Table of contents
- jamb
- knee stick
- Decision
- Living space and prices
Drempel, Trempel or Kniestock - many people only come into contact with these terms when they want to build a house themselves. You should also pay attention to the roof shape when renting and buying. Because this decides how much living space is available in the attic and can affect heating costs and the available storage space.
jamb
The Drempel is sometimes also referred to as Trempel. It describes a type of attic where the sloping roof begins at the bottom of the attic. As a result, the room height is lower in the attic, and the living space is smaller. Drywall can be used to create a visually more even demarcation of the rooms. If doors are built into these walls, the open space behind them can still be used for storage. This can be important in the following cases:
When calculating housing
A house with a trempel has significantly less living space in the attic than on the ground floor or the following floors. This should be taken into account when calculating – both when buying and when renting properties.
When planning a converted attic
If the attic is also to be used as living space, the difference between trempeln and knee sticks plays a decisive role. With the Trempel, a lot of space is "lost" due to the acute angle between the roof and the floor or can only be used to a limited extent as storage space. This is a crucial point, especially for penthouses.
When calculating storage space
The use of drywall can define the living space more clearly and look more visually appealing. It also offers an extra level of insulation. Unfortunately, storage space is usually lost when it is inserted. This problem can be avoided by inserting doors into the drywall. In this way, they not only represent a visual enrichment and form an air cushion for insulation. They also offer the opportunity to use the space between the ceiling and the wall for stowing and storage.
knee stick
The difference to the Trempel is that the sloping roof of a knee wall rests on the raised outer wall. This results in the following properties and advantages:
Living room
Since the roof does not begin directly on the floor, but at least at knee height, the area that can be used as living space is significantly larger. This can be an advantage when renting – but it is always decisive when calculating the rental price.
head height
Due to the raised roof approach, the head height is also greater. On the one hand, this benefits the size of the living space and, on the other hand, the comfort and storage space.
cubic meter count
Even if the sloping roof is at knee height, the number of cubic meters is greater than with a trempel. This can increase the rental price. In addition, it also benefits the storage space. Even if the walls are covered with drywall, the living and storage space will be larger.
Decision
If the decision between the two forms is open, attention should be paid to the individual advantages of the types and to personal requirements. The following points can help:
storage room
If the attic is only to be used as a storage room, no decision has to be made in principle. Both the vaulted roof and the knee-high roof can easily be used as a storage room. However, due to its greater height, the knee-high roof offers more space at the top and more convenient positioning options.
Living room
The living space is larger with the knee-high roof approach, but of course the same as the head height depends on the angle of the roof pitch. The more obtuse the angle, the more the living space resembles the area of the lower floors.
expansion
Knee-level roofs are generally preferable when converting into living space, since even when using Drywall or other paneling provides a larger living space and greater living space height preserved.
Heating
Higher and larger rooms require longer time and more energy to be heated. This also means larger sums that have to be spent on fuel. If the attic is only used as a storage room anyway, this naturally plays a subordinate role.
Living space and prices
The height of living spaces in new buildings is between 2.3 and 2.4 meters. Attic and basement that are not used as living space and storage rooms must be at least 2.2 meters high. In the case of lower rooms, the entire area is generally not counted as living space.
However, there is one exception: If a rental agreement is concluded and the lower ceiling height is mentioned, no subsequent rent reduction can be made.
Anyone who wants to rent or rent out the attic should therefore find out about the following points in advance:
- What is the minimum height for living space in the respective federal state?
There are only slight deviations between the federal states here, but care should be taken when making calculations.
- How about prorated calculations?
In some cases, lower room heights do not count as living space, but are counted as storage space and floor space.
particularities
In old buildings, with previously contractually specified lower room heights and in special cases, lower areas can also be counted as living space. It is advisable to obtain information from the tenant protection association.
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