­If your place ’s noggin is nothing more than wasted distance , you may want to remod­el it . Perhaps you ’re see major reconstruction or just trying to gain some office blank . Before you rush out to the local building supply storage , take a few moments to read this clause and consider your penury .

Your attic must adjust to some canonical structural necessities for this project to put to work . look at these four divisor :

­Gather the tool and materials you ’ll ask before you commence and check that they ’re uncontaminating and ready to use . Depending on your undertaking , you ’ll likely ask a protractor for calculating angle . You ’ll need other measuring tools as well , such as a mensuration tapeline or gravel and a level . The study you do may require a scroll saw , mesa saw and/or a deal saw . If you ’re using boards , you ’ll want to have a good sander on hand . If ceilings are high , you may need to apply scaffold [ source : Clement ] .

Once you have draw your architectural plan and obtained your tools and material , you ’re ready to go ! Check out the next section for some ecumenical tips .

Attic Refinishing Tips

Before you make any big decisions about remodeling your attic , you ’re going to call for to intend about not only what you want , but what options will work in your blank . study the next point :

Make certain your attic is able of a remodel . Check your tresses . If they form a " W " shape , they may be too hard to remodel around or lend in surplus cost . You ’re looking for the " A " flesh that wo n’t interfere nearly as much [ root : Remodeling Center ] .

What does your theatre already have to proffer ? If you ’re go to demand to add in a stairway , you need to consider how much space you lose from humbled tier . Stairways take up a lot of space .

edifice permits require inspections , and review order is often prescribe by the officials . Check the order of yours as you may want to view it when planning your remodeling docket [ source : Fritschen ] .

If the sloping roof gather the walls at an awkwardly low point for the drug user , you may want to design for wall to be placed farther in . This will fall the room size , but you may use the surface area between the new wall and the existing wall as reposition , which will likely be much more useful than sustain orbit of the room too low to take the air in [ source : Fritschen ] . Plus , some areas have height codes ; this is a useful mode to meet them [ source : Remodeling Center ] .

You ’ll need some command over the temperature , so plan on add up in insulation and windows . The windows will not only add in some greatly appreciated light source , but they ’ll act as big volcano in warmer months .

Remember that the remainder of the home will be affected by this project as well , so plan accordingly . append a staircase will take up space and disturb your living spaces . So will the unconscious process of running wire and piping . Construction will have to depart on the low degree and play up [ root : Sulski ] .

What do you want to do with your attic outer space ? make a home office , a bedroom or a studio apartment ? Read on to find out more about some specific ideas .

Attic Offices

You may be one of the hoi polloi who have discover that working from home can be a delight . Many companies are now offering their employee the fortune to work at house on a part - time base . An attic office , away from the residual of the family , may be just the ticket . Plus , if you ’re self - hire , you may be able to take a tax deduction for your bureau space .

Perhaps the most important thoughtfulness for a home office – whether in the garret or elsewhere – is to make certain the distance is in full telegraph for all imaginable engineering . Put in more force than you guess you will need – there ’s certain to be a newfangled or improved version of every auto you own coming shortly . You may also want to see share your home function with other member of your family now or in the future , which means adding additional outlets , cable and speech sound jacks for computers , facsimile machine machines , copy machines , phones and net connections .

Beyond the wiring issue , you call for to give special care to lighting . In addition to skylights and desk lamps , consider plan and positioning your desk to take vantage of natural luminousness . Having a place function does n’t mean you have to feel " cube - in . " One choice is thrive your place to take reward of your out-of-door environment . A beautifully landscape vista can meliorate both your mood and your productivity [ source:5 Tips for remodel Your Home Office ] .

Pay special attention to making sure that the floor is able to bear out full bookcases or hard file locker . An attic remodel can volunteer you the chance to install enough built - in shelving to meet all your needs . you’re able to customize the shelving with your own design or with cheap and pliant business office furniture options .

Not planning to bring at home ? Need an spare sleeping room more than you need a position for a desk or file cabinet cabinet ? register on to learn more ideas on how to renovate your attic .

Attic Bedrooms

Whether you ’re seeking an extra bedroom for party , a large master cortege or privacy for a teenager , converting an attic into a bedchamber often make sense . Also , create a sleeping accommodation increases resale economic value of a house more importantly than do most other attic redesigns .

Does a room have to be anything specific to be deal a bedroom ? In some cases , it just has to do with the size of the windows and a cupboard . Bedrooms are required to have at least one window large enough to use as an escape in case of a fire . irrespective of your original mean use of the space , it makes sensory faculty to fit it out as a bedroom . That way , as your class grows or shrink and needs change , you could adapt the space easily [ source : Goering ] .

To renovate attic place into a bedroom , you ’ll also need to let in right insulation . Most bean are not well insulated , because they were never intend to be know spaces . After the region is insulated , you ’ll need to drywall or dialog box to cut through the wooden soma [ seed : Maxwell ] .

Sufficient ventilating system is also important , as is enough light . Several skylights will allow you to deliver on energy cost [ source : Maxwell ] . If the surface area gets too red-hot during the summertime , you may bid to purchase special drapery or blinds design specifically for skylights .

If the flooring is solid and even , you may choose to keep it as is or refinish or paint the wood . Carpeting will facilitate muffle sounds , so consider this option count on what room or rooms are one point below .

You may involve to put in a stairway if you ’ve been using a rive - down door with stair to the attic . Check the building code requirements in your community , as they differ . Most building codes require a single or double handrail [ source : Maxwell ] .

Do you have a adolescent with a service department isthmus that wants to become an attic band ? Perhaps you need distance for the draw a bead on artist in your syndicate . take on for more information about how to recreate your attic to meet these pauperism .

Attic Music and Art Studios

If you ’re going to convert the Ionic into a medicine studio , soundproofing it is a honest estimate – for your sake and perhaps your entire neighborhood ! And if this music studio is for a group of vernal the great unwashed who are n’t playing classical drawing string quartets , ensure the flooring is warm enough to resist dance and stomping . The wisest course of instruction of action is to meet with a structural engineer to set if the flooring needs to be reward [ informant : Service Magic.com ] .

An attic is an ideal campaigner for an art studio , especially if it has " impossible " squelch ceilings and angled corners that can make for bang-up storage or display areas . These angles also add character reference to your studio apartment . Light will be a principal concern ; adding dormer window and skylight is an choice . Of course , if picture taking is your medium , you would probably rather have a darkroom . paint the bulwark a light or impersonal color can allow an instant gallery space as well [ source : LetsRenovate.com ] .

Before beginning your task , do n’t hesitate to consult with professionals for advice on take advantage of your space . You may need building licence and professional consulting . Depending on your design , you may also opt to charter a contractor to do the piece of work .

Reclaim that unused space for whatever you and your category most demand at this time . programme for flexibility and resale economic value , even if you mean to continue in your household . you could make a beautiful plus at a gloomy cost than new construction and relish the new office , sleeping room or studio apartment for days to come .

Lots More Information

Sources