How to Convert an Attic to a Room
An attic is often wasted space that may be converted into additional living area such as a bedroom, den, playroom or an office. Building codes are very stringent in terms of attic conversions, but with planning, the extra room can add value to your home. Some parts of an attic conversion are easy to do; however, aspects such as wiring, heating and ventilation, and drywalling are better handled by a contractor. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Floor joists
- Subfloor
- Framing nails
- Stairs
- Windows
- Ducting
- Wiring
- Ceiling joists
- Insulation
- Drywall, tongue-in-groove, paneling
Instructions
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Add floor joists so that the attic floor can handle the weight of people and furniture. Floor joists must be rigid and evenly spaced. Check local building codes for the area where the conversion is to be done.
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Lay 3/4-inch plywood flooring anchored by framing nails across the joists. Add enough nails so that the floor is flat, secure and doesn't squeak.
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Determine how to access the new room. Building codes don't allow ladders or fold-down attic ladders. Build a modern staircase for the best usability and maximum resale value. If space is an issue, spiral staircases are an option.
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4
Replace any substandard windows in the attic space. They should be energy-efficient, good-quality windows, comparable to the rest of the windows in the house.
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Provide heat to the room by adding either duct work to the walls that connect into the house furnace system, or wire for baseboard heaters. It's important to do this prior to finishing the walls.
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Determine the electrical needs for the room. Local building codes will determine the number of outlets needed relative to room size. Have an electrician wire the new room to a dedicated circuit in the breaker box. Consider telephone, cable TV and lighting needs as well.
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Decide the ceiling height, again following codes, and add applicable ceiling joists. Insulate the walls and ceiling with the recommended thickness-rating of insulation, stapling it paper side out to the joists.
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Choose the type of wall material desired. This includes drywall, tongue and groove, or other paneling. Drywall is the easiest to install and finish.
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Tips & Warnings
Replace the standard attic vent with a window to add light to the room while still offering ventilation. Plan the room out in its entirety prior to starting the project to determine areas of concern, or to identify problems that need to be addressed prior to starting the work.
Use a contractor for anything that seems too difficult or is dangerous to work with, like wiring.
Be sure the attic floor had proper support for the new floors or the weight may be too much for it to hold.
Costs will vary dependent on your location, size of the attic, and how much work is done personally versus done by contractors. Be sure to understand the costs involved prior to starting the conversion.
