Attic Renovations

A lot of people don’t like going to the attic since they have to go all the way upstairs and sift through the junk just to find one or two items. That could all change as more people realize that attic renovations can turn this into living space.

If you have no idea where to begin, the first you can do is call the building inspector that can check whether or not the space can be converted. This person will check on following;

First are the frames. If there are too many frames, it will be very difficult to renovate the attic. Next, they will inspect the space to see if there is adequate headroom. If it is too low, the building inspector will recommend that you raise the roof but this is going to be very expensive.

Another thing the building inspector will do is inspect the joists to see if a bed and other items can still withstand the additional weight in the room.

The building inspector will also need to check if there is a suitable way to gain access to the attic. He or she will probably tell you that the current pull down stairs has to be replaced as this is prohibited. The building code requires the inside stairwell to be 36 inches wide with enough room to also have a 36 inch landing at the top and bottom.

Your attic must have space for air ducts. This is because despite the added insulation to keep this place warm, you still need a heating and cooling system that will maintain the temperature just like in the other rooms of the house.

The last two things the building inspector will check on are the electrical and plumbing systems. If adequate wiring and sewage may be placed into this room, you may soon get the green light and you may start planning already what you want to do to the attic.

There are many things you can do with your attic. This can be converted into a gym, an extra bedroom, playroom or home entertainment room. Once you have figured that out, you can already call a home remodeling contractor to give you an estimate.

Don’t forget to install additional lighting to the room in the form of a skylight and some windows. You should paint the walls using light colors and as for the flooring, you can keep what you already have and cover this over with a rug.

Some of the things involved in attic renovations can be done on your own while there are others that have to be done by a professional. You have to study what you can do and then leave the rest to them.

Before you hire a contractor, you should at least get an estimate from a few and then compare their estimates. This project should only be awarded to the contractor that can do this efficiently and effectively.

There are limits to what you can do with attic renovations. Some homes can have a toilet while others can’t. The key to turning this into living space is being able to maximize this to its full potential so in the long term, you can get a good return on your investment like perhaps reselling it at a price much higher than what you originally spent to buy it?