Are you interested in transforming your unfinished attic into usable living space? Whether you need an extra bedroom, office, or playroom, a DIY attic remodels a great way to add space to your home without paying for a whole home addition.
STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT
Will you be adding a bathroom to your attic? Foresee heavy furniture in the space. It is advisable to hire an engineer to see whether your home's foundation and framing can handle the extra weight a finished attic will bring. At a minimum, you may need to strengthen the attic's floor joints, which can sometimes be too shallow or spaced too far apart to serve as an adequate floor.
CONSIDER YOUR HEATING AND VENTILATION NEEDS
If your attic does not already have ductwork, you will need to determine if your current HVAC system will support an additional room. Bring in an expert to look at the capacity of your current heating and cooling system and find out if additional ductwork can be added to reach your attic.
FIND OUT IF YOU NEED A BUILDING PERMIT
Reach out to your local permitting office to determine if you need a permit for your attic conversion. Access is usually only required if you are adding electrical wiring or ventilation or if you plan to change the structure of your home in the process, such as knocking down an existing wall or adding a dormer.
BEAMS: TO EXPOSE OR NOT TO EXPOSE
Do you want to leave your ceiling beams exposed or cover with drywall? This will have ramifications on lighting, electrical and other elements, so it is a good idea to sort out the beam-or-no-beam questions before proceeding.
STORAGE
Storage is always at a premium in most homes, and converting an attic into a living space presents a fantastic opportunity to create built-in storage solutions.
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