How to Make an Attic Into a Bedroom

Maybe your family has expanded, or maybe you want to take on a renter to aid your family's financial woes through hard economic times. Regardless of your desire to turn an attic into a bedroom, it's not a process that's going to happen overnight; in fact, planning the transformation is half the battle.

Things You'll Need

• Original and most current house blueprints
• Tape measure
• Transportation to courthouse
• Building permit
• Electrical wires
• Electric receptacles
• OSB board
• Insulation
• Staples
• Safety goggles
• Gloves
• Drywall
• Hammer or screwdriver
• Nails or screws
• Putty
• Sandpaper
• Primer
• Paint
• Paintbrushes or rollers
• Carpet or other floor covering
• Flooring installation tools
• Bedroom furniture and accessories

Instructions

1. Obtain measurements of the height of your attic from the floor to the ceiling, in the center of the room and along the edges of the room. Take these measurements and both the original and current blueprints to your county courthouse. Advise courthouse workers of your plans, and you will be directed to an office that will advise you whether a building permit is required or if your attic space can be converted into a bedroom. Purchase a building permit if necessary.

2. Begin the process of converting the attic into a bedroom by determining what needs to be done. Remove all stored items from the attic to get the full view of how much work is required. Determine if a proper floor, walls and ceiling need to be added, and if the space will need to be wired for electricity. Also, consider how much of the space you want to leave for storage, any pipes or wiring that need covered, and if a set of stairs and a doorway need to be added.

3. Create a proper floor surface if one does not already exist. Secure OSB boards into place above floor studs. Pay attention to where electrical wiring or pipes run through the subfloor of the attic, or use blueprints to determine where it is safe to place vents to keep the attic properly heated or cooled.

4. Wire up the attic and receptacle if the attic is not already wired. After the wiring is placed, you will need to install insulation and hang drywall. Install the insulation according to the type. For insulation sheets, you will need to use a staple gun to secure the insulation in place. Regardless of the type of insulation, wear safety goggles and gloves to prevent cuts in your hands and eyes.

5. Hang the drywall into place over the insulation by driver screws or nails through the drywall and into wall and ceiling studs. Cover drywall seams, nails and nail holes with putty, on both the ceiling and walls. Sand out rough edges after the putty dries. Paint on primer and then paint. Install carpeting or other types of flooring after the paint has dried. Move bedroom furniture and accents into the attic space when all construction and renovation is complete.

References

• Converting an Attic
• Great Attic Bedroom Ideas