If the foundation of the house allows you to build a second floor, then you should consider creating an open terrace. The most difficult thing is to properly do the waterproofing between the veranda itself and the first floor. From our article you will learn how to build a terrace on the second floor and what you will need for this.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of a terrace include:
- Universal application. The veranda can be used as a living room, as a recreation room, and in the warm season as a dining room.
- A cheap method of increasing the living space of a private house.
If you glaze the terrace, it can also be used in winter. Now they produce special collapsible frames, which are installed only when necessary. When warm weather sets in, such a structure can be removed in just a few hours.
This terrace has its own nuances
The disadvantages of open terraces on the second floor include:
- the need to strengthen the foundation of the house, since the second floor is an additional load on the foundation;
- seasonal use: in winter, the veranda cannot be used without additional insulation, but snow will have to be removed regularly;
- the door leading to the veranda from the second floor should be installed securely and not easily broken into (an open second floor is an easy option for burglars to enter the house unnoticed).
Video “Building a terrace with your own hands”
From this video you will learn how to build a terrace in a private house with your own hands:
Design subtleties
The floor of the open veranda must be installed at a minimum slope (up to 1 cm per 2 m length) so that water does not accumulate there. Regardless of what the floor covering will be installed from, it is necessary to create a waterproofing and thermal insulation layer underneath it with a drain along the edge of the structure to prevent moisture from entering the interfloor ceiling.
It is recommended that the frame for the terrace itself be made of wood - it is lightweight, and if the wood is properly processed, it will last no less than metal structures. A high side must be installed along the edge, which is best made of metal (profiles with polycarbonate sheathing are also suitable).
Phased construction
The first thing you should take care of is strengthening the interfloor structure. If previously ordinary wooden beams were used there, then they should be replaced either with new ones (beams 150 mm by 150 mm) or formed from metal rails. Already from above they can be covered either with wood boards or even with a concrete slab (hollow, it can also be made of hydroconcrete, which does not absorb moisture at all, but is expensive).
Next, waterproofing is installed. Thermal insulation is only required if there is a living space on the ground floor directly below the terrace. If there is a garage or, for example, a boiler room, then you can do without it.
Then the logs are installed. Do not forget that the floor of the terrace should be located at a minimum slope to the edge, like a pitched roof. This will allow moisture to drain directly into the drain. Accordingly, several joists on one side should be processed with an electric planer to a depth of 1 cm.
If you plan to lay thermal insulation, then the thickness of the logs should be at least 10 cm - this will allow a layer of mineral wool or basalt slab to be laid between them. This material is the best option for thermal insulation.
Don't forget to follow the construction instructions
How to install the side? The optimal and inexpensive option is on metal corners made of steel, at least 3 mm thick. They are secured to the base either with bolts and anchors (in concrete) or by welding (for a metal base). The wooden or plastic panels themselves are attached to the corners with ordinary rivets or screws, depending on their thickness. A minimum gap of 3–5 mm should be made between the floor and the panels so that water can drain out through the gap.
To insulate the terrace floor, it is recommended to use several layers of ordinary roofing felt - they are in no way inferior to more expensive hydrotextiles. If the ceiling between floors is made of concrete, then it is recommended to punch grooves (grooves) along it, in which all the moisture will accumulate and from there be discharged to the drain.
All wood that will be used in the construction of the terrace must be treated with a waterproof antiseptic primer, topped with linseed oil, which protects much better than ordinary drying oil. The top of the wood is either coated with a layer of varnish or painted. By the way, it is better to give preference to oil paint - it will additionally protect the wood from fungus and mold.
- This is a profitable investment, as you can significantly reduce construction costs and save space on the site. Besides,modern house designsare presented in a wide range, which allows potential developers to choose their ideal option. If you are faced with the task of creating a cozy cottage with a platform for pleasantly spending time outdoors, but there is not enough space on the site, thenhouse project with terraceon the second floor is an ideal option that is specially designed for you.Waterproofing must be installed not only on the floor of the future veranda itself, but also on the interfloor ceiling on the street side. It is through these places that moisture can penetrate inside. If concrete begins to actively absorb moisture, at the first frost, cracks will appear on the slab, since moisture expands when freezing.
Thus, setting up a terrace on the second floor of a country house is a good and inexpensive idea. The main thing is not to make mistakes with waterproofing, otherwise after a few years you will have to completely change the interfloor ceiling.
True, before making a final decision, it is worth figuring out whether it is good to have a terrace on the second floor of a country cottage. Metroplex experts will be happy to advise you what kind of houses can be built in your specific case. Is it worth choosing projects under one-story houses with attic and terrace at the second level, as well as what are the advantages and disadvantages of such architectural solutions.
ADVANTAGES OF A HOUSE PROJECT WITH A TERRACE ON THE SECOND FLOOR
So, a terrace is a summer area that, in the warm season, serves as a dining room, living room, and relaxation room. Among the positive aspects of this decision it is worth highlighting:
1. Enjoy the beauty of the landscape, both the territory of your site and the surrounding area.
2. The opportunity to go out onto the terrace from your bedroom and drink a cup of aromatic tea in nature. Usually, popular house designs with a terrace on the second floor and suggest this option.
DISADVANTAGES OF ONE-STOREY PRIVATE HOUSES WITH A TERRACE ON THE SECOND LEVEL
The first thing you need to understand is that the terrace is an open space, so you won’t be able to use it in winter, as it will be covered with snow. This is where one of the shortcomings emerges modern style house projects with a terrace, namely seasonal use of the premises.
So if one-story private houses provide for the location of a terrace on the roof, then it is necessary to understand that it will be located above the premises and play the role of a flat roof. In this regard, it is very important to perform high-quality waterproofing of the building. Construction and design of cottages with a terrace on the second floor, it is better to trust qualified builders who have experience in this area, since the slightest mistakes made at this stage in the future threaten to leak on the ceiling of the cottage, dampness and the spread of fungus on the walls.
An excellent solution would be houses with attic and garage, where the terrace is located above the utility room - garage. True, you shouldn’t forget about waterproofing either.
It is very important that all calculations are made correctly, since the terrace must withstand the load of snow, and its floor, which at the same time plays the role of the roof of the rooms located under it, must withstand the weight of the furniture and people who stay on it.
A significant disadvantage of the terrace on the second floor is that it is constantly exposed to the negative effects of moisture, which affects both sides of the ceiling:
- below – evaporation;
- at the top – precipitation.
It is also worth considering the fact that in the hot summer the terrace warms up quite strongly, and in winter, on the contrary, it cools down.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ARRIVING TERRACES ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN POPULAR HOUSE PROJECTS
If houses with attic and garage If they have low-quality flooring, then with the onset of the heating season there is a high probability of ceramic tiles peeling off. To avoid such unpleasant situations, it is recommended to use frost-resistant glue.
On terraces of large areas, which include, it is worth isolating vertical structures from concrete surfaces (dilatation). Structural dilatation is carried out throughout the entire thickness of the concrete layer, and extreme dilatation is carried out between the terrace and the structure of the structure. The cracks that formed during the work process are sealed with a special elastic mass.
The more outdoor space the better. And if today you are too lazy to go down the stairs, just go out to the balcony. On a large country balcony-terrace. It’s not for nothing that you so carefully thought through it, built it and finished it.
Do you need a balcony in your dacha?
Such an architectural contraption as a balcony is rarely found in small country houses. Samples of small houses often include a terrace at the entrance combined with a porch. Ergonomically (and economically) this is a more profitable and more rational solution.
But two-story terraces are gaining more and more fans, so standard house templates are also changing. The terrace on the second floor, more similar in appearance to a large balcony, comes in two types - covered and open. Especially large specimens combine both options.
An outdoor seating area on the second floor is a controversial thing and has both followers and opponents. The terrace-balcony needs to be looked after, snow must be cleared off in winter, and dirt, dust and pollen must be removed in summer. Before you decide to build, you should answer the question: are you ready to pay attention to the new facility? If not, then limit yourself to a regular terrace or gazebo.
Balcony or functional part of the house?
The advantage of a balcony is that it can be attached to an already finished house: install pillars, make flooring, fences and, if desired, a roof. Volumetric terraces are built according to the same scheme, and often the space on the ground floor is improved, covered with decking, and voila - the new dining-living room is ready.
There is another development of events: the house design includes a terrace on the second floor, while the living space is reduced in favor of non-residential space. The first floor is completely residential.
Flooring on the second floor terrace
Modern building and finishing materials allow you to quickly create the desired structure. Many of them are multifunctional, such as .
Its main difference from a regular seamless board is the shape of the lock. It is designed so that water falling on the flooring flows quietly along the grooves. When the snow melts or rains, the water simply rolls off, and the area under the decking remains dry.
Water drainage is an important condition for maintaining a terrace made of any type of board, so GOODECK strongly recommends: when laying, make a slope of 1-2° over the entire covering area. To do this, use a level - regular or laser. If you doubt your construction skills, hire specialists who have experience working with WPC. Or order the flooring along with installation - the turnkey service works flawlessly and guarantees a high-quality result.
RainDeck GOODECK seamless board can be used as a load-bearing and finishing floor on a second floor balcony. It is important that installation technologies are followed during construction. The decking is fixed perpendicular to the joists, and they, in turn, are located in increments of 30-35 cm. and/or ask questions to the specialists. It’s better to stock up on a list of questions in advance so that you don’t forget anything during the conversation.
GOODECK is more than just a terrace.
When designing the reconstruction of a residential building, the problem of organizing a usable flat roof (terrace) at the level of the 2nd floor of a residential building was posed and solved. An open summer terrace for relaxation was designed on this section of the surface. The terrace is located above the garage, which is adjacent to the residential building.
Phased construction of an open wooden terrace
After erecting the walls of the garage and the monolithic reinforced concrete belt connecting the one-story garage building with the two-story house, the builders laid rolled metal roofing beams.
Cover beams
The cross-section of the covering beams was taken according to calculations. The calculations took into account permanent and temporary loads, including those from the formation of snow bags on the roof in winter (snow is not removed from a flat roof in winter). Also, in accordance with the architectural part of the project, the hanging walls of the house tower rest on the metal roof beams.
At the next stage, removable formwork was installed using moisture-resistant OSB boards and boards and the monolithic floor slab was reinforced. After laying out the reinforcement, snow fell and cold weather set in, so it was decided to concrete the slab in the spring, at positive temperatures.
Construction work continued in the spring. The covering slab was concreted; A rafter system was installed on the inclined sections of the roof, and a valley was made to collect and drain atmospheric water from the roof in use.
Terrace project in the photo
Construction of an open terrace above the garage
A waterproofing coating (bitumen shingles) was laid on the pitched sections of the roof, and roll waterproofing made of built-up roofing felt was made on the flat roof in use.
At the final stage, a staircase and entrance porch from the terrace level to the house were built and a larch deck board was laid (a deck board is also called decking).
In the garage, a suspended ceiling was built on metal beams.