Attic Access

Attic access is an important consideration in any house that includes this architectural feature. Whether you are planning a remodel to include a finished bedroom, office or bonus room in this area your home, or you simply use the attic for storage or insulation, some form of access is required to ensure that the space is usable. If you're remodeling your entire attic or just considering ways to make access easier, consult a local home improvement contractor to discuss your ideas for the space. Collect photos of attic remodeling projects to review with a professional.

Plans for remodeling an attic should always take building codes into consideration. In general, building codes require that an attic room provide a certain amount of head space. If your existing ceiling is not high enough to allow an adult to stand, access to the room may be increased by expanding the space below the roof with trusses. Before you give up on using the upper region of your house as anything other than a cramped storage space, use the free features on our site to get in touch with local contractors who can talk with you about your attic room options.

Access to a Finished Area

Attics fulfill a wide range of functions in a house, from providing extra storage space to insulating the structure against cold and moisture. Many homeowners live for years with an unfinished attic because they are unaware of the potential for remodeling this part of a dwelling, or because they are concerned about the cost of a full-scale remodel. However, converting this extra square footage into a functional office or spare bedroom can increase the value of your property and may be less expensive than adding another room or buying a larger residence.

Access requirements for a finished room are often more restrictive than attic access needs for an area that's strictly used for storage or insulation. Check the local building codes in your area to determine whether you'll need to add a full access staircase in order to conform to legal standards. If you're not planning to convert the area into a bedroom, office or play room, a simple hatch door in the ceiling or a set of pull down stairs may be adequate.

Along with the primary source of attic access, there must be a second exit or entry to the room for safety reasons. In the event of a fire or a flood, the occupant of the room would need an easy, convenient way to exit the area. Building codes may require that a second exit or a window be included in your plans to ensure a safe escape in the event of a disaster.

Unfinished Attic Access

A hatch is an opening that's placed in the ceiling to provide attic access to an unfinished region of the house. The hatch is often located in a closet, hallway or another area that's out of sight and inaccessible to children. A hatch may be hinged for easier entry, but the most basic hatches consist of a square of ceiling material that can simply be lifted away. A pull down ladder combined with this basic opening provides attic access for homeowners and contractors if repair work must be done or insulation added.

Pull down stairs provide a more advanced level of attic access. These collapsible stairs fold down when entry is required and an be easily be folded back in place. Hallways, locked garages and other secure areas of the house are common sites for pull down stairs. Knee wall doors are a more conventional structure that can be installed to facilitate entry to the upper regions of the house.

Attic Access and Insulation

No matter what type of entry or exit you have in place, any opening in the house can compromise its insulation. In the winter, cold air can enter the home through gaps in a door or hatch. In the summer, air conditioners may be overworked if cooled air escapes through the opening.

Even nearly invisible seams in a hatch or knee wall door can raise the cost of heating and cooling your rooms by allowing air to move back and forth. To prevent the loss of conditioned air and the admission of cold or hot exterior air, doors and hatches should be insulated with foam or another resistant material. Weather stripping can be placed around the seams in these doors to reinforce their insulating potential.

In addition, vents should be placed in the roof or sides of the house to allow hot air to escape in the summer time. In combination with a powerful exhaust fan, the upper regions of your home may stay cool, reducing your energy usage. Contact a number of providers in your area to discuss energy efficient attic access and compare quotes on installation.