Recommendations for the arrangement of attic windows

Attic to a large extent allows you to increase the internal area of ​​​​the house, since the arrangement of this room is often due to a lack of living quarters. Do-it-yourself landscaping of a room in the attic allows you to save on the construction of an additional second floor of the house.

In the process of designing attic spaces, it should be taken into account that if you have to work with a sloping roof that has many bends, then the attic area will be visually smaller. This is due to the increase in the number of sloping ceilings and slanting walls. nine0003

If the house has an attic floor, then it is not difficult to arrange a room on it. It is enough to study all the main points of repairing this room with your own hands. The owner of the house must first plan for the presence of a ceiling in the attic design with a gable roof. If it is provided, then this will balance the space.

At the same time, there is a problem of the height of the walls of the room in a wooden house. It should be borne in mind that for a comfortable stay, the height inside the attic room should not be less than 2.2 m. At the design stage of the attic room, care must be taken whether to leave the internal structure of the roof of the house or remove the ceiling. This issue is quite serious, since the solution depends on the load-bearing elements of the roof. nine0003

If there are small windows in the room, the attic area will visually decrease. If they are too large, then the level of heat loss will be very high. The presence of a formula that allows you to determine the optimal ratio of window size in relation to the floor area of ​​the attic room shows that the best proportion is 1:8. This allows you to maximize the normal lighting of the attic.

7 main rules for insulating the attic of a private house (video)

How to furnish an attic bedroom

The bedroom is a place for relaxation, where there should be no deviations that excite the nervous system and interfere with sleep. The interior of the attic, which will be a bedroom, should be carefully thought out in terms of color design. It should be in harmony with the interior design of the entire building.

The right choice of bedroom design accompanies the realization of the most cherished desires. Since it is quite difficult to understand the variety of interior styles, you should start from only 1 direction, for example, the eastern one. The classic bedroom design is chosen by those homeowners who do not like any unnecessary details in the interior. nine0003

So that you can relax in the bedroom, it should be decorated in soft and warm colors: beige, pale pink, mint, peach, etc. Too saturated tones excite the brain, so designers do not recommend them for rest rooms. If the bedroom is made in dark colors, then its space will be visually smaller. The interior of the attic in warm colors will visually enlarge the entire room.

Repair of the attic in the country may depend on the angle of the ceiling. If it is too sharp, then you can use GKL inserts, which will give the ceiling surface a more comfortable look. The use of drywall inserts as an attic ceiling decor element is shown in the photo. nine0003

In order to properly decorate the supports on the attic ceiling with your own hands, you will need to fit them into the overall style of the interior. You can give them brightness or soften the atmosphere with discreet tones. A large number of windows in the bedroom, as in the photo, will allow the owner of the attic to enjoy daily views of nature.

If the attic in the country house has impressive dimensions, then when arranging a bedroom in it, one cannot do without imagination and a high level of professionalism. Rounded pillars or recesses painted with unique patterns will help to change the interior design. Wallpaper can be used to decorate walls. Having determined the style of the bedroom interior, you can proceed to the choice of materials for its design, a photo of its options is presented below. nine0003

Do-it-yourself house with an attic. Design errors

Contents

  1. Do-it-yourself house with an attic. Design errors
  2. Do-it-yourself attic in a private house. Video: conversion of half of the old roof into an attic – an easy way
    • Alteration of the roof into an attic with your own hands
    • Creating a project
  3. Do-it-yourself frame house with an attic. How to make a foundation for a frame house with your own hands

Do-it-yourself house with an attic. Design errors

Despite the fact that the importance of design as a guarantee of successful construction has been repeatedly proven and beyond doubt, today a sufficient number of private owners prefer to build “from their heads”. At best, taking the visualization you like from the network as a source. Skepticism regarding full-fledged projects, both standard and individual, is based primarily on the low quality of design. Attics, on the other hand, are initially limited by a certain design – standard solutions for these premises are simply not suitable. And when they are used to simplify and speed up the work, without really thinking about the convenience of the residents, the following situation may result. nine0003

Perhaps not the biggest problem, but given that comfort is made up of little things, and plumbing is used all the time, bending three deaths every time is still a pleasure. Even at the design stage, it is necessary to link the desired layout in the attic with the roof structure – the flatter it is, the smaller the usable area. If professionals make mistakes, during construction without a project, their probability is even greater. And certainly, it is much easier to make changes on paper or in a graphic editor than to find a problem in an already built house. nine0003

Also, when choosing a project with an attic, it should be understood that “out of thin air” additional space is not formed and the cost of proper insulation and finishing will be significant.

danestr

Member of FORUMHOUSE

… A well-made attic will be more expensive in fine finishing, I checked it for myself…

An attic is an opportunity to pay taxes from one and a half floors as from a one-story house, but not a way to save directly on construction. Even at the design stage, it is worth carefully calculating the estimate and if the budget is “bursting at the seams”, give preference to a simplified version. nine0003

Old master

Member of FORUMHOUSE

From my experience, the project of a one-story house without an attic in construction is cheaper, faster, more practical.

During construction without a project, both in two-story houses and in houses with an attic, the most common problem is the stairs. Rather, the lack of sufficient space for it, often, the openings are laid too small, and then it is almost impossible to fit a safe and convenient design into them. And although there are compromise solutions, it is better to lay the “right” stairs right away. nine0003

Do-it-yourself attic in a private house. Video: converting half of an old roof into an attic – an easy way

Converting a roof into an attic is a relatively cheap way to increase living space. In a private house, a pitched roof is usually placed, so you can make an additional spacious and bright room with your own hands.

Internal wood paneling makes the attic warm and bright

And if the house is large enough in length, then the attic can turn into a real floor: with several rooms and even a balcony. nine0003

A large attic allows you to divide the area into different living areas

Benefits of creating an attic:

  • the possibility of building one or more new living rooms;

    An attic with low ceilings under a gable roof is most conveniently furnished with low deck chairs

  • low cost compared to building a full-fledged floor or a side extension to the house;
  • renovation of the exterior of the building;

    A house with an attic under construction always attracts the eyes of passers-by and is interested in the end result

  • the opportunity to observe a beautiful view from the attic window.

    A lot of sunlight passes through the windows in the attic, illuminating the room all day

However, this solution also has certain disadvantages that must also be taken into account:

  • the difficulty of installing additional heating and lighting in the upper part of the old house – will have to be combined with home wiring or use a stand-alone connection; nine0002 To heat the attic with access to the balcony, you can use a potbelly stove

  • layout of a part of the home space under the stairs leading to the attic;

    The staircase leading to the attic must be fenced for safety

  • the need to purchase special furniture for a sloping roof or purchase squat models: low cabinets, sofas and tables.

    Low furniture is best suited for attic interiors

  • The presence of sloping walls makes the room unusual and romantic, but this decision will require a more responsible approach to design development. You can make furniture for an inclined superstructure yourself or assemble a single complex from existing multi-level models, painting everything in one color. nine0003

    Furniture that repeats the slope of the attic, you can make yourself

    So, the main disadvantage of converting the attic into an attic is the need to invest, but it’s worth it.

    Building an attic will cost much less than building an additional floor, regardless of what materials will be used to build the walls. Indeed, to create them, you will need the main material, insulation and decoration, while for the attic superstructure you only need roof insulation and a new truss system. nine0003

    The superstructure is made in a symmetrical or asymmetrical shape. Internal walls are designed both inclined and vertical.

    Having studied the schemes of single-level mansards with different types of roofs, it is easier to make a choice when planning. But you need to make sure that the ceiling is reliable: check its condition, reinforce it with wooden or metal beams, sheathe it with a new board. Then it will be able to withstand the weight of furniture and people. nine0003

    For frequent ascent to the attic, you will need to make a comfortable staircase, provide for the installation of ventilation, natural and artificial lighting, and perform interior decoration – all this will create a cozy and comfortable room.

    Sloped roof superstructure, decorated in light colors, visually enlarges the space, and splashes of color add brightness to the interior

    When building an attic floor, the following conditions must be observed:

    • lay the required amount of insulation; nine0012
    • foamed polystyrene is used for insulation due to its low weight and high thermal insulation characteristics;
    • a gap is left between the thermal insulation and the roofing material to allow natural ventilation;
    • a hydro- and sound-insulating layer must be laid.

    Do-it-yourself alteration of the roof into an attic

    During the construction of a house, there is usually not enough money, so many refuse to build a second floor. Or another situation may arise when an old one-story house of a small area is purchased along with the site. In both cases, there is an affordable option for increasing the place to live – do-it-yourself restructuring of the attic space into an attic. nine0003

    Creating a project

    Before starting work, you need to plan and develop a project with accurate drawings. The correct calculation will allow you to get a cozy, durable and reliable room. You can perform all the calculations yourself or entrust it to specialists.

    Source: https://dom-na-vodah.ru/novosti/postroyka-doma-s-mansardoy-svoimi-rukami-osnovnye-tipy-mansard

    Do-it-yourself frame house with an attic. How to make a foundation for a frame house with your own hands

    A wooden frame house with an attic without a basement, insulated with mineral wool, is a fairly light structure. With such a weight of the structure, a frost-resistant shallow foundation can be used.

    Before making a foundation for a frame house, on the site intended for building, remove the vegetation layer of the soil and mark the position of the longitudinal and transverse walls. Then, trenches are torn off for the installation of an anti-rock pillow and water supply and sewerage inlets.

    Do-it-yourself pillow for pouring the foundation for a frame house is covered with sand with careful compaction. The last layer with a thickness of about 20 cm is covered with a mixture of gravel and sand in a ratio of 3: 2.

    After laying utility pipes, they are covered with sand in layers of 10-15 cm thick with thorough compaction. If necessary, drain pipes are laid in a layer of gravel behind the outer contour of the foundation with a slope towards the drainage system. After that, you can proceed to the installation of formwork for pouring the foundation. nine0003

    The section of the foundation strips and the assortment of reinforcement for the construction of a frame house with an attic are calculated in accordance with the weight of the future building and the configuration of its base.

    Then the reinforcement is installed, the concrete is poured, and after a few days, when it has gained the necessary strength, the formwork panels are removed.