Building Out Your Attic

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.

Building out your attic.

A finished attic weighs a lot more than boxes of off season duds. Cleaning out the attic. 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. 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.

Converting your attic into usable finished space can increase the value of your home by maximizing the available square footage. If your home is smaller than other homes in your area or simply lacks the necessary amount of storage or living space for your family finishing your attic is a relatively inexpensive way to increase your usable space. Have a pro check the structure. Joist dimensions are only part of the equation.

Attic joists for live loads. A stair designed with an intermediate landing and two runs needs about 8 feet on the lower level. A straight run stair will chew up 10 to 14 feet of floor space. Carpet tiles are also a brilliant choice for playrooms.

This old house converting your attic. You ll need to remove your stuff clean any water damage damage from rodent or pest problems and possibly remove insulation. Finishing an attic above a garage ranges from 4 600 to 24 000 depending largely on the condition of the building if you want heat installing an electric baseboard heater costs 400 to 1 200 if you re creating living space you might need to pay the price to install a furnace which is 2 600 to 6 200. A modular sectional makes a great place to snuggle and lounge.

Enlarging an existing stairway or adding a new one will affect spaces below. If your attic is a playroom pile on vibrant colors to make the space bright and happy. You can do this yourself or hire a professional cleaning and insulation service to give your attic the clean slate it needs. If one gets stained swap it with one in a less conspicuous part of the room.

Before renovation you ll need to clear out your attic. Ceiling your converted attic s ceiling will be a focal point for anyone entering the. Cost to finish an attic above a garage. Reclaiming the space under your roof also avoids many zoning and easement concerns common chores when adding onto a house.

You also need to ensure that the joist spacing is adequate. Hire an engineer to inspect your house s foundation and framing to ensure they. Refer to your local building code to ensure that your space is safe and ready for tenants.