Finishing Your Attic Space

These design ideas will help you transform your finished or remodeled attic into a walk in closet home office game room playroom.

Finishing your attic space.

If you are planning to convert your attic to a living space or undertake another attic remodeling there are some critical points you should keep in mind. Things to consider when finishing out your attic space read more. 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. Warmer in both summer and winter if it s well insulated.

If you re finishing your attic insulating it to the proper r value can cause a dramatic loss of headroom if you limit yourself to fiberglass batts. Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home as long as it s done properly. The basic space requirements for a finished attic boil down to the sizes of the finished rooms. Finishing the attic into liveable space nets an average of 9 3 out of 10 joy score or sense of happiness the owners have upon completion on nar s renovation report.

Flooring ceiling and wall materials and other elements will reduce headroom and floor space and it s the finished area that matters. You ll need to make sure your attic is big enough to meet headroom and minimum space requirements for living areas. Your attic has a climate of its own. If your home is on a small lot and your family wants more space without moving finishing an attic could be the right move.

Access to attic storage. For maximum comfort create a separate zone within your hvac system for the finished space. If you want to use your attic on a regular basis or to store large items you may need to enlarge the access opening and install an access ladder or drop down stairs. Alongside a new bathroom finishing your attic as a new bedroom will be a useful way to utilize the space.

Here are some must do tips to follow when finishing your attic. When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale. 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. Converting your attic into usable finished space can increase the value of your home by maximizing the available square footage.

First and foremost is the question of space. Turn your attic into a useful space that s not just storage. To meet all three goals insulating your finished attic ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom use a combination of dense batt insulation rigid foam sheeting and air chutes.