Attic conversions are fantastic ways to add extra usable space to any home. Some folks create new bedrooms in their attics, while others turn their dreams of building gaming rooms in their homes into reality.
It doesn’t matter if you live in a large or small house. You’ll likely have plenty of space at your disposal to turn your attic into a new habitable room. It’s an exciting project, and one that you’re undoubtedly itching to start.
But before you get stuck into your attic conversion, it makes sense to keep in mind the following five golden rules for successful attic conversions:
1. Fix Your Roof (Or Get A New One!)
The last thing you want to happen during your attic conversion is for the roof to leak or even collapse due to damaged roofing materials. That’s why you should fix or replace your roof if there is any damage.
Companies like Remodeling Concepts can survey your roof, both externally and internally, and let you know whether any remedial work needs to be carried out before your attic conversion can begin in earnest.
2. Check Your Attic Is Structurally Sound
Once you know that your roof won’t leak whenever it rains or collapse under a thick blanket of snow, you should next turn your attention to your attic’s internal structural integrity.
It makes sense to hire a building contractor and have them survey your attic space before any work begins. This will highlight any issues needing to be addressed, such as damaged roof joists or dangerous electrical wiring requiring replacement.
3. Don’t Forget About Insulation And Ventilation
Most attics have floor insulation to prevent heat from rising from the ceilings in the rooms beneath them. However, it's unlikely that the gables, eaves, or other areas have insulation. Getting those areas insulated will ensure your attic conversion is warm during winter.
Additionally, you should figure out how to ventilate the space. Proper ventilation encourages air movement, reducing the risk of condensation, and subsequent mold growth. Thankfully, numerous ventilation options for attic conversions exist.
4. Take Advantage Of Natural Light
Your attic is likely the one living space in your home that basks in natural light throughout the day. To take advantage of this, installing sun tunnels, such as the VELUX Sun Tunnel, and skylights can help maximize natural light and lower your lighting costs.
Google is an excellent source for ideas on how to enhance your attic conversion with natural light and for obtaining likely cost estimates for this aspect of your project.
5. Use Contractors For Bulky Tasks
One final rule to remember before starting your attic conversion is to hire contractors for the more substantial tasks.
Attic conversions are labor-intensive and physically demanding projects. Therefore, consider hiring someone to handle the majority of the work while you take on the less challenging tasks.
Always get quotes from several contractors and research their previous work to help you decide which is the best one for the job.
