Insulate cold roof attic for office

2022-12-08 10:11:48

What also concerns me: In summer, without ventilation, it will probably become unbearably hot there even with insulation. So I guess I won’t be able to avoid having a window after all... Or maybe a fan or something

There are big differences between various insulation materials in terms of heat protection. For example, mineral wool is significantly inferior to wood fiber in this regard. But I wouldn’t build an office without a window anyway. Being under artificial light all day long is simply not good.

2022-12-08 10:53:46

Everything is lit up like in a living room, that’s not a problem, we oversized that above.... Regarding the wiring, you’re right, I think there really is only one socket up there. Is it really too much already to use a power strip for the monitor, laptop, and possibly the printer? I would have thought one circuit can still handle that. I have internet via 5G mobile hotspot up there.

Access can unfortunately probably only be through the attic hatch, so I would then also insulate that area there. The only other realistically possible option would be outside via some kind of spiral staircase (or ladder) and install a door. Inside, it’s almost impossible to integrate a staircase due to the ceiling cooling, unfortunately. But the expansion would generally provide relief to such an extent that I would accept the attic hatch.

Whether I can get down from above alone is the next good question... I need to try that out. Although my wife is currently basically always at home due to parental leave, later I would of course need the possibility to get down on my own.

How can anyone even plan something like this: More than enough light/lamps but only ONE SINGLE socket planned? You really have to plan enough sockets, etc., especially for such an expansion.

How old is the house anyway???

2022-12-08 11:23:26

Everything has already been said here sufficiently...
Or are there still open questions?
But thanks for thinking of me.
We have already planned to use our "attic" or 1st floor from the start. That’s why it’s properly insulated with 6cm wood fiberboards + 20cm blown-in insulation + foil. We currently hardly need to heat upstairs at all.

For me as a layman:
Have windows installed in the gable for ventilation purposes + of course for the "room climate." For example, carpet tiles go on the OSB boards. Insulate ceilings with mineral wool, for example. If everything is well and professionally insulated, heat with e.g. electric heating when I am upstairs. Ventilate through windows. Do I absolutely have to pay attention to anything else?

!!!
How can anyone plan something like this:
More than enough light/lamps but only ONE SINGLE socket planned?
You have to plan enough sockets, etc., especially for such a conversion to have reserves.

How old is the house???

2 years old, yeah, probably not the smartest architect/electrician or myself as the client. By the way, it is a double socket, but most likely they are on the same circuit anyway, I assume.

2022-12-08 11:30:51

For heat protection, as already mentioned above, wood fiber insulation is better. I would recommend a window on one side and a split air conditioner on the other.

2022-12-08 11:32:57

For an attic, I find one lamp and one power outlet completely sufficient. A cold attic is explicitly not intended as a space for expansion; otherwise, it would make more sense to insulate the roof itself rather than the floor of the upper story. An expansion reserve is more than just a few electrical connections; it includes, for example, windows and water, sewage. In that sense, I think that's okay, plans simply change.

As insulation, I would rather not use mineral wool but something with better heat protection, like wood fiber.

2022-12-14 22:55:54

Do you have a sufficiently dimensioned electrical line going upward? Usually, there's only a single line for a lamp and at most one socket going up.

Additionally, you also need internet in the office. There won't be any network cable running in the attic, right?

How is the access supposed to be made? If the attic stairs are open, they will surely be in the way somehow?

Put a 2kW fan heater in a reasonably well-insulated room... after 4 hours you won't be able to breathe anymore, it gets that hot inside. Our gas heating is 9kW for 150m². For a 25m² office, the 2kW fan heater will probably be enough. But it will be expensive, that's clear.

Internet... Wi-Fi? If there's no reinforced concrete ceiling to the attic, that works without any problem.

The floor retractable stairs can also be folded down from "above," or there are models that can do that. After all, you don't leave your office every 5 minutes.

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Insulate cold roof attic for office

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