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.

Similar topics
26.06.2015	Floor plan question, stairs, window, orientation	12
24.09.2015	Which windows and doors are recommended?	21
10.11.2015	Single-family house floor plan planned, we like the windows	43
21.02.2016	Secure windows/front door for edge location	34
22.01.2016	Kitchen planning with island and floor-to-ceiling windows	12
11.02.2016	Windows / Doors / Wardrobe	13
13.03.2016	Change roof tile color to anthracite windows	16
31.07.2016	Electrical inspection, Q2, bathroom tiles, knee wall, floor-to-ceiling windows	23
06.06.2016	How much light does a window let in?	17
14.11.2016	Soundproofing - weakest link? (Windows?)	26
03.12.2019	Additional costs due to incorrectly planned ventilation system + floor-to-ceiling windows?	50
23.12.2016	Floor-to-ceiling windows - how to place the sofa?	12
08.04.2017	Burglary protection - Upgrade windows from WK2 to WK3 - Alarm system?	65
22.05.2017	Upgrading the window (mushroom head) is allegedly not worth it - opinions?	22
28.09.2017	Protect windows from outside with "iron bars" against burglary	11
19.02.2022	Anthracite windows - Which roof color	63
07.01.2018	Practical size for windows and roller shutters	13
04.03.2018	Bathroom floor plan design - How to place the windows?	12
19.05.2018	Floor plan of new single-family house: Are window/door/interior wall size/arrangement okay?	20
05.09.2018	Windows in house construction: What are all the available options?	17

Insulate cold roof attic for office

WilderSueden

Mach_es_selbst

Bauherr001

Tolentino

WilderSueden

xMisterDx