Attic Remodel Tips
No matter if your attic becomes an office or family room, a well-designed space adds both resale value and living space. Consider installing skylights that let in natural light while adding rafter vents for cooling during the hotter months.
Prior to embarking on your attic remodel project, seek professional assistance in conducting a structural analysis and verifying that your HVAC system can accommodate for its increased workload. After this is done, follow these attic remodel tips:
1. Inspect and Inspect Again
As families expand, space becomes limited. If moving isn’t an option or expanding is too costly, renovating the attic might be. From providing additional office or bedroom space to adding children’s play areas – attic remodels offer comfort, functionality and value to any home.
Before undertaking an attic renovation project, it’s wise to have a professional inspect both your attic space and home’s structure. Attic joists often need reinforcement due to extra weight from walls, flooring and furniture in the attic space; plus an expert can ensure it meets building codes as well as providing an emergency exit path if needed.
Add windows for light and to help meet the heating and cooling requirements in the attic. If your attic currently does not feature windows, a professional can advise you on various window installation options such as dormers or gables that increase ceiling height, or skylights that brighten smaller spaces.
Your HVAC system must also be capable of handling the extra load. If not, professional advice on expanding or upgrading to more energy-efficient models might be required. In the attic if no existing vents exist for fresh air intake and installation of vents and ductwork. Furthermore, a broom closet could be constructed to store cleaning tools and supplies you don’t want to lug down every time you vacuum or do dishes!
2. Get a Permit
Converting an attic into living space is an extensive project requiring flooring, electrical wiring, ventilation work and plumbing – not something you should attempt without first consulting local building codes and getting permission from them first. Be it an office or mother-in-law suite you are adding a permit is the only way to ensure proper execution of this work.
Professional contractors will first inspect an attic to make sure it complies with building codes. They’ll check things like whether there are at least two escape routes in case of emergencies and whether its ceiling height qualifies as usable. They may also advise structural modifications, like reinforcing joists and installing dormers to increase headroom.
They will also remove any items stored in the attic, clean the insulation and add new insulation if necessary – replacing older insulation can become compressed over time, no longer providing sufficient protection from heat and cold.
As soon as construction is finished, your contractor will close out permits. This step is key since if you still live in your home when selling it later on, its previous owner could file suit over unpermitted work that caused damage – in which case fines will need to be paid and efforts must be made to bring up to code before selling your home.
3. Install the HVAC
An HVAC system is essential when undertaking an attic remodel for living purposes. As your highest point collects warm air rising from lower levels, an effective ventilation system must be in place in order to keep it cool and airflow moving through it efficiently.
Insulation is vital to keeping heat from escaping through your ceiling and making your new space feel drafty and cold in winter. A professional can install insulation that suits the size and layout of both your attic space and home perfectly.
If you’re considering an attic conversion as a spare bedroom solution, make sure your guests are comfortable by investing in high-quality bed frame and mattress sets. A reputable contractor will also suggest installing a ceiling fan to keep the space cool while decreasing noise pollution.
Installing either a staircase or dormer window should also be given careful thought, with staircases creating the sense of an integrated part of your home and dormer windows bringing more natural light in. In either case, rough-in utilities and egress windows in case your plans change later – this may increase upfront costs but could save in the long run!
4. Install the Electrical
If your attic space has become disorganized with unwanted items and cobwebs, now is the time to renovate. Lighting, electrical outlets and switches, as well as HVAC system may all need installing. Furthermore, any new wiring must conform with code and this may be best handled by licensed professional electricians.
Make sure that the attic floor joists can support the weight of furniture. A contractor can inspect them to assess if they’re adequately supported; otherwise, you might consider adding dormers and/or raising your roof in order to create usable space in your attic.
Install roof windows to brighten up your attic space if they don’t already exist. Skylights may also help add light, particularly if additional headroom is required to accommodate full-sized stairs that will replace pull-down ones.
Make sure that the attic has adequate smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed. Also add junction boxes for each light fixture you will install there, cutting a hole through the attic floor for each. To make things simpler, cut down the size of each junction box (so as to allow for patching later), drill a hole from inside it out through to ceiling with wire running from it to its desired light fixture – then fish up through ceiling through hole to switch.
5. Install the Subfloor
While many homeowners consider turning their attic into a bedroom, game room or home office space, doing so can be challenging without an appropriate floor. Most attics feature plywood subflooring to protect joists and insulation but is usually damaged beyond repair – to convert an attic into living space, its current flooring must either be upgraded or new flooring constructed altogether.
As part of this process, the first step should be removing old attic flooring and any debris. When the attic is clear of clutter, installation of subfloor should take place with great care being taken to secure and caulk well onto joists; insulation may be added for noise reduction in each room of your house.
As part of your attic insulation installation, it’s crucial that any insulation not come into contact with any electrical junction boxes or wiring in the attic. Blocking or bridging should also be considered, in case your attic will serve as living space in future.
Some attics feature floor joists that provide sufficient support for an attic finish; other may need reinforcement or replacement. A professional should inspect your attic structure to make sure it can withstand the weight of people walking on it.
6. Choose the Flooring
Your choice of flooring depends on what room you plan to transform the attic into. Carpet can absorb sound and provide insulation in bedrooms; hardwood is great due to their durability and beauty; but be sure to find something within both budget and personal taste when making this decision.
As with any construction project, an attic conversion presents unique challenges due to its irregular dimensions – like its low ceilings and angled walls – so professional help may be needed for this phase of your endeavor. A professional will assist in planning and implementing a space’s layout as well as installing HVAC ductwork for HVAC systems, electrical wiring fixtures, and even adding bathrooms as required.
Remodeling an attic can be an economical and convenient way to add more living space to your house, providing additional living areas without breaking the bank. But for optimal performance and moisture damage prevention, proper insulation and ventilation must be ensured to guarantee comfort and prevent moisture damage.
If you are planning on adding a bathroom, be sure to consult a contractor in order to assess if the attic ceiling joists can support the weight of tub and toilet. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to insulate walls within the bathroom in order to keep heat and humidity from escaping into rooms below and when choosing bathroom flooring products; make sure they can withstand high temperatures and vapor levels.
