DIY: Attic Remodeling | eHow

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Judi Light Hopson

Judi Light Hopson is a national columnist for McClatchy Newspapers. She is founder of Hopson Global Education and Training and co-author of the college textbook, Burnout to Balance: EMS Stress. She holds a degree in psychology from East Tennessee State University, and has been a professional writer for 25 years.

Attic space yields significant room for storage or living areas. The areas under a sloping roof makes a perfect place for tucking away shelves for toys or Christmas decorations, for example. You can build a bedroom, playroom or small in-law apartment in the attic as well. Dormers and skylights can add to the beauty of the space, too, increasing light and lending a sense of greater space. Because the attic is already enclosed, it's easier to work on the project as you find the time and money.

Evaluate the exact placement of attic access stairs. Measure the attic space in detail, so you can make sure anyone walking up the stairs will have sufficient overhead room. Draw the attic room or rooms in basic sketches. Figure their dimensions around the staircase opening.

Plan the route for any plumbing and all electricity. Look at a bathroom on the floor under the attic to see if you can extend water pipes to an attic bath above it. Try to connect new drain lines into what's already in place in the bathroom underneath. Check out the best way to route electrical wiring into the attic for light fixtures and outlets.

Repair any roof leaks and take care of maintenance issues. Take care of replacing shingles, caulking around attic windows and replacing any window glass before attic construction begins. Look for any evidence of birds or rodents living in the attic, too. Call a pest-control company to manage these issues if there is a problem.

Build the access stairs and add a subfloor. Cut the opening for the attic stairs by driving a long nail down beside the rafter where the cut is needed. Drive four nails from the attic side downward into the room or hallway below, so you can mark the attic opening outline before removing flooring material. Construct a set of stairs to enable taking building materials into the attic and nail down subflooring, so you can walk about in the attic.

Install framing for the rooms to enclose the space. Use 2-by-4-inch boards to enclose one or more rooms and closet space. Secure the vertical studs on 16-inch centers and create openings for doorways and closet doors as you frame each room.

Route electrical wiring and plumbing while walls are open. Run wiring through the open studs to where you want electrical outlets and light fixtures. Install water pipes and drain lines while walls are uncovered, too, for a bath.

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DIY: Attic Remodeling | eHow