Attic from SIP panels as a way to increase the living space of the house

Modern materials and construction technologies are literally transforming the concept of “own home.” Until relatively recently, such methods for creating beautiful and comfortable homes simply did not exist, but today people not only have ample opportunities to create housing from scratch, but can also modify existing buildings by adding an attic made of composite panels, increasing the comfort of life. The most advanced technology is a house made of SIP or, as they are also called, sandwich panels. Structurally, these are particle boards that, under pressure and exposure to high temperatures, are glued on both sides to a layer of expanded polystyrene. The resulting material is not only light and durable, but also opens up the widest possibilities for the construction of non-standard building structures.

Advantages of sandwich panel structures

If you are considering a house and an attic made of sandwich panels, the choice of this particular material is determined by its very attractive characteristics:

high thermal insulation rates, which improves living in spring and autumn and reduces heating requirements in winter;
the strength of the attic walls is such that in most cases a separate load-bearing frame is not required;
construction can be carried out on any type of existing structure, since SIP panels are lightweight;
there are no special requirements for the roof; in addition, by using sandwich panels for the roof, you can significantly reduce heat loss in the attic.

When building an extension on an existing structure, it is advisable to follow several options that will allow you to both save effort when creating an attic and receive cost savings and other useful benefits.

SIP panels: description of material

These construction panels are a type of sandwich panels. They have a three-layer structure (sandwich - sandwich): polystyrene foam insulation is laid between two sheets of compressed wood chips.

This is what a classic sip panel looks like

All components of sip panels are firmly attached to each other by hot processing under high pressure. This building material has a characteristic smooth surface and has many valuable properties .

Preparation for construction

Often, an attic made of composite panels is built on a building that has a standard pitched or gable roof. This design does not provide enough space for future rooms, so the most advisable step would be to disassemble it. The resulting structures (beams and intermediate floors) can be used to erect a roof on a new attic.

Important to know: Do-it-yourself construction of SIP at home

Depending on the wishes of the owner, the ceiling of the lower floor can also be dismantled. Sometimes it is advisable to do this, since an attic made of panels makes it possible, without large financial investments, to get a new, high-quality ceiling, which will be the floor of the extension.

Advantages of using sip panels

Expanded polystyrene is made by foaming. The result is a porous structure, in which the predominant part is air enclosed in bubbles. Thanks to this, sip panels have a high level of thermal insulation .
The panel materials are impregnated with compounds that provide increased fire resistance . In the event of a fire, the process does not develop, but ends with spontaneous extinction. This is a significant plus for the attic design.
The chemical nature of polystyrene eliminates the impact of destructive fungi and other organisms. At the same time it is non-toxic , and its combination with chip sheets forms an environmentally friendly product.
The attic, thanks to the lightness of the panels, will not become too much of a load for the foundation, and, most likely, it will not have to be strengthened. However, in any case, you need to consult a specialist about this.
Saving time when building an attic from this material is an important factor. Increasing living space using construction from other materials takes much longer.
Installing a structure made of sip panels does not require a large number of people , and powerful lifting equipment is not involved. And the construction waste after the work is completed is minimal.

Formation of a new gender

Creating an attic floor from SIP panels may be required when the house or floor underneath is covered, for example, with logs. As a result, the surface does not meet the rigidity requirements and may not guarantee strength when placing furniture. In this case, proceed as follows:

a timber frame is formed around the perimeter of the future attic;
The floor is laid out from SIP panels using intermediate strapping beams.

As a result, they solve two problems at once: they obtain a durable, high-quality covering for the attic floor and ensure that the existing ceiling of the lower floor will not take on excessive loads.

The same applies if an attic is built on a house without a roof. Simply put, on a box, supported by the ends of the walls. This is the most cost-effective and time-saving project. The opening for the stairs to the attic is created in one ceiling, exactly where it is needed - in a field assembled from panels.

From design to finishing: comprehensive solutions

offers you to build a turnkey duplex. The final price is calculated during consultation and remains unchanged until the project is commissioned - our architects will prepare a detailed estimate with an explanation of each item. We take on all the tasks:

preparation of an engineering project;
production of panel structures;
delivery of materials to the construction site;
arrangement of all communications;
interior decorative finishing;
insulation and façade design.

Our teams work in Moscow, Krasnodar and 14 other regions of Russia. We provide an official 5-year guarantee on the materials used and the results of the work performed. You can consult, clarify the parameters of the object of interest and fill out an application online, by phone, by e-mail or in person at our representative offices.

Erection of a structure on an existing building

In this case of construction, after dismantling the roof, an attic from panels is erected, supported by timber framing. The latter can either be located on the walls or go beyond them, for example, when you want to change the house and also get a comfortable veranda.

The project can use both horizontal and vertical panel layouts. The latter type of construction is considered the standard type, since it has the maximum strength characteristics of the finished walls. If construction with a horizontal arrangement of panels is chosen, timber must be placed between the rows to achieve rigidity and ensure that the attic walls will support the weight of the roof.

Why PremierSip?

Cooperation with us has a number of advantages:

We carry out all the work ourselves, without involving intermediaries, which reduces the cost and allows us to control the entire work process;
we use high-quality Green Board panels;
During construction, we protect the house from precipitation using special coatings;
We work not only in Moscow and the region, but also in other regions.

At any time, you can read a large number of reviews about our work and make sure of the reliability of cooperation with us.

Roof structure

An attic made from composite panels is strong enough to withstand any type of roof. The most convenient way is the following:

after installing the panel gables, the upper ridge beam is located directly on their upper part;
if it is necessary to obtain a roof with a complex configuration, all the necessary elements are also attached to the front panels.

Important to know: What types of cottages are made from SIP panels?

However, the most convenient way is to form a roof from SIP panels. The project and subsequent construction using this technique have the following advantages:

the roof does not require insulation;
the roof surface is very strong and smooth;
the resulting roof can be covered with any material.

The construction of a simple version of the roof, both single-pitch and gable, is not difficult at all. If you want a roof with a complex configuration, with skylights and several ridges, you should order a project from a specialized company.

How to carry out construction quickly and at the lowest cost

When constructing an attic, there are several stages when it is advisable not to do everything yourself, but to turn to contractor companies. Although the project can be drawn up independently, it is always cheaper to order constructs from specialists. In fact, today you can purchase SIP panels of standard sizes, but this is not always profitable, as it can lead to the following inconveniences:

working with large structures, giving them the required dimensions is quite troublesome;
the number of connections and joints increases, which negatively affects the strength of the structure;
financial expenses will increase, since structural remains will inevitably be formed;
more timber and other auxiliary material will be required to create load-bearing frames.

Therefore, the best option if you decide to build an attic from SIP panels is to order the production of structures from a responsible contractor company. In this case, a standard project can be used, and all assembly work is carried out independently.

Order a house project from sip

A properly designed project is of fundamental importance. Our company, in preparation for the start of construction work, uses three project options:

Standard. We have our own catalog of projects from which you can choose the one you like;
Private. If you have your own project, including one compiled by another company, we can build according to it;
Individually developed by our company for you - we will develop a new plan that meets your personal wishes.

We use advanced software to accurately reflect your wishes.

Features of attic insulation

Work related to thermal insulation of the attic from the inside can be carried out at any time of the year. After all, these are interior works, and their quality will not be particularly affected by whether it is raining, snowing or strong winds blowing outside.

When laying the material, you need to ensure that all joints between the slabs are as tight as possible, which will prevent the formation of cold bridges. Particular attention should be paid to the insulation joints in the area where the roof meets the walls.

To achieve complete tightness, a continuous contour should be formed; for this it will be necessary to connect the wall insulation with the insulating material of the roof. Proper arrangement of ventilation gaps and installation of a vapor-permeable roofing membrane will allow for high-quality ventilation of a residential attic, which will extend the life of its structural elements.

What are the advantages of equipping the attic floor with SIP panels?

When building a house from SIP panels with an attic, all aspects of construction are developed at the project preparation stage and do not pose any difficulty for architects and builders.

If you need to reconstruct an already built house, you will have to work a little. SIP panels for attic construction provide important advantages during construction.

An attic made from sip panels does not require additional insulation; it is enough to install a radiator or heated floor.
SIP panels are a lightweight building material that will not place a significant load on the foundation of the house and will not require its reinforcement (and additional costs, respectively).
The ideally smooth surfaces of SIP panels do not require additional preparation for exterior or interior decoration. On the outside, you can immediately lay the roofing covering, and finish the remaining surfaces as the general facade of the building (plaster, paint, trim with clapboard or siding)
An attic from SIP panels can be built in record time, because you won’t have to do the additional work that is necessary when installing a frame roof. SIP panels are installed and secured using hand tools and without the use of heavy equipment.
The budget price of SIP panels and ease of installation make the final cost of construction very affordable for the developer.

You can choose designs for houses made from SIP panels with an attic of various sizes, shapes and areas, and also order a project for converting a one-story building into a house with an attic floor. Our specialists will make the necessary calculations and prepare a reconstruction project, which will indicate the exact dimensions, components and parameters, which will help to avoid errors and inaccuracies during construction.

From us you can order the construction of an attic from SIP panels on a turnkey basis and after a few weeks you will receive an exquisite and impeccably constructed attic that will last for decades.

Attic from is high quality and budget price.

How to install an attic

Side rafters are not required to build the roof. Due to their strength, panel gables are able to withstand all necessary loads. A ridge beam is attached to the top of the gables .

The bottom of the roof slopes rests on the Mauerlat, and the top on the ridge beam. If necessary, horizontal beams-purlins are cut into the sides of the gables, which provide support for vertically laid panels.

This is how the installation of sip panels is carried out.

SIP panels can also be horizontal. In this case, support beams are installed at certain intervals connecting the ridge beam and the mauerlat.

The panels are mounted using appropriate technology. The tenon-groove principle ensures the strength of the assembly. All connecting places are foamed. Self-tapping screws are used for fastening.

The planned window openings are cut out before assembly. The completed roof does not require additional insulation. To protect against moisture and give a decorative effect, one type of tile is usually used.

An attic made from sip panels looks something like this

OSB boards

OSB boards were developed in the United States in 1980 as an analogue of chipboard. OSB boards are a product made from deep processing of wood by pressing rectangular chips under high pressure using a waterproof adhesive resin.

It should be said that OSB was the first board of wood origin and developed exclusively for construction purposes. Today, OSB has found its wide application in the manufacture of furniture and, thanks to its excellent characteristics, it is gradually replacing plywood and chipboard from this industry.

OSB boards are the best option for insulating the attic. In addition, decorative material can be immediately applied to the OSB board, which will significantly increase the aesthetic appeal of the room.

In order to ideally insulate the attic, a sandwich panel made of polyurethane foam and OSB is suitable. Sandwich panels made on the basis of OSB are lightweight, have low thermal conductivity and a perfectly smooth surface, which will give enormous scope for design ideas in terms of floor design.

A number of facts support the choice of OSB sandwich panels.

Availability. A sandwich panel made of polyurethane foam and OSB is a relatively cheap material that has excellent thermal insulation properties and is ideal for insulating an attic from the inside.
High thermal insulation characteristics. This material, due to its multilayer structure and manufacturing materials, has low thermal conductivity, which allows you not to use other materials when insulating the attic from the inside, thereby simultaneously saving on finishing work, since these slabs already have a perfectly flat and smooth surface.
High water-repellent characteristics. Of course, sandwich panels made on the basis of OSB are not suitable for installation in rooms with high humidity, but for insulating the attic from the inside they will come in absolutely handy. This material owes its high water-repellent properties to a polyurethane foam core and water-resistant resin used for gluing wood chips.

Fire resistance. Sandwich panels of this type have excellent fire resistance and belong to the group of materials that, even when ignited, do not release harmful substances into the environment.
Environmental friendliness. Thanks to the materials used - wood and polyurethane foam - this material is absolutely environmentally friendly and suitable for insulating residential premises from the inside.
Light weight. Due to their low weight, these sandwich panels do not cause a significant increase in the weight of the roof, so they can be used both for insulating the inside of new and used roofing structures.

If you carefully analyze the costs of heating the attic floor, then the need for high-quality insulation becomes more than obvious. When finishing an attic space with sandwich panels, in order to achieve maximum high-quality insulation, you must follow some rules.

How to purchase quality material

Here is an excellent video with personal experience about building a house from sip panels, in which, dear author, he also shares tips on how to purchase high-quality material:

When building an attic with your own hands, there is a risk of purchasing unreliable material . The construction market often offers homemade panels that do not have the required properties and have unacceptable gluing quality.

This material is cheaper, but it is dangerous to use. Even one low-quality panel can cause irreparable harm. It is not always possible to get rid of defective goods and return the money spent.

You can only buy the material from a seller who has a certificate indicating the manufacturer and information about the components of the sip panels: OSB, PSB and glue. Documents must confirm the product’s compliance with the standards.

The quality of expanded polystyrene in panels for construction is one of the decisive factors. It must be manufactured in accordance with GOST and have a 25 grade. You should not purchase material with expanded polystyrene made according to specifications and having grade 15.