3 Things to Consider When Finishing Your Attic

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Finishing the attic is one of those projects a lot of people tend to push back, but having a finished attic has tons of benefits. Not only will it instantly increase the value of the home, but it will also add some livable space. This space can be used as a cellar, study, or a room either for you or someone renting. Finishing the attic is not a small project, however, and you have to be well prepared before you start. Here are a few things to consider when finishing your attic.

Is the Attic Up to Code?

Don’t assume that you can convert an attic into a room just because you have one. It has to meet the same building code requirements as any other room in the house. 

In most cases, code requires that there is a least 7ft of vertical clearance in most of the room. The attic will also need to have a minimum amount of space available. Most of these restrictions are for safety purposes, so you can’t ignore them. Also, note that you may have to add a permanent staircase if you want to change the space into a living area. A pull-down staircase will not work here.

Do I Need a Permit?

Another thing you’ll have to consider is whether you need a permit to start work on the attic. You should contact your local office and see which type of permits you’ll need. Permits are usually only needed if you’re going to be doing some electrical work or making major changes to the attic’s structure, such as adding a dormer or knocking down walls. You may also need a permit if you want to add ventilation.

What’s the Attic’s Condition?

You might also want to have experts come in and clean up your attic if it has been a while. If your attic has beenneglected, chances are you may have vermin there as well as other sanitary issues. In this case, we would suggest you contact people like Attic Projects Company. Services like these will be able to completely clean your attic and make sure that it’s free of contaminants. They might also help you with insulation, which is essential.

Heat and Ventilation

You also will need to assess what your heat and ventilation needs will be. These are two very important elements, and you can’t afford to make errors here. 

You need to know if your HVAC system will be able to sustain another room if it doesn’t have any ductwork. You will need to call in a pro to see if your system will be able to handle the load and if additional ductwork could be added. If you’re on a budget and are worried about how much ductwork would cost, know that there are options like mini-split systems and baseboard heating.

These are all things you’ll need to have down before you consider transforming your attic. Make sure that all of these questions are answered and work with the right people.