Table of Contents
If this is your first remodel, consider hiring a professional to help you convert your attic. Clean Out Your Attic. Wire the Attic for Electricity. Build a Subfloor. Insulate Your Attic. Install Drywall and Ceiling. Paint Attic Ceiling and Walls. Choose and Install Attic Flooring.
How much does it cost to turn an attic into a room?
Average Cost to Convert an Attic to a Bedroom The price to convert an attic to a bedroom is $8,000 to $30,000. This includes aspects like finishing, flooring and painting. For example, installing a closet costs $1,200 to $3,000. You’ll pay more for larger rooms or if you need to install a window.
Can I convert my attic?
Gilbert says that while most attics can, technically, be converted under current building regulations, 95 per cent of the work he has done falls into the more popular and cheaper option: an attic room that is considered a storage rather than a habitable space.
Can a finished attic be considered a bedroom?
If you’ve converted an attic and want to count it as a bedroom, it has to have at least 70 square feet of space. This is large enough to fit a bed and a small dresser. While a 7 x 10 bedroom is not spacious, it would fit the legal requirements in most locations.
Can my attic support a floor?
That begs the question; can my attic support a floor? The answer, in most cases, is a definite yes. Even though it wasn’t put there, the joists supporting your ceiling are quite strong. Putting down flooring won’t stress them any more than the floors in your bedroom, kitchen, or bath.
Does finishing an attic increase value?
But finishing out an attic will almost always cost more than a basement. According to the NAR 2019 report, converting an attic to a living area nets an average 56% ROI, a higher return than adding a new bathroom, or more than adding a new master suite.
Does a finished attic count as square footage?
In general, areas like staircases and closets count as finished square footage. But if a basement or attic has been “finished,” then the space may be included in the home’s square footage if it also meets ceiling height requirements.
Is it worth converting my attic?
Recent research carried out by the Nationwide Building Society has shown that by converting a loft space, your house value can increase by as much as 20%. It often costs less per square metre to convert a loft rather than build a conventional extension, as much of the structure you need is already in place.
Are attic conversions worth it?
without the stress. An attic conversion can be one of the most cost effective ways to add space to your home. An attic conversion will not only create extra living space within your home and potentially avoid you having to extend into the garden, but it also increases your home’s value, making it a smart investment.
Do you need planning permission to convert your attic?
You are allowed to convert your attic without planning permission provided that it is a “non-habitable space” once there are no alterations to the side or front of your house or roof. You can however install roof windows to the rear of the house without planning permission.
What counts as a finished attic?
An attic is considered finished if it meets the criteria of being habitable and can be accessed from inside the house. An attic that has to be accessed from an outside area, even if it’s just in the garage, isn’t considered finished by appraisal standards.
How do I cool my finished attic?
How to Cool an Attic Cover windows. Install an attic fan. Install ridge and soffit vents. Install a mini split. Use a window AC when the attic is going to be used. Use a portable AC when the attic is going to be used.
How much weight can attic hold?
The weight is supported by the joists A 10 pounds per square foot live load can be handled by an attic that isn’t designed for storage. 20 pounds per square foot live load can be handled by an attic with limited storage.
How much weight can attic joists support?
Attic Joists for Live Loads In many cases, ceiling joists for dead loads are designed to carry 10 pounds per square foot (psf), as opposed to the 40 or greater psf that live-load joists must carry. Span length is different for every room.
How do I convert my attic into a master bedroom?
In order to convert an attic into a master suite, the entire attic must meet modern building codes (even if it does not currently meet them), which apply to all the rooms in your home. According to Seattle code, every room must not be less than 7 feet in any dimension: length, width or height.
Is it OK to live in the attic?
The number of safety hazards in an attic are plenty. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, these hazards include: Poor ventilation and fine particulate dust that affects breathing. Mechanical hazards including whole house fans and attic ventilators.
How do I know if my attic can be finished?
Every attic is different, but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation. Follow the “rule of 7s”: Enforcement varies, but codes typically say that at least half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high, and that this area must be a minimum of 7 feet wide and 70 square feet.
Can you have a bathroom in the attic?
Believe it or not, you can fit a full bathroom including a tub, vanity, and toilet in pretty much any attic. Homebuilders don’t usually make attics with bathrooms in mind, however, which means you’ll have to alter this space considerably to set up your ideal attic bathroom.
Does an attic add value to your home?
Remodeling your attic can boost your home’s resale value—and make it more functional for you now.
Can you convert attic into living space?
When converting an attic to a living space, it must meet the same building requirements as the other rooms in your home. Have at least 7 feet of vertical clearance in the majority of the room, be a minimum of 7 feet wide and have at least 70 square feet of space available. Be accessible by a full-size staircase.
