Step 1 check the ceiling height.
Finishing your attic for storage.
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.
They re not necessarily trends but more like requirements when finishing an attic.
For a finished attic to be to code it must satisfy the same living requirements of other rooms sometimes called the rule of sevens any living space in a home needs to have at least 7 feet 2 1 m of clearance from the floor to the ceiling and there needs to be at least 70 square feet of space available at least 7 feet 2 1 m in each direction.
Follow the rule of 7s.
When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale.
While your finished attic can become as almost anything a few places for sneaky storage don t hurt.
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.
Here are some must do tips to follow when finishing your attic.
Yet before you start hauling everything but the kitchen sink up that ladder you should find out if your attic is up for the task.
This little alcove uses gorgeous sliding doors to hide spare luggage.
Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home as long as it s done properly.
A contractor or a local building official can help you assess how the rule will apply to your attic and how modifications like dormers can resolve height shortcomings.
Bathroom vent fans that terminate in the attic.
Doing so will minimize utility bills as well as ventilate the attic and help prevent heat from building up and damaging your roof.
Invest in hidden storage.
At least 50 step 2 make sure the attic has a full size staircase.
When you install flooring make sure you properly insulate the attic.
Stains on the ceilings beneath the attic which can be a surefire indication of a leak in the roof.
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.
If your attic joists won t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage you can install inch plywood or.
Reroute the fan duct to the outdoors either through the roof or a wall.
Vent fans pull warm moist air from your bathroom and you don t want that in your attic.
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Building code also requires that the.
10 29 2019 05 08 2018 by author.