Building Out An Attic To Usable Space

Converting your attic into usable finished space can increase the value of your home by maximizing the available square footage.

Building out an attic to usable space.

While local codes vary many communities will not permit the ceiling in a finished. Habitable attic space must satisfy the same requirements that govern rooms in the rest of the house. Reclaiming the space under your roof also avoids many zoning and easement concerns common chores when adding onto a house. To meet most building codes your attic should.

However if you can clear building and electrical code hurdles attic conversions are a good way to increase space without spending a lot of money. Figure out how you re going to get up and down from the finished attic space. If your attic is a playroom pile on vibrant colors to make the space bright and happy. A modular sectional makes a great place to snuggle and lounge.

For maximum comfort create a separate zone within your hvac system for the finished space. There s a chance you ll need to enlarge the system if your attic wasn t heated or cooled previously so call in a pro to make sure it s up to snuff. Warmer in both summer and winter if it s well insulated. The headroom in the attic will determine how much usable floor space you have.

Have at least 7 feet of vertical clearance in the majority of the room be a minimum of 7 feet wide and have at least 70 square feet of space available. Floor space and dimensions. Some homeowners decide to build an addition onto their house. 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. If one gets stained swap it with one in a less conspicuous part of the room. Considering usable floor space. Enlarging an existing stairway or adding a new one will affect spaces below.

Converting an attic to a living area yields a modest return on your investment. Attic conversions allow homeowners to build up rather than out for a renovation that maximizes space. At least 50 of the usable floor space should have a ceiling height of 7 5 ft. 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.

Space regulations are often a deal breaker for many homeowners. An attic bedroom exploits roof space previously devoted to high school yearbooks and nesting sparrows. Carpet tiles are also a brilliant choice for playrooms. Whether you want another bedroom or just extra living space there is some major value to adding an extra room.

The hunt for extra square footage in your home never stops.