Apartment with an attic: pros and cons

In the 17th century, the French architect François Mansart rebuilt the attic into a living space. For this purpose, he invented special large windows. Mansards took root in Europe, and from the 18th century they began to be built in Russia. At that time, students and poor artists rented housing in the superstructures of houses. Today attics are being mastered not only in private houses, but also in urban high-rise buildings.

Nowadays, from gloomy little rooms, they have turned into modern comfortable apartments with an unusual layout. People buy them because they want romance, a special interior. Many are satisfied with the price: it is lower than for an ordinary apartment. Residents of the last floors use the attic area to create two-level premises.

An attic is a residential area created by an attic. To understand the topic deeper, you should understand what is the difference between these two rooms.

The attic superstructure is located between the top floor and the roof of the building. Roof configurations are different, their structure affects the geometry of the under-roof space. By the height of the walls (from the floor to the slope of the roof), you can understand to which room the area under the roof belongs. For the attic, it is 0.8 - 1.5 meters. If the walls are below the indicated numbers, this is already an attic, above one and a half meters is considered a full-fledged floor. The minimum distance from the floor to the highest point of the ceiling is 2.5 meters.

This room is under a roof, bounded by walls and slopes, it is not heated and is not designed for living, therefore there are no requirements for it regarding the height of walls and ceilings. The technical attic differs from the usual one by the presence of communications and technological equipment. This area serves as a heat and sound insulator between living quarters and the street.

Roof areas are of two types: cold and warm. When building a building, thermal insulation is placed in the ceiling of the last floor, the attic itself remains cold. But if the construction of an attic is planned in the future, the roof structure is also insulated.

Care should be taken when creating a ventilation system. Steam and moisture, rising from the living quarters, form condensation, which over time destroys the roofing materials. Through the cold attic, ventilation ducts are led out to the roof. In warm attic spaces, air from the rooms is collected under the roof and then exits through the exhaust vent. Properly thought out ventilation will create a good indoor climate.

This is a complete living space equipped with a roof. The surrounding walls, erected along the frame, must be at least one and a half meters. The ceiling configuration depends on the shape of the roof. The supporting structures are built of wood, metal or reinforced concrete.

In addition to additional work on roof insulation, it is necessary to bring a heating system into the room. Consider ventilation well. For a comfortable stay, there should be natural lighting, which is equipped with the help of dormers. They are specially designed and adapted for ventilation.

You can buy a finished apartment on the attic floor. There are many options, their variety depends on the footage and roof configuration. It can be one large studio-type room or a 2-room apartment with a separate kitchen.

Here is one example of such housing on an area of ​​40 sq. m. The designer was not only faced with the task of creating an interior in the attic area, but impregnating it with the spirit of Parisian or London attics. Huge brick walls predetermined the choice of style - loft. They were well cleaned and left virtually intact.

All important areas for life are located on one large territory. At the door is the space of the kitchen and dining room, united by a strict wooden table. A wardrobe, kitchen set and refrigerator refresh the brickwork with a contrasting glossy spot. Many lamps illuminate areas at night, and a huge window, located simultaneously on the wall and ceiling, is responsible for natural lighting.

In the living area, two square armchairs can be easily moved into a full sleeping place. A bright metal table draws attention to itself. The metal theme is supported by a radiator, fireplace and a bucket of wood. An amazing design trick - plasma on the easel, a reminder of the artists who set up workshops in the attic. The rough, simple shapes of the easel are combined with the same austere outlines of the table.

A fireplace with live fire resembles a stove-stove, located between the sleeping and living areas, unites them with a common warmth. The bedroom is detached, but at the same time, it is not in a confined space, so it does not look too cramped. A large window gives you the opportunity to admire the starry sky. An antique mannequin serves as an original decor and a place where you can throw your clothes. Two bedside boxes play the role of pedestals and roomy drawers at the same time.

The bathroom, combined with a toilet, has incorporated everything you need: a shower cabin, a toilet, a washbasin and a washing machine.

Thanks to the efforts of the designer, a spacious modern interior was created under the roof itself.

The pros and cons of building an attic superstructure and living in it are somewhat different. The owner of a private house, planning to increase his living space, decides what is cheaper for him, to build an attic or a full second floor. Buying an already reconstructed apartment between the top floor and the roof, you have to consider completely different pros and cons.

Advantages of purchasing an attic apartment:

• The main advantage of such a purchase is its cost, it is lower than the price of an ordinary apartment.
• A magnificent view from the side windows and the contemplation of the starry sky from the ceiling.

• Creation of a modern, extraordinary interior.
• Possibility of equipping a real fireplace.
• If there are flat roof sections, you can equip them as an open-air area for recreation, games, sunbathing, or simply as an observation deck.

The disadvantages of such apartments include:

• Low walls (1.5 m), you will have to order individual furniture.
• The elevator to the attic floor, most likely, will not go. The ladder can be uncomfortable too. There will be problems with the delivery of furniture.
• The heat in summer and cold in winter will be felt more acutely than in ordinary apartments, even if there is an air conditioner and heating system.
• Angled windows will accumulate snow, making them difficult to maintain.

• Sometimes these apartments have small windows, which affects natural light.
• If the roof starts to leak, the problems for such apartments will be serious.
• Noisy during rain and elevator operation (if the motor is in the attic).
• Psychologists are against such apartments, sloping walls and ceilings depress the mind.

For cottage owners who are going to rebuild an attic space into an attic, there are advantages and disadvantages of such a solution.

The advantages include:

• The owner gets additional space for his one-story house.
• It is possible to build an attic floor without the participation of heavy equipment.
• There is no need to invest in the construction of full-fledged walls.
• The attic will provide a beautiful view from the window and an unusual interior.
• A cottage with an attic has a more beautiful view than a building with a conventional sloping roof.

If we talk about the shortcomings, the savings on building an attic instead of a second floor will not be too big:

• We'll have to insulate the roof well.
• It is necessary to erect walls on a frame one and a half meters high.

• Think over the heating system.
• Correctly create a ventilation system.
• Don't forget about waterproofing.
• Place skylights.

At the time of the purchase of the attic space, the large area and the reasonable price are impressive. But realtors indicate the floor area, and the real footage is much less, if we take into account the sloped walls. Before deciding whether to buy an attic apartment, you need to weigh the pros and cons.

Reviews are mixed, as with the purchase of any apartment. Some complain about the summer heat and winter cold. They are told that the problem is solved by the air conditioner and the heating system. Some have leaking windows, others - everything is fine with the windows. Almost everyone is dissatisfied with the walls and the selection of furniture.

In one of the reviews, it was reported about an independent alteration of thermal insulation and the installation of a heating boiler. The noise from the boiler interfered, but over time we got used to it. They are satisfied with the apartment, they did not feel any special high and low temperatures.

A well-thought-out room for a boy is stylized on a marine theme. Part of a large window with active natural light is visible. The staircase leads to the very roof, where there is a sleeping place. You can go down the rope ladder, like on a ship. The hammock and chest support a pirate ship's cockpit theme. Above the work table, small shelves in the form of a steering wheel are mounted into the wall. A recreation area is visible through the children's room, and behind it is a working area for adults.

A variant of a bedroom, which is a separate room in an attic apartment. Two windows of different style, located above the bed, give a special charm to the room.

A small space with heavily sloped walls houses a sleeping, resting area and plenty of storage systems. In the white room there are seating areas in orange. The contrast with the black floor prevents the interior from fading into space. A large window fills the attic with air and light.

There will certainly be people with non-trivial thinking, romantics who will enjoy living under the very sky. For such people, there are attics.

To learn about all the intricacies of arranging an apartment in the attic floor, watch the following video.