Mobile Menu

  • Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Home Jobs by MOM

Insights. Ideas. Improvements.

  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Business Ideas
    • Online Tools for Bloggers
  • Improving Family Life
  • Contact
  • Search
How to Determine What House Price You Can Afford

Move Up Not Out: Converting Your Attic Into Extra Living Space

You are here: Home / Lifestyle / Home & Garden / Move Up Not Out: Converting Your Attic Into Extra Living Space

September 1, 2017 //  by Home Jobs By Mom//  8 Comments




Tweet
Pin1K
Share31

This article contains affiliate links which means we receive compensation if you purchase a product through them. Visit our disclosure page for more information.

attic, attic space, boomerang kids, boomerang kids adult children, attic ideas

Maybe you live in urban areas with limited property space or figure it’s cheaper to build upward rather than expand out, given your attic floors and walls already exist. In some cases, boomerang kids move back and need more privacy. In other scenarios, moving out is not as feasible as moving up, so here’s how to convert your attic into extra living space.

Use this guide to learn how to transform your attic space from exposed rafters to a finished room!Click To Tweet

Decide the Purpose of the Finished Attic Space


Identify the destined purpose of your room. Local codes needed insulation, and stairs leading up or in will dictate how you proceed. Some use the rule of seven to determine whether a space can be rented and deemed an official ‘room.’

According to the rule, the space must be 70 square feet with seven-foot ceilings and floors seven feet wide.

Moreover, office space may require electrical outlets for computers and equipment versus a playroom or study that requires fewer electrical outlets.

Consider Installing Insulated Flooring

Your unfinished attic has wood floors that creak and make noise. Added cushion, such as carpet, deafens sounds and makes it warmer in colder seasons. Carpet could inspire fungus growth, however, so choose your flooring depending on moisture and average temperatures in your area. Some manufacturers offer interjoining square flooring to cover attic spaces.

Half Walls Might Be Needed in an Attic Above garage


Many attics adopt the slope of a home’s roof. Little room and awkward angles necessitate knee walls, popular in these spaces. Knee walls are built from the floor and tip into place against angled rafters. The walls give your attic more of a box-style finish and help insulate. In some situations, a half wall or pony wall segment areas and visually block an upward entrance.

Hire Professionals for Converting Attic Space Above Garage

Electrical work can be minimal, just a matter of running additional wire to the attic, that is, if your home breakers can handle the added load.

A plumber can help identify the ‘main stack’ where the home’s primary plumbing pipes are located. If you’re thinking of installing a full or half bath, running pipe gets expensive and complicated.

An HVAC specialist determines whether your heating and cooling system can make the attic hospitable. Otherwise, window air units and floorboard heaters manipulate attic temperatures.

Many Power Tools Will Be Used


The project determines the needed resources. The tools in the average guy or gal’s garage won’t cut it. You’ll need to invest in power tools and rent specialty equipment from local hardware stores.

An end-to-end DIY job can be challenging to handle, so be practical in reserving some duties for experienced professionals. Also, cordless tools can help a great deal when the nearest outlet is far away.

Don’t Forget to Put Windows

Many attics don’t have windows. The absence of light makes a living space uninviting and drab. A range of window and lighting options accommodate all kinds of rooms.

Dormer windows project vertically from a sloping roof and are installed in attic spaces to add light and emergency exits.

Adding a window is a cost, but consider how light improves the space and makes your project profitable.

Do you know the cost to convert the attic to living space?

Home Jobs By Mom
Home Jobs By Mom

Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.

Tweet
Pin1K
Share31



Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

6 Cost-Effective Ways to Restore Your Roof’s Appearance

Keep Your Home Safe by Installing Wireless Smoke CO Detectors #XSense

10 Small Bedroom Decorating Ideas for a Single Woman

Insurance Investment Property Tips for New Homes and Income Properties

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality At Home

How to Build an Eco Friendly House

Affordable Backyard Landscaping Ideas for More Privacy

Is Home Maintenance Really That Important? 7 Reasons Why Yes

Important Life Skills to Learn That Can Help You Save Money

6 Reasons Why a Wooden Bed Frame No Headboard Is the Best Choice

What Do You Need To Know About Mold Inspection And Testing?

5 Tips for Incorporating Chandeliers into your Home Decor

Previous Post: «snack healthy, snack healthy easy, snack healthy ideas, Veggie-Go’s How to Get Kids To Snack Healthy #momsmeet
Next Post: Celebrating Rosh Hashanah Celebrating Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah, rosh hashanah food»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. joannerambling

    September 4, 2017 at 6:41 pm

    We don’t have an attic, not that common here in Australia

    Reply
    • Krystle

      September 8, 2017 at 8:13 pm

      Oh really? I didn’t know that! Thanks for the information!

      Reply
  2. Dena Akbar

    July 3, 2020 at 2:46 pm

    We don’t have an attic, not that common here in Georgia.

    Reply
    • Home Jobs By Mom

      August 6, 2020 at 12:02 pm

      Ah, I get that. Here in Texas basements are rare.

      Reply
  3. Laura Harrison

    December 1, 2020 at 1:42 am

    I do have an attic. It has no a/c or heat. Currently, I just use it for storage and I made a grow room out of one section to start my plants for my garden.

    Reply
    • Home Jobs By Mom

      January 20, 2021 at 3:20 pm

      A grow room in an attic sounds like a great idea!

      Reply
  4. Virginia

    February 12, 2021 at 5:39 pm

    I have 1 very large attic and 1 med size I want to do the large one. And get et I’d of Yvan and get this new ? System a friend of mine has it and it’s great. I want to put in a window maybe a skylight I Flores it after I bought this house new 21 years ago. I just want to understand proper walls and could I put bamboo flooring in? And right where the attic stairs are is an empty room if like to put a stair case in there?

    Reply
    • Home Jobs By Mom

      February 22, 2021 at 7:33 pm

      It would be neat if you could do something with your large attic space!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Get a look into a mom's inkling into this crazy thing called life.
Read More…

Recent Posts

6 Cost-Effective Ways to Restore Your Roof’s Appearance

6 Cost-Effective Ways to Restore Your Roof’s Appearance

Best Side Hustles for Working Moms to Supplement Income

Best Side Hustles for Working Moms to Supplement Income

6 Tips for a Perfect Beach Day: Beach and Ocean Safety Supplies

6 Tips for a Perfect Beach Day: Beach and Ocean Safety Supplies

Starter Sneaker Collection: Shoes to Add and How to Maintain Them

Starter Sneaker Collection: Shoes to Add and How to Maintain Them

Meal Prep Tips for Families: 4 Tips to Get You Started

Meal Prep Tips for Families: 4 Tips to Get You Started

Blogger Opp: Women’s Health Month Vitamin Giveaway #BloggersWanted

Blogger Opp: Women’s Health Month Vitamin Giveaway #BloggersWanted

Blogger Opp: X-Sense Wireless Interconnected 2-In-1 Alarms Giveaway #BloggersWanted

Blogger Opp: X-Sense Wireless Interconnected 2-In-1 Alarms Giveaway #BloggersWanted

Turning 40 Women’s Health: How to Stay Healthy and Fit @SuperiorSource

Turning 40 Women’s Health: How to Stay Healthy and Fit @SuperiorSource

5 Tips For Designing Your Own Custom Baby Onesie Bodysuit

5 Tips For Designing Your Own Custom Baby Onesie Bodysuit

Getting Newborn Into Sleep Routine: Helpful Strategies That Work

Getting Newborn Into Sleep Routine: Helpful Strategies That Work

Giveaways

Batman Phone Case Giveaway (Ends 6/13) @goosegiveaways @fanmerchstore

Batman Phone Case Giveaway (Ends 6/13) @goosegiveaways @fanmerchstore

Transformative Strategies Book Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SilvieArmas

Transformative Strategies Book Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SilvieArmas

DinoMAYnia Book Collection Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @DeliciouslySavv @NGKidsBk

DinoMAYnia Book Collection Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @DeliciouslySavv @NGKidsBk

Coziest Night’s Sleep EVER Giveaway (Ends 6/25) @DeliciouslySavv @PeachSkinSheets

Coziest Night’s Sleep EVER Giveaway (Ends 6/25) @DeliciouslySavv @PeachSkinSheets

@TRENDHIM Leather Belt Giveaway (Ends 6/1) @Versatileer

@TRENDHIM Leather Belt Giveaway (Ends 6/1) @Versatileer

@JohnBoosCo Cherry Cutting Board Giveaway (Ends 6/27) @DeliciouslySavv

@JohnBoosCo Cherry Cutting Board Giveaway (Ends 6/27) @DeliciouslySavv

Women’s Health Month Vitamin Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SuperiorSource

Women’s Health Month Vitamin Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SuperiorSource

Lurvz Silicone Utensils Set Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @LurvzUs @Versatileer

Lurvz Silicone Utensils Set Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @LurvzUs @Versatileer

@IQAir Seasonal Allergy Relief Giveaway (Ends 6/19) @DeliciouslySavv

@IQAir Seasonal Allergy Relief Giveaway (Ends 6/19) @DeliciouslySavv

X-Sense Wireless Interconnected 2-in-1 Alarms Giveaway (Ends 6/13)

X-Sense Wireless Interconnected 2-in-1 Alarms Giveaway (Ends 6/13)

            Enter more giveaways here!

Free Download

Productivity-Planner-Preview

“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”

Download the FREE Colorable Productivity Planner to get your life more organized. Sign up as a newsletter insider today!

Be A Better You

This website uses affiliate links which means we receive compensation if you purchase a product through them. Visit our disclosure page for more information.

  • About Home Jobs By Mom
  • Terms & Privacy
  • Contact

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 Home Jobs by MOM · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT