How to Remodel an Attic Into a Room | Home Guides | SF Gate

Remodeling an attic can be a time-consuming, yet rewarding, endeavour.

Converting your attic into a room can be a fantastic way to fully utilize the space in your home. Unlike other areas in your home, there are unique tricks to finishing this space, which provide a lot of creative leeway. From wooden ceilings to creative storage solutions, remodeling an attic into a room can be a fun project as long as you plan properly.

Check that converting your attic is actually feasible. The best way to accomplish this is to have an inspection done by a contractor so that you can learn exactly what you need to do to meet the building codes in your area. Although not usually free, it can save you plenty of money and stress in the long run. Oftentimes, this means ensuring there are at least two ways out of the attic (staircase and window) or the possibility of creating two escape routes. It's also important to know whether or not the ceiling is high enough for the space to be considered usable. Youll need a stationary staircase (not a pull-down) in order to meet most building codes as well as ceilings that are at least 7 feet high in more than half of the attic. You may need to reinforce the joists in the attic floor so that it can support the weight of the flooring, furniture and people. In order to count the room as a bedroom, ensure that there is a window and a closet; however, if you only plan to use the space as a play area, media room or office, you may be able to skip this part.

The floors are the best place to start once you have everything planned and the necessary permits. It is almost always a good idea to reinforce the joists and install the subfloor before moving on to the rest of the space. Unless you have high attic ceilings, youll likely want to install beadboard paneling or thinner, longer pieces of standard drywall along the perimeter of the room. Always install the drywall directly to the wall studs. Keep in mind that you dont have to use drywall for the ceiling. Depending on the type of finish youre looking to achieve, installing plywood on the ceiling in lieu of drywall can make finishing the space easier as you dont have to worry about mudding and taping. You can use the plywood as a base to install beadboard as a finish, or use higher-quality plywood and stain and finish it to create a wooden ceiling.

One of the most important parts of converting an attic is ensuring that you properly insulate it. As its directly below the roof of your home, it will lose heat and cool air significantly faster than any other part of your home. Youll want to use R-30 insulation in the ceiling and R-13 in the walls in most cases, although this will vary by area. If youre unsure as to the best type of insulation to use, ask someone at your local home improvement store for advice.

Deciding what to do with the edges of the room which are often only a few feet high can be difficult. If you dont need the storage, install paneling along the perimeter up to where the wall meets the ceiling to help prevent the space from seeming too basic or blank. Using this space for storage by installing premade cabinets or building your own to fit the space perfectly, can help to make what is often a smaller space more useable, especially if its going to be a bedroom.

Amanda Bell spent six years working as an interior designer and project coordinator before becoming a professional writer in 2010. She has published thousands of articles for various websites and clients, specializing in home renovation, DIY projects, gardening and travel. Bell studied English composition and literature at the University of Boston and the University of Maryland.

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How to Remodel an Attic Into a Room | Home Guides | SF Gate