Building Out Your Attic

Whether it s in your personal home or a rental property you will need to meet code if you plan to rent out the room.

Building out your attic.

A finished attic weighs a lot more than boxes of off season duds. Before you rush out to the local building supply store take a few moments to read this article and consider your needs. An attic bedroom exploits roof space previously devoted to high school yearbooks and nesting sparrows. Ceiling your converted attic s ceiling will be a focal point for anyone entering the.

Cost to finish an attic above a garage. If your attic joists won t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage you can install inch plywood or. Hire an engineer to inspect your house s foundation and framing to ensure they. This old house converting your attic.

Attic joists that are made from 2x8s may be acceptable for building your attic floor but because every room is variable there are no absolutes. Joist dimensions are only part of the equation. Figure out how you re going to get up and down from the finished attic space. If your home s attic is nothing more than wasted space you may want to remod el it.

You also need to ensure that the joist spacing is adequate. If your attic is a playroom pile on vibrant colors to make the space bright and happy. If one gets stained swap it with one in a less conspicuous part of the room. Carpet tiles are also a brilliant choice for playrooms.

Enlarging an existing stairway or adding a new one will affect spaces below. Attic joists for live loads. Refer to your local building code to ensure that your space is safe and ready for tenants. Reclaiming the space under your roof also avoids many zoning and easement concerns common chores when adding onto a house.

Have a pro check the structure. Converting your attic into usable finished space can increase the value of your home by maximizing the available square footage. A contractor or a local building official can help you assess how the rule will apply to your attic and how modifications like dormers can resolve height shortcomings. A stair designed with an intermediate landing and two runs needs about 8 feet on the lower level.

A modular sectional makes a great place to snuggle and lounge. A straight run stair will chew up 10 to 14 feet of floor space.