Attic Remodeling Tips

Is Your Attic Worth Remodeling?

If you're looking for space for a new bedroom or master suite, look up. Here's how to determine whether your attic is a good candidate for renovation.

Planning Ahead.
Before it can be finished, your attic must pass some important tests for structural adequacy and comfort. Here's what to look for.

How's It Built?
Grab a flashlight and take a peek up there. If you see a network of W-shape trusses supporting your roof, forget about it. You could probably build an addition more cost-effectively than remodel this type of attic. If, however, you find rafters that form an A shape to support the roof—with open space underneath the rafters—you've got a potential remodeling candidate.

Think Up and Down.
Figure out how you're going to get up and down from the finished attic space. Enlarging an existing stairway or adding a new one will affect spaces below. A straight-run stair will chew up 10 to 14 feet of floor space; a stair designed with an intermediate landing and two runs needs about 8 feet on the lower level. Spiral staircases take up only about 5 feet.

Measure for Headroom.
Most building codes require that a living space be at least 7 1/2 feet high over 50 percent of the floor area. (Consult your local codes for specifics.) Keep in mind the thickness of finishing materials when you calculate headroom.

Evaluate Light and Access.
You may need to add windows or skylights. If you plan to use the attic as a bedroom, many codes require egress through a window in case of fire.