How steam is removed from under the roof of a chalet. How to draw up a competent roof project without the help of specialists. Distinctive features of the style

The word “chalet” is of French origin, which is the name for a small residential building built in the Alpine style on a mountainous area. A chalet-style house is a solidly constructed dwelling, built of weighty timber, which, first of all, carries the functions of protection from bad weather in the mountains.

Chalet style

According to a long-established tradition, the chalet style implies the warmth and comfort of an alpine house in the village. It is interpreted as one of the main directions of country style, and this is noticeable both in the design of the premises and in architecture. The main focus of the chalet style is its elementary character, naturalness, comfort and thoughtfulness of all components of the decor.

Any average statistical house will definitely have:

  • old-fashioned cuckoo walkers, every hour letting you know the exact time,
  • hand-made sideboard
  • muffled light,
  • low ceiling,
  • windows with homespun woolen curtains,
  • beds covered with natural fur blankets.

The essence of the "chalet" style lies in a reliable building structure for housing, the construction of which uses only natural materials. The facade of the house in this style is perfectly complemented by the roof of the chalet, the features of which we will try to reveal in this article.

Architectural features

The popularity of the chalet style is due to its charm and practicality. Like all directions in architecture, it has an individual tradition, it is special.

The architectural feature of the style is the roof overhanging the walls. The overhang of the roof gives the overall appearance of the building an extraordinary beauty.

The perimeter overhang can be up to three meters, which allows:

  • protect the foundation from getting wet in rainy weather;
  • keep a large mass of snow in winter.

Snow-collecting roofs provide additional insulation. Wide eaves are installed at 90 degrees to the front of the building.

In addition to the fact that the protruding roof visor protects the structural elements of the house, thanks to it, additional space is formed near the house, sheltered from the effects of atmospheric precipitation.

Attention. Although such a roof looks heavy, it does not create a strong load on the entire building.

Device method


I would like to say a few words about how to arrange a roof with a large ledge. The simplest method of the device is the method when the ends of the roof beams are extended beyond the surface of the walls by 1.5-3 m.

The process goes like this:

  • a strapping is attached to the ends of the beams, which serves as a support for the lower sheets of the roofing;
  • consoles are arranged on the side walls, playing a supporting and decorative role.

Often, the canopy over the roof windows is designed with lattice elements and decorated with greenery. This approach to creating a roof allows you to provide the house with additional lighting in the winter.

Roofing

In keeping with the style, the chalet roofs are covered with natural materials.

As a coating can be used:

  • larch shingle or shingles;
  • ceramic or flexible tiles;
  • reeds or straw;
  • composite roofs imitating shingles;
  • exclusive wooden roof tiles.

Often, when shingles or shingles are used as a roofing material, it is pressed down with natural stone to prevent the flooring from being pulled off by a strong gust of wind.

Ceramic tiles look great on the roof.


The multicolored internal structure of this material allows it to imitate natural antiquity, which is the most characteristic of the chalet style. In addition to the original appearance, the ceramic roof has high performance of sound insulation and thermal insulation.

In the production of ceramic roofing material, only natural raw materials are used, which increases the life of the roof. When covering, the consumption of tiles is 10 pieces per 1 sq. M.

Timber shingles used for roofing are most often made from hardwoods:

  • cedar;
  • aspen;
  • larch.

A feature of this material is a high noise absorption rate and durability. During operation, wooden tiles tend to acquire a silvery hue, which is most harmonious with the natural landscape.

Higher quality tiles include dies made from larch. They have a pronounced structure and a unique reddish tint.

Larch is very resistant to decay, so there is no need to impregnate the material with protective agents. Note that the use of natural materials in the construction of the roof provides for the appropriate materials for fastening the coverings.

Council. In order to match the style as much as possible, the roofing of the chalet roof is fastened with wooden nails - dowels.

Roof insulation

Wood shingles are among the most expensive materials. Therefore, many are accustomed to believe that a chalet-style roof refers to luxury construction.

Although, to cover it, you can choose a cheaper material for the roof - flexible shingle decking, which has an aesthetic appeal.

Such material is laid with an overlap, while the arrangement of individual elements contributes to the ventilation of the roof.

Since living space is located under this, it must be insulated. Speaking about the preference for environmentally friendly and natural materials, we cannot offer you from a wide range to choose any insulation to create a heat-insulating layer.

In the case of a chalet, reeds are used for insulation, which is laid between the rafters, covered with a roofing on top, and lining is lined from below. Reed insulation prevents condensation and is well ventilated.

A characteristic feature of a chalet house is the dominance of the roof over the entire volume of the building. As we have already said, the roof prevents the elements of the house from getting wet and decorates it in a unique way.

In construction, there are projects in which an exquisite roof makes up almost half of the house and characterizes solidity and good quality.

Chalet houses have long been of interest to European architects. They attracted attention with an unusual roof, the edges of which are 2-3 meters outside the walls. This design protected families of Savoyard shepherds in the Alpine mountains from bad weather. Even snowfall became an additional means of insulation. A significant layer lingered on the roof of the Chalet, which protected from wind and frost.

the structure along which the roof of a Chalet-style house is installed assumes the presence of overhangs of the canopies that go beyond the usual boundaries. They protect the terrace by increasing the usable space.

Chalet roof design in VAYAR

Employees of our company will carry out a roof project that completely repeats the elements of its alpine prototype. It has two gentle slopes that protect the foundation and walls from sunlight, heavy rainfall and wind. Such housing is characterized by the arrangement of an attic, a balcony and a terrace. They are also located under the roof and do not suffer from the harmful effects of weather disasters. The roof of the Chalet is designed in such a way that rainwater is discharged into the ground at a distance from the walls and does not harm the structural elements of the building.

When designing, it is important to correctly determine the slope angle, which depends on the characteristics of the local climate, the amount of precipitation in summer and winter, and the type of roofing used. It's important that:

  • For roofs with a slope of less than 45 degrees, a reinforced truss system must be installed. Otherwise, the roof may not be able to withstand the load caused by the falling snow.
  • A roof with an angle of inclination of more than 45 degrees provides for the spontaneous rolling of snow.

All this will be calculated by our specialists, they will make an estimate and, after signing the contract, they will begin the installation of the Chalet roof.

Material selection

On our website you can choose a roofing material and order it at a discount. We sell building materials, offering our customers high quality at an affordable cost. The assortment is represented by a variety of materials:

  • Natural. Wooden tiles, ceramic tiles.
  • Modern. Composite and bituminous tiles, ondulin.

Call us and we will choose with you the most suitable design and material, advantageous in cost and quality.

The unusual chalet style attracts attention with its durability, reliability and convenience. This is especially true for houses in the mountains, where a lot of snow falls. The roof of the chalet comes from the Alps, such houses are found in the mountains of Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

A design feature is the protrusion of the roof beyond the walls by 2-3 meters.

A feature of the entire structure is a large roof protrusion beyond the walls, sometimes this protrusion reaches two to three meters, as well as a small roof slope angle. Such a roof did not trap snow, so the roof served for a long time. The entire building was erected only from natural materials: stone and wood. The construction of the house itself began with the construction of a stone foundation, on which the attic and the roof, made entirely of wood, were then built. The fact that the second floor was based on stone prevented the roof from decaying and guaranteed a long period of operation. The roof was made only of sturdy wood, which can withstand everything in this style: larch, pine.

Modern construction of chalet-roofed houses is a bit simplified due to the huge choice of building materials, but the design remains essentially the same. Initially, it is worth planning the entire future building, this is primarily due to the complexity of building the roof.

So, the most important thing that needs to be done before starting to erect a roof in an unusual style is to calculate the size of the roof and its release, and only then you can count the beams and supports. Otherwise, the data may not converge and something may not be enough already during the construction process. Further, you should not strive to reach a protrusion from the walls of two or three meters, in fact, it does not look very nice, it is better to leave a meter or a half, but the house will look original and neat.

Particular attention should be paid to the angle of inclination of the roof, because the entire structure depends on it, in particular, it concerns the calculation of the amount of wood for the lathing and other additional fasteners.

Please note that in a house where it exceeds 45 ۫, it makes no sense to take into account the snow mass, because in this case the precipitation is simply swept away by the wind and does not linger on the roof. With a lower slope, it is necessary to take into account the snow load both when choosing materials for the roof, and during its construction.

DIY chalet roof

The material for this type of roof must be strong enough.

Strong lumber is a prerequisite. Modern buildings are erected from aerated concrete or bricks, so a coniferous tree should be selected for the attic of the house and the roof. In order to save money, the lathing is not made solid, it rather depends on the roofing material. Wood or clay tiles are best suited here, but modern buildings can be finished with metal tiles. So, the lathing for clay tiles should be made of beams with a cross section of 4.5 × 4.5 cm to 6 × 6 cm, here take into account the distance between the rafters. If you decide, then you can make it solid or with the distance between the bars 30. 50 cm.

Do-it-yourself chalet-style roofing obliges you to equip the house with roof beams or rafters that are produced per meter. one and a half from the wall of the house. Each beam must be fixed with a bracket at the bottom to the wall, and then a strapping is attached at the ends of the beams, it will be a support for the roofing material. If the house is built of bricks, then when laying the reinforced belt and clamps for the Mauerlat, lay additional anchors there to attach the brackets to them. Such fastening of rafters will be reliable and durable.

Remember that the ridge beam should be the same length as the extension of the beams at the Mauerlat level. This should be taken into account when lowering the end cornices, because the rafters and roofing material will need to be fixed here.

After making the frame for the roofing material, you should think about the insulation and the covering itself, because the roof is in close proximity to the living rooms. There is a simple and affordable natural material for insulation, which has not lost its functionality, and today it is a reed. Tubular plants perfectly helps to ventilate the space between the roof itself and the finishing materials, preventing air from stagnating and not allowing moisture to collect, it rolls down the reeds and evaporates.

Depends on the taste of the owner, because if you adhere to the traditional manner of building a house with a chalet-style roof, then it should be covered with wooden metal tiles. This is a very expensive material, especially from larch or spruce trees. Clay tile is considered an expensive, but eternal roofing material, although its installation is quite laborious and expensive. The best option would be to finish with metal tiles, because it is affordable and easy to install with your own hands.

The chalet-style roof looks unusually beautiful. Due to its large overhangs, sloping slopes and wide cornices, such a roof seems heavy and at the same time unusually comfortable, resembling houses in the alpine region of Europe. It is no coincidence that it is also called an alpine or large Swiss-type roof. It performs well in conditions of heavy snowfall and strong winds. It is possible to build a chalet roof with your own hands.

Alpine chalet is a very wide gable roof, the material for which is most often wood. Its peculiarity is the use of a very wide opening angle of the roof - more than one hundred degrees, as well as a small distance to the ground, which makes it possible not to install gutters on it. The roof of the attic type can be described as a prototype of a chalet, with the difference that it has a higher ridge and sharp slopes. Another distinctive feature of the chalet-style roof is the large overhang beyond the walls of the house, which is often more than one meter.

This style of the house is characterized by the presence of balconies, terraces and attics, which are located under wide roof outlets.

Due to the large length of the chalet-style roof overhang, the blind area, walls, basement are protected. This design provides some window shading, which can be useful for homes built in warm climates. Sometimes they resort to an interesting method: in the places of the roof, located above the windows, they make gaps in the form of a lattice. It is sown with weaving plants in summer, and in winter, when there is no flowering, additional light is formed.

Sometimes in projects the roof of the chalet is slightly changed, making the overhang to the ground. In this case, it turns out something like a "hut", where the role of the walls is played by the rafter system.


The name of the roof comes from the word “shalloit”, meaning “temporary shelter”. Shepherds used it for their small dwellings. Thanks to modern technology, chalet-style construction has also begun to be used in the construction of cottages up to three floors.

Such a roof can be made asymmetrical, having different levels. This will create an even more unique look. For the device of such a roof, corrugated board, which has the necessary softness and lightness, is most suitable.

The advantages of a chalet-style roof include:

  • Thanks to the gentle slopes, no snow deposits are formed.
  • You can exclude the installation of a drain.
  • Possibility of organizing space under eaves in the form of terraces.
  • The main disadvantage of a chalet-style roof can be a high material consumption, which increases its cost..

    Chalet roof features

    Such a roof is supported by powerful rafters and roof beams, the ends of which are released on the sides of the roof at a distance of 1 to 3 meters. Excessive release can make the structure unstable.

    You also need to consider the following features:

    1. Each beam at the bottom is fixed to the wall with brackets in a checkerboard-like pattern. This not only ensures the reliability of the mounts, but is also a beautiful addition to the look.
    2. A strapping is used to support the roof covering. It also serves as an excellent decorative complement to the look. It is necessary to correctly install the strapping, because it bears the greatest load.
    3. If there is a reinforced belt, it can be used to brick up special studs intended for the frame Mauerlat. This structure will be indispensable provided that you design a very wide overhanging roof that drops significantly to the ground.

    When choosing an angle of inclination, the requirements are the same as for ordinary roofs - 20-45 degrees, and provided that it is asymmetric - 30 degrees. The size of the slopes is also kept traditional.

    Roof installation

    Despite the appearance, the structure of such a roof is simple - you can complete the project yourself. The main thing is to pay attention to the correct installation of the nodes.... This is perhaps the most difficult part of the design.

    Here's a step-by-step guide:

    1. Work begins with the installation of the Mauerlat. It is a support bar with a section of 15x15 cm, fixed with large mounting nails.
    2. The bars are mounted on the walls using anchors. At the same time, work is underway to insulate the corrugated board with roofing material, plastic wrap, waterproofing, and so on.
    3. Rafter legs are selected in accordance with the parameters of the roof - width, slope angle and length (taking into account plumb lines).
    4. The roof structure implies fastening the rafter legs to the ridge assembly using overlapping brackets. In this case, the lower ends are installed on the beams using twist brackets.
    5. To increase the rigidity, struts are installed, placing them between the struts and the run. They will help increase resistance.
    6. To ensure a long service life, it is necessary to choose the correct plumb line angle and also prevent moisture ingress. This can be done using a special primer to cover the joint.
    7. It is important to observe the correct length of the overhangs of the rafters and puffs to the outer walls - no more than three meters

    For northern regions, it is better to reduce the length of the overhang, but for regions with a warm climate, more can be done.

    1. When the installation of the rafter system comes to an end, the sheathing is laid perpendicular to it, the step of which is chosen depending on the section of the timber and the roofing material.
    2. It is also necessary to take care of roof insulation, since the under-roof space is used as living space.

    The choice of material for roofing depends on the personal preference of the home owner. The most suitable for this type of roof would be:

    • shingles or larch shingles;
    • reeds or straw;
    • flexible or ceramic tiles, wood is also suitable;
    • composite roof.