Did you know that 25% of Americans outgrow the home they live in within two years?
Moving is stressful, expensive, and inconvenient. If you're feeling like you and your family, there might be another option.
Attics are often underutilized, and in certain homes it can make sense to convert them into living spaces.
Let's take a look at seven things to know before you make your attic space more than just an attic.
1. Check Into Local Building Codes
Each municipality is going to have its own set of building codes. You can, however, use the "rule of sevens" to give you an idea of whether or not there's enough space in your attic to conver it.
The rule of sevens refers to the notion that codes tend to specify that at least half of the attic's height needs to be at least seven feet tall. Additionally, this area typically needs to be at least seven feet wide and 70 square feet in area.
Familiarize yourself with your local building codes and have a professional check the structure out. You'll likely want to hire an engineer to inspect both the framing and foundation of your house to make sure that your home can handle the extra weight.
2. Consider Ventilation, Heating, and Insulation Needs
Does your attic space already have duct work? If not, you'll need to determine whether or not your existing HVAC system will be able to support another room. You can have an expert check it out to discover whether or not it's possible to add additional ductwork.
If it's a bit too price to add HVAC capacity or ductwork, there are a few other options. These include mini-split systems and baseboard heating.
When you have a contractor out, check with them to see if you have existing rafter vents. If not, you'll want to install them so that air can circulate behind your attick insulation and the roof can stay sufficiently cool even when the attic space is kept warm.
3. Think About Natural Light Options
Attics can be dark spaces without any natural lights.
If possible, adding skylights can be an excellent way to bring natural light into your attic while also making the space feel more open.
You can also consider renovating existing windows or adding windows. It's best if the windows can open so that fresh air can be introduced to the attic during the warm summer months.
4. Consider Storage Spaces
Few homes have too much storage space. When you undergo an attic conversion, you can add in additional storage space with some planning. Why not add some built-in storage solutions into some of the corners where the ceiling is too short to stand anyway?
5. How Will You Get Up There?
Another thing to consider is what style of stairs you'll install in order to have access to the attic. You can either expand upon the attic stairs that already exist or you can build a new one. This will impact the design of the floor below the attic, so this is worth putting quite a bit of thought into.
Where will your new staircase go? This will be an important part of the design of the attic space, so don't leave it as an afterthought.
6. Decide Whether to Leave Beams Exposed
You'll have a lot of design decisions to make when desiging your attic space. One of these is whether or not to keep the beams exposed or to cover them up.
Adding either v-groove wood paneling or beadboard panels are both ncie ways to finish your attic ceilings.
7. Think About How Much Weight You'll Put in the Attic Space
Are you planning on putting a bathroom in your attic? How about heavy furniture?
There's a big difference between the weight of a few boxes in storage versus another living space. This is a very important consideration to make sure that your attic is structurally capable of supporting the weight you intend to put in it.
Are you wondering how much loft boarding costs for storage? Find more information here.
Attic Conversion Ideas
There are so many great ways to use the attic space above your home. You can use the space to add another bathroom to you home, turn it into a home theater, convert it into a home gym, or make it into a play area for your kids.
Attics are also great spaces for kids bedrooms or guest rooms.
Do you have a creative side? Consider turning your attic into an art studio, photography studio, or music studio. You could even turn it into a crafting and sewing room!
Since more and more people are working from home, another great idea for an attic conversion is to turn it into a home office. If you've been struggling to focus while sitting at the kitchen table every day, maybe it's time to get yourself your own private space.
You can also turn attics into another living space, a library, a game room, or a walk-in closet.
Converting an Attic Space Can Make Your Home Larger!
Learning how to convert an attic requires ensuring that your house can structurally handle more weight on its uppermost level. It's important to take all of these considerations seriously, as doing any kind of home renovations can be costly and time consuming.
Did you find this article about what to know before converting your attic space helpful? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more useful and interesting information!
