The total cost of an attic renovation includes the labor cost of contractors inspection fees license fees and materials.
Build house and finish attic later.
I have the capability to build a house from the dirt up meaning i have all the equipment and knowledge to install my own sewer water foundation excavations etc.
If you re finishing your attic insulating it to the proper r value can cause a dramatic loss of headroom if you limit yourself to fiberglass batts.
Have a pro check the structure.
Is your attic large enough to meet the minimum space and headroom requirements for living areas.
Finishing the attic into liveable space nets an average of 9 3 out of 10 joy score or sense of happiness the owners have upon completion on nar s renovation report.
To meet all three goals insulating your finished attic ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom use a combination of dense batt insulation rigid foam sheeting and air chutes.
Attic renovations require homeowners to finish an otherwise unfinished space and is not the same as remodeling other rooms in your house.
However in some cases the joists are intentionally built strong enough for the homeowner to later build out the attic.
My father and my two uncles built my dads house back in 1986 and are all excellent carpenters that do nothing but top notch work and remodels.
Reclaiming the space under your roof also avoids many zoning and easement concerns common chores when adding onto a house.
Here are some must do tips to follow when finishing your attic.
The ceiling load may include items like drywall ducts recessed lights bathroom fans and attic insulation.
The number one deal breaker here is space.
At a minimum you may need to strengthen the attic s floor joists which are often too shallow or spaced too far apart for the job.
Most houses attics are built without flooring and are not designed to carry the heavy load of finished space.
A finished attic weighs a lot more than boxes of off season duds.
Things you ll need rolled insulation razor blade knife staple gun with staples electrical wire electrical outlets plywood or composite sub flooring drywall drywall tape drywall mud mud blade paint paint brushes outlet and switch plate covers caulking baseboards flooring wire fasteners for insulation.
The first step in any attic conversion is assessing the space to make sure it is suitable for finishing.
So if you re planning to get a few years of use out of it the investment might make more sense.
Hire an engineer to inspect your house s foundation and framing to ensure they can carry the extra load.
