How to build a mansard roof with your own hands

Adding a mansard roof to your house is a great way to expand its living area. A mansard roof can be the ideal solution if you’re looking to add a bedroom, a home office, or a comfortable reading nook. Even though it might seem difficult at first, you can construct a mansard roof by hand if you have the correct equipment and advice.

It’s crucial to comprehend the fundamentals of a mansard roof before you begin. Each side of this kind of roof has two slopes: a steeper lower slope and a nearly flat upper slope. This design gives your house a distinctive architectural touch while also making the most of the living area.

We’ll walk you through the process of building a mansard roof using this guide. Everything will be covered, including organizing and assembling supplies as well as framing and finishing touches. You’ll be able to craft a lovely and useful addition to your house with perseverance and close attention to detail.

Choosing a rafter system – hanging or layered

Any builder, no matter how ignorant, will tell you that wood is the primary material used for the base when selecting a rafter system.

There are other options available, such as iron, but it comes with a lot of drawbacks.

Wood is superior.

  • More environmentally friendly;
  • Warmer;
  • Lighter in weight and easier to install.

Two different beam laying techniques alternate when installing the roof frame:

  1. Layered installation of rafters must have reliable structural support. The lower part should rest against the Mauerlat. The upper edge of the rafters rests on a mirror analogue of the purlin.
  2. Another installation has a hanging appearance, when each opposing rafter rests against each other. And the lower part rests on the tie beam. It connects two adjacent lower heels of the rafters into a triangle, thereby extinguishing tensile processes, which means that the load on the walls of the house will only be vertical.

The structure also has racks and struts installed to increase its stability. Because of the intricate design of the roof truss base, you must carefully choose the attic’s future model, starting with the drawings.

Rafferty hung and layered

Mansard roof installation

The installation procedures for a mansard roof are largely the same as those for a conventional roof. Possessing identical parts to hers:

  • Mauerlat – the main beam, the purpose of which is to transfer the load from the rafters to the walls of the building;
  • Floor beams consist of solid long boards that make up the attic floor at the same time as the ceiling of the lower floor;
  • Racks – vertical supports, their main purpose is to support the rafter system;
  • Runs — horizontal supporting supports for rafters;
  • Rigel – transverse horizontal elements, for tightening the roof slopes together, otherwise tightening;
  • Rafter boards, located along the main contour of the roof;
  • Suspension — a hanging rack, its main purpose is to support the tension and redistribute the load between the rafters;
  • Lathing – sheets of plywood, necessary for future installation of roofing on their surface;
  • fillies – boards, attached along the lower part of the axis of the rafters; their main purpose is to form the roof overhang.

There won’t be any issues if you carefully review all of the information regarding the rafter system’s installation and design.

Below are drawings and photos of a DIY broken roof.

Mansard roof installation

Requirements for the roof structure

You have to adhere to the necessary specifications for selecting the appropriate material and erecting the future structure if you want your roof to survive for many years.

  1. Structural strength. All system parts and structural connections must be firmly installed to avoid deformation, even when moving with effort. The design should be based on a triangle. This form has frames, they are attached parallel to each other. And rigid fixation when installing them guarantees roof stability. But if the farms start moving, the structure may collapse already at the stage of attaching the slate or other finishing material for the roof.
  2. Light weight. The mass of the roof should be small, because of this the rafter system, built from wood material. If the final weight of the roof is decent, installation of a metal rafter base is required. You can take a coniferous tree, at least first grade, with low humidity. More be sure to treat the wood with an antiseptic and fire retardant, to protect against fire and pests. In this case, the fastening points of the entire rafter system of the future roof will be strong.
  3. An important element is high quality of the future wooden base of the attic.

The ideal option for the rafter base in the event that you decide to build an attic on the roof is to select a layered system. This will enable you to save a significant amount of free space during installation without causing any problems.

With the aid of these components, the attic roof is installed:

  • Iron;
  • Lightweight galvanized steel;
  • Reinforced concrete structure.

By using this method, the attic will be strengthened and more tiny rooms can be added to the roof. However, keep in mind the pressure that the completed roof will exert on the house’s walls.

How to calculate the dimensions of a sloping roof?

You need to know geometry well in order to compute the future figures of a covered attic structure.

Ultimately, it is imperative to compute the accurate angles of every component within the structure:

  • Skate rays;
  • Side slopes;
  • Required number of rafters;
  • Correct section on the rafters;
  • Volume of sheathing;
  • If you need to use materials other than wood, then their total number.

Calculating and designing an attic in a residential building requires specific guidelines.

Specialized online calculators are available to assist novice builders in calculating all the required data. Correctly entering the information is crucial.

Following the computations, you ought to obtain the following values:

  • Inclined angle of side rafters: steep slope and layered beams. If you used a special program, it will indicate whether the angle is suitable for the roofing material you have chosen.
  • The inclined angle of the ridge stop: upper, gentle ridge slope and hanging rafters.
  • Total roof surface area, considering the length of the overhang. And also the total number of roofing and under-roofing material needed for installation.
  • Required amount of roofing felt, rolls 1 meter wide and 15 meters long, also take into account overlap.
  • What will it be like attic area, not taking into account the room of the side slopes.
  • Side slope rafter length, layered rafters.
  • Length of ridge and hanging rafters.
  • Rafter section with taken into account parameters and loads. This includes: climate, weather conditions and other factors.
  • Total number and rafter volume calculated from the future step placed on the entire rafter system.
  • Final number of rows of sheathing.
  • Distance between sheathing boards, it must be optimal so as not to use cut wood material.
  • Required number and volume of boards, which will be needed for arranging lathing over the entire roof area.

Detailed sizing computation

Do-it-yourself mansard roof: preparing rafters and sheathing

Sheathing installation is dependent on the type of roof you plan to install. Let’s examine a few examples to help clarify the situation, using the following roofing materials as a starting point:.

Metal tiles

A precise computation of all the necessary data for installing this kind of roof can be found in the SNiPe special instructions.

The slope’s inclined angle determines a lot of things:

  • If the slope is minimal, then for installing corrugated sheets you will need a solid sheathing, or its pitch should not exceed 400 mm. It all depends on the selected material thickness;
  • If the slope is of medium size, the base mounted in increments of 300 – 650 mm;
  • When the slope has a large inclined angle, the pitch is already up to 1000 mm;
  • There are special brands of corrugated sheets with increased rigidity, their must be mounted with a wooden base pitch of up to 3000 or 4000 mm, but only if the inclined pitch angle is greater than 8 0 .

The manufacturer also includes the data needed to install the roof base in the documents that come with the roofing material.

The process of getting the material ready for the sheathing then starts. The width, length, and pitch of the future slope are used to calculate its quantity. Not to mention the calculations for the chimney’s space and the extra support for the building’s ridge and eaves. The computations also account for ventilation and dormer windows.

Remember that you will need to cut and adjust the wooden blocks during the installation process, so it is best to add an additional 10% of material to the total amount.

Protective covering for metal tiles

Soft roofing

Solid boards that are fastened to the rafters during roof installation make up the soft roofing base. There are numerous varieties here as well.

Everything is dependent on the roofing material selected:

  • For soft roofs, solid;
  • For slate, sparse.

Of course, there are guidelines to follow when installing a soft roof. These are as follows:

  • If the pitched angle of the roof is located in the range from 5 to 10°, then the roof has the appearance of a continuous flooring, special waterproof plywood or boards are used;
  • When the inclined roof angle is between 10 and 15°, in this case the roof is made of timber with dimensions of 45×50 millimeters and with a pitch of 45 cm;
  • If the inclined angle is greater than 15° for the sheathing timber 45×50 mm is used, but in increments of 600 mm;
  • For the skate attachment area install additional beam.

Lathing for pliable roofing

Installation of the Mauerlat and rafter system

After the attic is leveled and the waterproofing flooring is installed, the Mauerlat is laid.

All oblique angles can be adjusted because of the Mauerlat’s positioning around the attic’s edge.

Wood is the substance that is utilized. The wall’s edge is taken into consideration when choosing the thickness.

Take particular care when laying the Mauerlat beneath the cornice’s side.

The structure must not be thrust, as you are unable to add more components. A portion of the wall’s exterior masonry must be taken down in order to raise the interior.

Installation of insulation

If you plan to live in the attic, insulation is a must. Prior to anything else, you should choose the thermal insulation material. Specialized basalt slabs would be the ideal solution.

If the insulation density is not at least 30–40 km per cubic meter, the structure will eventually sink. Additionally, it is 150 mm thick. Additionally, a unique film is put in the roof to keep it dry.

Installing insulation step-by-step

Installation of lathing and counter-lattice

Installing a counter lath is necessary to reinforce the structure once the lathing base is in place. If the inclined angle is significant, this is required.

Installing the counter-lattice begins with installing small beams on top of the main sheathing, which is already covered in a layer of waterproofing. Installing the counterparty creates a ventilation space between the base and the roof, extending its lifespan.

Installation of waterproofing and vapor barrier

Installing waterproofing on a damaged roof requires manual labor. In order to prevent moisture from penetrating the roof through the base, A unique covering material or film is applied. Controllapse facilitates improved ventilation to eliminate the effect of steam formation.

The most widely used fume protection system is a hydraulic tank, which has three layers.

  1. Reinforced grille. She will be weaved from plastic fibers.
  2. Anticondensate or fobarier.

Installed waterproofing is done on rafters or crates.

Types of roofing materials and their installation

There is a wide range of roofing materials available in the market to suit any preference. Each of them has benefits and drawbacks of its own. Every builder considers the roof’s price initially, followed by its quality and lifespan.

Here is a selection of roofing materials for your consideration:

You have the option to choose from this list or not in any case.

You must create your own rafter design in order to install any of these roofs. mostly because of weight. Because slate or cement tiles, for instance, are so heavy, the base needs to be reinforced even more.

Because metal is a lightweight material that can corrode over time, it is not the best option in areas that see a lot of precipitation.

Conclusion

If you want an exquisite and superior finished product, building an attic roof takes extra care and laborious labor. You’ll need to put in a lot of work—both mental and physical.

It will require a clever approach to the task in order to be finished without any issues. When faced with several challenges, the majority of owners seek assistance from hired laborers. However, what could be more enjoyable than not using your hands to produce high-quality work?

Adding a mansard roof to your house can be a satisfying project that gives it more character and space. Make sure you have a thorough plan with measurements and materials before you begin. By doing this, you’ll reduce mistakes and maintain organization while building.

Set up the current roof structure for the new mansard first. This entails removing the current roofing materials and assessing the roof deck’s condition. In order to guarantee that the roof can sustain the additional weight of the mansard, make any necessary repairs or reinforcements.

Next, build the mansard roof’s new framework. This includes building the walls that will form the steep sides of the roof and creating the dormer windows if desired. For framing, use strong materials like steel or wood to guarantee structural longevity and integrity.

Install insulation after the framing is finished to control temperature and lower energy expenses. To optimize their effectiveness, select insulation materials that are appropriate for your climate and make sure they are installed correctly.

Apply the waterproofing and roof decking materials after the insulation. This action is essential to preventing water damage to your house and extending the life of the mansard roof. Depending on your budget and style preferences, think about using long-lasting materials like metal roofing or asphalt shingles.

Finish the mansard roof’s external finish last. This includes painting, adding trim, and adding any desired exterior siding to fit your home’s current design. For a smooth integration with the rest of the house, pay close attention to the details.

You can successfully build a mansard roof that improves the usefulness and aesthetics of your house by carefully following these instructions and seeking professional advice when necessary.

In order to increase their living space without moving, homeowners may find that building a mansard roof is a rewarding project. With a methodical approach and a basic understanding of insulation, roofing, and framing, you can add a fashionable and useful upper level that enhances the appeal and value of your house. This post will walk you through the necessary equipment, supplies, and methods for building a mansard roof, providing helpful advice and insights to make your do-it-yourself project go smoothly and be enjoyable.

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