Owners of a house who want to expand the attic must pay attention to a number of things if a storage room is to become usable living space in the future. In addition to good insulation of the roof, new skylights must be installed or replaced with old ones, and the living space must be well protected against heat. Good air circulation is also part of a healthy living climate and good living comfort. From a building physics point of view, an attic in many old buildings belongs to the exterior of the house. If you want to live in the attic, you not only have to equip it with a kitchen, a bathroom and a living room, but you also have to provide sufficient light.
When choosing and installing the skylights, the statics of the building plays just as important a role as the angle of the roof slope or the calculation of the minimum light area of the windows. Average dimensions of a skylight are a height of 78 to 160 cm and a width of 54 to 164 cm. If you want a special size for the windows, you should involve a window manufacturer or a roofer in the planning. A balcony in the attic can also be retrofitted. It should be noted, however, that a building permit is often required and building regulations must be observed.
A good alternative to a roof loggia is a small roof balcony or a convertible window. This can be installed without permission and provides additional living space and a roof exit to the outdoors. Blinds and pleated blinds attached to the windows provide good privacy and sun protection in the attic. Good roof insulation prevents heat from building up inside the attic. Regular ventilation is necessary so that the humidity produced by the occupants in the rooms does not cause damage to the building fabric. An electronically controlled ventilation system supports regular air exchange and contributes significantly to a healthy living climate.
Source: bau-welt
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