dirt and grime. Why would anyone even consider remodeling an attic? Well, some houses (not all) have cozy attics that can, with some effort, be turned into nifty living spaces – play rooms, extra bedrooms, “man caves,” or sewing nooks. Before considering a remodel, make some initial decisions, some of which require the use of a measuring tape.
- Is there enough room, vertically and horizontally? If there’s too much slope to the roof to allow an adult to stand comfortably, can someone be comfortable sitting in a chair or reclining on a sofa or bed?
- How can people get up and down? A pull-down staircase or a ladder probably isn’t the most inviting way to climb into and out of a living space. And is there a means of emergency egress?
- For traffic, full headroom is needed between the entrance and the living area. Consider rafters, collar ties and hanging light fixtures when considering whether there’s enough room to move about freely.
- You’re gonna need a floor. Balancing on the other side of roof rafters is not the way to move about a living space, and no one wants to slip and fall into a pile of uncovered insulation. And can the floor (which is the roof of your “downstairs” living space, support the weight of people and furniture? If the floor joists are smaller than 2×12, they probably won’t support the weight.
- Insulation is always an issue. Older houses often have loose or uncovered insulation, whether “blown” in or inserted in “slabs.” This must all be covered, and often will need to be either added to or redone entirely.
- Pest removal is a must. Any kind of critter, from rats to raccoons to opossums and foxes can and do live in people’s attics. And don’t forget about insects: wasps, bees, termites, cockroaches, and all kinds of vermin can live and breed in the space above your head.
- The same goes for fungal and mold infestation. This must be eradicated.
- Think about heating and cooling the attic. Floor fans and space heaters may not be enough, and may present a fire hazard. How feasible and expensive will it be to either hook the attic up to your central air or heating system, or create a self-contained heating and cooling system?
- Dormers can be used to add height and light to the restricted attic space. Make sure the floor can support their weight.
Given these concerns, an attic can be used for a number of functions, from guest room or workout area or reading nook. The space is almost literally free, and the expense of transforming the attic into a usable space will give a huge return on investment for eventual resale – in some states, the average ROI is over 100%.]]>