Turn Attic Into Living Space

An attic with a steeply.

Turn attic into living space.

Turning your attic into a practical living space is a great way to expand your home without paying too much for an actual build on. One way is by working within the home s existing footprint and converting the attic into living space. Codes vary from place to place but the rule of 7 for using an attic as an actual room typically applies. You ll need a skilled contractor for either project.

Did you know a room has to have a certain amount of floor. First things first you have to know how much of your attic space is actually usable. Converting an attic has house wide structural implications. We chose not to do it and i ve regretted it since.

Think of load as weight that additional load at the top of your house was not planned for structurally when your home was built. If you plan to turn your attic space into a bedroom you ll have to have at least two exits. Make a plan to make it grand. Turning that attic into living space is going to add some previously unaccounted for load upstairs.

The stairs have to be wide enough to handle a dresser or sofa but also have a large enough landing to handle the turn at the top. In order to turn your attic space into living space the ceilings must be 7 feet from the floor. Storage is always at a premium in most homes and converting an attic into living space presents a wonderful opportunity to create some built in storage solutions such as this brilliant window seat storage unit with built in shelving and drawers to maximize the use of space. An attic conversion requires easy access from an adjoining second story room or a staircase to.

At least half of your attic space must be 7 feet high by 7 feet wide with a total of 70 square feet. Below you can see townhouses with and without a third floor. How to turn the attic into a living space 1. That third floor is how it would look with the unused attic space totally transformed.

Fire as a cause of injury and death is the main reason for these restrictions. Consider your area s building codes and regulations. You ll need a much larger staircase and landing to accommodate furniture. Think creatively about how to get the most out of the shape of your space.

Here are tips to consider when planning an attic conversion for your home. Make sure your attic has enough overall space and height to serve as a room. When we had our townhouse built we had the option to turn the unused attic into a functional living space. Some attics may not be able to support the kind of room design you are looking to build.

Pull down stairs won t work for an attic room so you must add a permanent staircase. Regulated for a reason like basement remodels attic conversions have restrictions that make them less attractive for remodeling as they might first appear. But the second you turn your attic into living space it s a whole new ballgame.