Does finishing an attic add value?
Remodeling your attic can boost your home’s resale value—and make it more functional for you now.
How can I make my attic room nice?
- Decide on the best layout for your attic bedroom.
- Bring in plenty of light.
- Plan your loft bedroom lighting.
- Go for a minimalist feel.
- Build stylish storage into an awkward space.
- Enhance the coziness of an attic bedroom.
- Paint all over with a single color.
- Pick a bold wallpaper for an attic bedroom ceiling.
What do you do with an empty attic?
What To Do With That Empty Attic
- Attics are often used for storage, but once placed into the hands of an experienced remodeling team, they can be transformed into the perfect bonus room.
- Make It A Media Room.
- Turn It Into A Bedroom.
- Turn It Into A Cozy Office.
- A High-Up Man Cave.
- An Extra Bath.
How do I redesign my attic?
If this is your first remodel, consider hiring a professional to help you convert your attic.
- Clean Out Your Attic.
- Wire the Attic for Electricity.
- Build a Subfloor.
- Insulate Your Attic.
- Install Drywall and Ceiling.
- Paint Attic Ceiling and Walls.
- Choose and Install Attic Flooring.
Can my attic support a floor?
That begs the question; can my attic support a floor? The answer, in most cases, is a definite yes. Even though it wasn’t put there, the joists supporting your ceiling are quite strong. Putting down flooring won’t stress them any more than the floors in your bedroom, kitchen, or bath.
Is a finished attic considered living space?
“In our market area, finished attics that meet the criteria for a living area are included and counted as normal second or third-floor square footage,” advises Harmon. Most rooms must legally have a ceiling height of at least seven feet to count as living space.
Where should a bed be placed in an attic room?
Centre the bed
It may be unconventional but it makes sense to position a bed in the middle of an attic bedroom, away from the slopping eaves walls. Not only does the bed become a focal feature of the space, but it leaves room to fit storage solutions into the walls.
Are attic rooms hot?
The laws of thermodynamics dictate that heat naturally rises, which means your attic is the last stop for hot and warm air in your house. Your attic also rests right under your roof, which means on hot summer days the heat is going to radiate through the shingles and collect in your attic, creating a lot of hot air.
Does a finished attic need to be vented?
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. To maximize headroom, properly insulate your attic and ventilate the roof, use a combination of dense batt insulation, rigid foam sheeting and air chutes.
Can all attics be converted?
Not all attics are suitable for conversion, the first thing to check is whether you have sufficient height. Part F of the Irish Building Regulations states that you must have a minimum ceiling height of 2.4m for 50% of the floor area which is above 1.5m high.
Is it OK to put plywood in the attic?
An attic can be floored with 1/2″ CDX plywood, if it is being used only for storage. However, the same can’t be said if you are planning on using the space as a living space. In that case, you will need to use 3/4″ thick plywood. As an alternative, 3/4” OSB can be used.
Is it OK to put plywood over insulation in attic?
Once the insulation is down, you can turn your attic into valuable storage space by covering the floor with plywood. It will also make the attic a safer place in which to walk.
Can I use my attic as a bedroom?
If you’ve converted an attic and want to count it as a bedroom, it has to have at least 70 square feet of space. This is large enough to fit a bed and a small dresser. While a 7 x 10 bedroom is not spacious, it would fit the legal requirements in most locations.
What do you do with low attic ceilings?
An attic with low ceilings lacks space, light, and cool air. Approach these issues creatively by installing skylights, ceiling fans, and smart organization hacks like floating shelves. Brighten the space by painting the walls and ceilings all white.
How can I make my attic room look bigger?
Walls that are light and brightly coloured are more reflective, making the rooms feel open, airy and spacious.
- Add built-in furniture.
- Let In Natural Light.
- Use Mirrors.
- Use A Day Bed.
- Paint The Ceiling.
- Put Up Wall Shelves.
- Opt For Stripes.
How hot is an attic on a 100 degree day?
Thanks to the radiant heat affect, attic temperatures on a 100-degree day can reach 170 degrees or more.
How do I keep my attic warm in the winter?
How Can I Keep My Attic Warm In The Winter?
- Block windows. Just like you’d use heavy drapes to block the cold in your living room, it’s necessary to cover areas where leaks promote temperature shifts.
- Insulate the space.
- Extend your ductwork.
Should I insulate my attic floor or ceiling?
roof insulation is no-contest. The floor wins every time. Insulating the floor is standard practice for an unfinished attic space. The exception to this rule takes place when families opt to convert an unfinished attic space into something usable or livable.
How do you tell if your attic is properly ventilated?
How to determine whether you need better attic ventilation
- Look at your eaves and roof.
- Touch your ceiling on a warm, sunny day.
- Thick ridges of ice on your eaves in winter are a sign of poor attic ventilation.
- Warm air that escapes living space also carries moisture that will condense on rafters or roof sheathing.
Do you need permission to convert attic?
All materials that are used for the conversion must match the appearance of the materials that currently are attached to the home. ‘Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?’; no you do not, as long as you stay within the building limits.
Do I need an architect for an attic conversion?
For the vast majority of attic conversions it is not necessary to engage an architect or engineer. In fact we would see architectural drawings for only about 3% or 4% of our contracts. However, if your house is unusual in design or layout you may need to consult with a professional.
What is the best flooring for an attic?
Resilient flooring, such as laminate or vinyl, is one of the best choices you can make for attic floors. This type of flooring can soften the sounds when installed over an underlayment.
What wood is best for attic flooring?
Joist Spacing and Attic Use
You need 3/4-inch plywood. The thinner plywood is acceptable when the joist spacing is 16 inches. If you plan to finish the floor in the attic and turn the room into a living space, however, you should always use 3/4-inch plywood.
What wood is good for attic storage?
Does my attic need a vapor barrier?
In hot-dry climates a vapor retarder should also not be installed, but attics can be vented. All attics — vented or unvented — should have an air barrier (a properly detailed airtight drywall ceiling, for example) regardless of climate.