Should You Turn an Attic into Living Space?

The attic is seen as a waste of space from many homeowners, and is frequently used for storing rarely used seasonal items or unwanted personal possessions. In some homes, however, this unusable space may prove to be the perfect spot for an additional bedroom or office. The problem with this is - not all attics are created equal. If you've ever considered converting an attic in your home, read these project considerations first.

Many homeowners turn to remodeling the attic as a way to gain usable living space at a reduced cost. More often than not, converting an attic is the least expensive way to add on a small bedroom or office to the home, but this is not always the case. There are several questions you should ask yourself before you move forward.

Should you turn an attic into a living space?

How is the attic accessed?

In almost every home, the attic is accessed by a set of pull-down stairs. Obviously, in order to turn an attic into living space, there needs to be an easier way to get into the room. Therefore, your will need consider that a permanent entrance will need to be built. This will require approximately 60 square feet of main level space for an ascending straight staircase, or a diameter of five feet for a spiral one.

How will you heat or cool the space?

Remodeling the attic into usable living space will require the installation of a heating and cooling system. Don't think you will be able to get by with a floor or window unit. These rooms are notoriously hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter, and they will most definitely require their own thermostat and heating/cooling unit. This will mean investing in the unit itself, as well as ductwork and additional wiring.

Is the attic ceiling high enough?

Consider the ceiling height before converting an attic into livable space. In most cases, what you see is what you get. It would be a major undertaking to reframe the roof, and would cut deep into your financial budget to do so. Thus, in order to upgrade the attic affordably, you'll need to make do with what you have. Before you turn an attic into living space, look for the area in the room where the ceiling height reaches five feet. This is where the actual usable space will begin. Anything under five feet will have to be used for storage or perhaps a sleeping nook.

Is the attic floor strong enough?

In most cases, the existing floor is not strong enough to support an actual room. Therefore, it will need to be reinforced or even rebuilt. Keep in mind that this modification will slightly reduce the ceiling height and usable living space.

If, after reading these considerations, you feel that it may be too costly to turn an attic into living space, you may want to consider simply finishing it out and using it as an adequate storage room. This is a more affordable option, as you won't have to take on the task of heating and cooling the space, building a staircase, or concern yourself with ceiling height. Once you've stored away items from the main-level of the home, you'll be able to enjoy more living space.

　

More from Jennifer Wagner:

Home Remodeling Projects that Pay Off - Get a Higher ROI When You Sell

Home Improvement Project Considerations - Should you try to tackle them yourself?

Save Time and Money with Preventative Home Maintenance - Use this Checklist

　

SOURCE:

Personal knowledge

Jennifer Wagner - Yahoo! Contributor Network