Turning attic space into living space

Many homes have an attic. When it seems as if your house is bursting at the seams, the thought of turning your attic into living space may have some appeal. Before planning such a project it is important to check the zoning in your area and learn what permits may be required.

Once the legal aspects are taken care of, it is time to examine your attic space.

Access

How do you get into the attic? Are there permanent stairs or is the access through a pull-down staircase or even through a hole in the ceiling? It is important that the access meet local building codes. You don't want to create a living space that will become a death trap if a fire occurs.

Code

You need to be sure the attic is up to code. Are the beams exposed? How much insulation is there? How sloping is the ceiling? How much head clearance do you have? Are there windows? How much space do you actually have?

Are the floor joists capable of supporting a room or do they need to be reinforced? Code issues are access, ceiling height, the strength of joists, and ventilation.

Assuming that all the basics are in place, you will need to hire an electrician to provide the electricity which your new room will require. This should be done before the sheet rock is put up since the walls are open. You may also want to bring in cable lines.

Design

It is more expensive to have an architect design your room but it will not only increase the value of your home, it will help you to get exactly what you want from the new room. They will also be able to advise you about local building codes and whether your expectations for the room can be met.

DIY or contractor

Once you know what you want and have the basics in, think about what you want to do yourself. If you have the skills, going to do-it-yourself route can save a lot of money. Be honest, however, when assessing your skills. If you have never hung sheet rock or laid flooring be sure you are willing to learn on the job. There are times when it is best to leave things to the professionals.

Be sure that you measure the space, check the local building codes and determine exactly what you are able to do with the attic. You also need a budget because spending on any type of renovation can quickly get out of control.

Many TV shows make DIY look simple but what you see are just small pieces of all the work that is involved. Be sure you have a real idea of the work involved before you decide to tackle this job on your own.