What should be considered when remodeling the attic of a two-family house?

Question

What should be considered when remodeling the attic of a two-family house?

Our duplex is starting construction in November, and we would like to convert our attic and use it as a hobby/storage room. Now the question is how best to proceed. We are currently diligently informing ourselves, and our builder has noted that the wall leading to the neighbors needs to be specifically insulated with cladding, due to the temperature difference between the two attics and the intermediate space between the two apartment buildings. In the roof itself, we want to do insulation between the rafters, over which the vapor barrier is laid. In addition, we plan to install a skylight. Has anyone had experience with this or done it themselves and know what to look out for, etc.?

Rogerio Roggenbuck

Is the attic open to the neighboring house? We have another terraced house where the gable wall is completely bricked up, meaning the attic is separated and insulated from the neighboring house just like the lower floors. Shouldn't it be the same for a semi-detached house?

I'll try to explain it to you... Well... the walls are fully clad, too, but we're talking about the temperature difference between the attics of the two halves. Our neighbor is not equipping her attic, so it will remain cold since the roof itself is not insulated. The insulation for the living space is built into the ceiling of the upper floor.

We would like to expand our attic, however, the argument has come up that we should insulate the wall leading to our neighbor's room with additional insulation paneling to avoid temperature differences and therefore moisture or condensation.When our room is warm and our neighbor's attic is cold, there is a temperature difference where moisture can form. We are now thinking about how we can expand our attic to avoid problems like moisture, etc.

Answers

score 0 · Answer 1 · 2022-08-19 16:38:26

We did the insulation between the rafters ourselves. Basically, it's a diligent job. Nothing is absolutely complicated. You need insulation material. Cut it with an insulation knife, build a cutting table on the floor from plywood and stampboards. The plywood can be used later for something else.

When the felt is laid everywhere, and the corners or crevices are well filled, put a vapor barrier film over it. Use a good membrane that allows moisture to escape, called a climatic membrane.

Tape the joints well with foil tape, floor and wall joints with foil cartridge adhesive. Support the foil with boards that are screwed to the rafters. If desired, you can lay drywall on top of it.

score 0 · Answer 2 · 2022-08-19 17:21:58

I can recommend AlfaFlex as an adhesive tape. It sticks like a glove and is much cheaper than similar "brand name tapes". The experts at our construction site have concluded that it is good.

Do the rest as described above and work carefully.

If you still have strength and energy (and money), you can put thin OSB or GC directly on the counter battens, so that with a little carelessness will not damage the foil immediately with boxes or shelves. The GC made the room lighter, the OSB made it darker. I would paint the OSB directly white to make the room lighter.

I once did dormer windows myself about 15 years ago (> 100 year old deformed old roof). Personally, I will NEVER do it again. This is a job for professionals, even on a straight and relatively new roof. The connections to the roof and soffits are especially important (heat, rain impermeability, etc.). Also, any replacement(s) that may be required must be installed professionally.

score 0 · Answer 3 · 2022-08-19 18:44:28

Plan for heating right away, and if the rest of the house has FBH, upstairs as well, to get by with the same flow temperature throughout the house.

Otherwise, of course, you'll have to hang the mains high up in the hobby room.