If you’re looking to expand your living area, look up. Converting your attic into a bedroom, media hang, or playroom is a great way to gain space at significantly less cost than adding on. After all, you’ve got the walls, ceiling, and floor already in place.
Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report says an attic bedroom conversion returns more than 72% of your investment. Attic conversions have a few special requirements, though, so you’ll want to plan ahead. Here are some things to consider.
Adding a dormer window to your attic dramatically increases natural light, air circulation, and even gains some headroom. Dormers are good places for built-in beds and storage.
Attics are usually right over somebody’s bedroom, so noise from music and overzealous Wii competitors can be an issue. To block sound transmission, add insulation to the attic floor joists and install a thick carpet with a foam pad.
Can you add a top-floor bathroom? Sure, but locate new plumbing near existing vent and waste stacks to save money on plumbing installation costs. Also, make sure your floors can’t leak water; ceramic tile and seamless vinyl flooring are good choices.
You’ll need a staircase if one doesn’t exist, and you’ll have to find room for it. If you’re stumped, consult an architect. A pre-built spiral staircase saves space in both the attic and the room below. Prices for a kit range from $2,000 to $6,000; figure another $600 to $1,200 for basic installation.
Not every attic space is ripe for conversion. Building codes specify that finished ceilings be a certain height—7 feet 6 inches over a minimum of 70 sq. ft. of floor area is a typical requirement. Also, have your floor joists inspected by a structural engineer to make sure they’ll support added weight.
Attics windows are not only beautiful—they’re safety measures, too. Most building codes require that an attic bedroom have two exits, or egress openings, one of which may be a window large enough for a person to escape through. It’s a good idea to have an escape ladder near your emergency window, too.
An attic space is ideal for a relaxing retreat, but who says you have to unwind by sitting down? Turn your attic in a climbing den and your treadmill may become a full-time clothes rack. Climbing walls are relatively easy to build.
Stumped on how to add storage to those big sloped walls (or are they ceilings)? The answer is in your knees—your knee walls, that is. Those short, vertical walls are ideal spots for cabinets, shelves, and drawers. In colder climates, you’ll want to insulate behind your storage.
Men have been known to stake out some private territory in the garage or behind the water heater, but what about a getaway space for the woman of the house? Bright, airy, and cheerful, attics are the perfect place for work, meditation, and to cozy up with a good book.
[slideshow id=12]Source: Houselogic.com
