Drempel, Trempel or Kniestock – many people only come into contact with these terms when they want to build a house themselves. When renting or buying, you should also pay attention to the shape of the roof. Because this determines how much living space there is in the attic, it can affect the heating costs and the available storage space.
Drempel
The Drempel is sometimes also referred to as Trempel. It describes a type of attic in which the sloping roof begins at the floor of the attic. As a result, the room height is lower in the attic and the living space is smaller. Drywall walls 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 as storage space. This can be important in the following cases:
When calculating living space
A house with Trempel has significantly less living space on the top floor than on the ground floor or subsequent floors. This should be taken into account when calculating – both when buying and renting properties.
When planning a converted attic
If the attic is also to be used as a living space, the difference between trampling and kneeling plays a crucial role. With the Trempel, due to the acute angle between the roof and the floor, a lot of space is “lost” or can only be used to a limited extent as storage space. This is a crucial point, especially for attic apartments.
When calculating storage space
Using drywall walls 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 if doors are inserted into the drywall walls. In this way, they not only represent a visual enrichment and also form an air cushion for insulation. They also offer the opportunity to use the space between the ceiling and the wall for storage and storage.
Kneestock
The difference to Trempel is that the sloping roof of a knee stick rests on the raised outer wall. This results in the following properties and advantages:
Living space
Since the roof does not start directly at 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 is definitely crucial when calculating the rental price.
Head height
Due to the raised roof base, the head height is also higher. This benefits the size of the living space on the one hand and comfort and storage space on the other.
number of cubic meters
Even if the sloping roof is at knee height, the number of cubic meters is larger than with a Trempel. This can increase the rental price. It also benefits storage space. Even if the walls are covered with drywall, the living and storage space is larger.
Decision
If the decision between the two forms is open, attention should be paid to the individual advantages of the species and personal requirements. The following points can help:
Storage room
If the attic is only to be used as a storage room, in principle no decision needs to be made. Both the trempel 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 upward space and more comfortable positioning options.
Living space
The living space is larger with a knee-high roof approach, but of course, like the head height, it depends on the angle of the sloping roof. The more obtuse the angle, the more the living space resembles the area of the lower floors.
Expansion
When converting into living space, knee-length roofs are generally preferable, as a larger living space and a greater living space height are retained even when using drywall or other cladding.
Heating
Higher and larger rooms require longer time and more energy to be heated. This also means larger sums that have to be used for fuel. If the attic is only used as a storage room anyway, this of course plays a minor role.
Living room height and prices
The height of living spaces in new buildings is between 2.3 and 2.4 meters. Attics and basements that are not used as living space as well as storage rooms must be at least 2.2 meters high. In the case of lower rooms, not the entire area is usually 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.
If you want to rent or rent out the attic, you should find out about the following points in advance:
What minimum height is required for living space in the respective federal state?
There are only minor differences between the federal states, but careful attention should be paid to this when making calculations.
What about pro-rata calculations?
In some cases, lower room heights are not considered living space, but are counted as storage space and floor space.
Special features
In old buildings, with lower room heights previously specified in the contract and in special cases, lower areas can also be counted as living space. It is advisable to obtain information from the Tenant Protection Association.
