Turn Attic Into Living Space

If your attic isn t 7 feet you could lower the floor or raise the attic height.

Turn attic into living space.

At least half of your attic space must be 7 feet high by 7 feet wide with a total of 70 square feet. When we had our townhouse built we had the option to turn the unused attic into a functional living space. Think creatively about how to get the most out of the shape of your space. Turning that attic into living space is going to add some previously unaccounted for load upstairs.

If you plan to turn your attic space into a bedroom you ll have to have at least two exits. Think of load as weight that additional load at the top of your house was not planned for structurally when your home was built. We chose not to do it and i ve regretted it since. One way is by working within the home s existing footprint and converting the attic into living space.

Got odd room angles. How is your attic built. An attic with a steeply. Make sure your attic has enough overall space and height to serve as a room.

You ll need a skilled contractor for either project. Fire as a cause of injury and death is the main reason for these restrictions. First things first you have to know how much of your attic space is actually usable. Consider your area s building codes and regulations.

Did you know a room has to have a certain amount of floor. An attic conversion requires easy access from an adjoining second story room or a staircase to. Make a plan to make it grand. In order to turn your attic space into living space the ceilings must be 7 feet from the floor.

But the second you turn your attic into living space it s a whole new ballgame. How to turn the attic into a living space 1. Storage is always at a premium in most homes and converting an attic into living space presents a wonderful opportunity to create some built in storage solutions such as this brilliant window seat storage unit with built in shelving and drawers to maximize the use of space. Converting an attic has house wide structural implications.

Here are tips to consider when planning an attic conversion for your home. You ll need a much larger staircase and landing to accommodate furniture. Below you can see townhouses with and without a third floor. The stairs have to be wide enough to handle a dresser or sofa but also have a large enough landing to handle the turn at the top.

That third floor is how it would look with the unused attic space totally transformed. Codes vary from place to place but the rule of 7 for using an attic as an actual room typically applies. Some attics may not be able to support the kind of room design you are looking to build.