Attic Finishing

Attic Finishing can open up that much needed extra room for your home. Whether you’re looking for an extra bedroom, or suite for house guests, a recreation area for your family, a location for your home office, or a quiet area to escape the hustle bustle of daily life, your unused area can be transformed to suit your needs. There are several design ideas available for you to transform your attic area, or give you some inspiration to create one of your own floor plans.

Your attic area can be used for more than just storage. It’s the perfect place to incorporate skylights, and large windows, bright colors and plush carpet, opening it up and creating elegance where there was simply space before. Your limited only by the confines of your imagination.

If you desire an attic finishing project to enhance your home’s usable square footage, you might be tempted to undertake the project on your own Even if you’re a remodel veteran, finishing your attic into a livable room, and doing the finishing yourself, is much more of an undertaking than a weekend warrior should attempt.

You don’t have to be an interior design professional to plan your attic re-do. Looking at before and after photos on the web can help you stoke your creativity. Paging through magazines and design books can help you too. Home improvement centers may also have pictures for you to examine. Of course, your attic finishing project will be personalized to meet your needs and you can discuss your preferences with your contractor.

Planning Your Remodeling Project

Turning your attic area into a bedroom or any other usable room can become a major finishing renovation. If you need electrical work done, or any ductwork installed for heating and cooling, you will need licensed professionals to do that work. Flooring, if it’s not already in place, might require the input of an engineer. So, even if you choose to hold back cost by being your own project manager, hiring contractors, applying for permits, installing attic ladders, and bringing your home up to code in order to comply with your municipality’s regulations, can be time consuming and expensive.

Finding finishing contractors in your area doesn’t have to be difficult. One of the best resources for local attic finishing professionals is your big box home improvement center. Inquire about attic finishing professionals at the design center. You can find several reputable finishing contractors online as well. One of the benefits of hiring a local remodeling professional is that you can review the actual work the contractor has completed. By interviewing several contractors, you can compare quotes and find the best price.

Attic Finishing Concerns

If you need an additional room and want to use the area of your home already available to you, an attic finishing project is one of the best ways to do just that. Attics are already enclosed and in most cases, stubbed for basic finishing. Depending on your needs, and the condition of your attic-space, your attic finishing project could be accomplished in a matter of days. If you’re looking for an unadorned storage area you’ll probably just need to install floors and maybe sheetrock/drywall. Adding additional insulation is always advisable.

Adding on a room that will be used to enhance your living arrangements-say a bedroom, in-law or teen suite, home office, or multi-use room-could entail a more involved project. Depending on the pre-construction condition of your attic-space, you might need to hire a contractor to assist in certain areas.

Electrical work or heat and air ductwork, structural changes all need to be contracted out to a licensed professional. This isn’t just something your permitting agency will require, it’s also for your personal safety. A room for your personal use needs to be up to building code.

Applying for a Permit

Your municipality or county will define what is actually a structural project that needs a permit. In some instances, you’ll need to hire an engineer to submit blueprints. You may be required to hire a licensed electrician or HVAC professional for the wiring work. This is something you should do regardless as wiring can be tricky and for your own safety, is best left to professionals. Your contractor can help you with this.

You need to be sure and apply for a permit. Failing to apply for a permit could result in fines for both you and your contractor. Most contractors won’t work on a project that hasn’t been permitted.

Making the Decision

Once you’ve decided on an attic finishing project, hired a contractor, and chosen a design plan, it’s time to get started. Imagine your new bedroom suite, media room, bonus room, home office or escape from the world and make it so. Taking the first step is easy once you know what to do.