What should I do with my attic?

Best Things To Do With Your Attic Space

1. Playroom. Small spaces are perfect for small people, also known as kids.
2. Nursery. What's even smaller than kids?
3. Closet. Sometimes an attic space is just too small to make it a full living space.
4. Storage. Chances are your attic is already being used for storage.
5. Home Theatre.
6. Reading Room.
7. Craft Room.
8. Game Room.

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Considering this, how do I turn my attic into a living space?

When converting an attic to a living space, it must meet the same building requirements as the other rooms in your home. To meet most building codes your attic should: Have at least 7 feet of vertical clearance in the majority of the room, be a minimum of 7 feet wide and have at least 70 square feet of space available.

Likewise, how much does it cost to finish an attic? The average attic renovation cost is $40,000-50,000 to convert it into a living space, such as a bedroom, office, or a bathroom. While finishing an attic is one of the more expensive home improvement projects, it also boasts one of the highest ROI's.

In this manner, is it safe to crawl in the attic?

If your attic doesn't have a floor, you can gingerly walk on the edges of the wood ceiling rafters (the ones that support the ceiling of the rooms underneath your feet), or you can lay a couple of pieces of sturdy plywood down to use as a sort of plank to get you from one truss to the next.

How can I make my attic look nice?

1. Assess your space.
2. Embrace the romance of an attic bedroom.
3. Increase storage with a built-in bed.
4. Go semi-built-in with a desk under the eaves.
5. Maximize space and light with white.
6. Paint the floor.
7. Use those low walls to the max.
8. Look into customized storage.

Related Question Answers

Do you need planning permission to convert an attic?

Do I need planning permission? Most attic conversions are exempt from planning permission because the ceilings are not high enough to qualify as “Habitable Accommodation”. However, if you wish to erect a dormer window, or to put your Velux windows to the front, then you will need planning permission.

Can you finish attic?

Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home, as long as it's done properly. When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes, it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale.

How do I put flooring in my attic?

Part 3 Laying Plywood Flooring

1. Measure the plywood and attic door. Purchase half-inch (1.27 cm) thick plywood to act as your flooring.
2. Cut the plywood. Use a handsaw or a circular saw to cut the plywood to your measurements.
3. Screw the plywood into the subfloor.

How do you know if your attic can be converted?

Another factor that determines whether you can convert your attic is the presence of roof rafters vs. roof trusses. Traditional rafters look like triangles; trusses look like triangles with smaller triangles inside of them—the boards forming these small triangles are called chords and webs.

Can my attic support a floor?

Floor Framing As long as they are not damaged, the joists should be strong enough to allow you to move around in the attic for an inspection and to provide storage for typical boxed items. But they may not be adequate to support the weight of multiple people, furniture, and heavy stored items.

Can any Attic be converted?

Gilbert says that while most attics can, technically, be converted under current building regulations, 95 per cent of the work he has done falls into the more popular and cheaper option: an attic room that is considered a storage rather than a habitable space.

How do I build an attic door?

How to Make an Attic Access Door

1. Select a closet ceiling or hallway ceiling with good floor space underneath, since you will need to use a ladder to access your attic.
2. Measure and draw the width between the joists and 28 to 30 inches for the length of the panel.
3. Measure between the joists and cut two boards to fit, one on each side of the opening.

How much weight will a ceiling joist hold?

Fine Homebuilding notes that 2-inch by 6-inch garage joists will support a weight of up to 50 pounds per square foot. If you overload your garage's ceiling joists, the ceiling may appear to sag from the strain. While your 2-inch by 6-inch joists can collapse from too much weight, such a scenario is uncommon.

Is it OK to put plywood in the attic?

An attic can be floored with 1/2″ CDX plywood, if it is being used for storage. Although thicker sub-floors are normally used for the living spaces in a home, those are usually OSB . However, if the attic is being turned into a living space, then 3/4″ thick plywood should be used.

How do I make an attic walkway?

1. Cut either 2-by-4-inch or 2-by-6-inch lumber into lengths that match the width of the plywood.
2. Cut the 5/8-inch plywood sheets to create gussets.
3. Attach a gusset to one of the faces of each piece of 2x lumber.
4. Clear away the fiberglass insulation from around the chords.

Can you walk on attic insulation?

There is no walkway or landing in the attic. The only means of traversing the attic is by walking the joists. Do you just wade through the insulation on your inspection?

What is an attic joist?

More times than not, the floor structure of an existing attic is actually a ceiling joist. Typically, ceiling joists are 2×6 or 2×8. They are designed to carry only the weight of the drywall (or plaster depending on the age of your home).

How do you walk in a loft?

Move safely in the loft For easier movement in the loft, we recommend using walk boards (also known as crawl boards) laid across the joists. If a top layer of insulation is already in place on the loft floor, roll it back to reveal the top of the joists and then lay the walk boards on them.

Can you walk on plasterboard?

The plasterboard is fixed to the ceiling battens which are not part of the roof construction (easy to see as different wood). if you are talking about about those metal strips the gyprock is screwed to, not unless you weigh the same as a bag of sugar. You can walk on the wood bits, can be a be athletic at times.

Can you put a bathroom in an attic?

Believe it or not, you can fit a full bathroom including a tub, vanity, and toilet in pretty much any attic. Homebuilders don't usually make attics with bathrooms in mind, however, which means you'll have to alter this space considerably to set up your ideal attic bathroom.

Can you turn an attic into a bedroom?

Insulation can be installed in your floor, walls, or ceiling beneath the roof. Any of these areas can help to control the temperature in your attic bedroom. Converting your attic into a bedroom is a great way to add value to your home without having to build an addition to your home.

Can I store stuff in my attic?

Storing items in your attic is far more preferable than storing them in the basement where they may get wet (think about flooding) or garage where they are exposed to the elements. Use the attic to store anything that is impervious to heat. Heat can damage things such as photographs and wood.

How do I install a bathroom in my attic?

How to Install an Attic Bathroom

1. Assess the Type of Attic Bathroom You Want. Full bathrooms, consisting of a toilet, sink, and bathing facilities, add maximum utility and value to your attic.
2. Decide on Bathroom Placement.
3. Secure Building Permits.
4. Increase Structural Support for the Flooring.
5. Design a Floor Plan.
6. Tools and Supplies.

What is the attic used for?

attic. An attic is an unfinished room at the very top of a house, just below the roof. It's often the setting for creepy stories because it's a room people don't go in very often. A finished attic is extra space you can use for a playroom, bedroom, or storage area.