Whether you envision your house s top floor as an away from it all master suite a quiet home office or a hangout spot for the kids read these 14 tips to help you finish your attic remodel.
Do i need a permit to finish my attic.
When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale.
Finish my basement or attic do i need a permit.
The basic space requirements for a finished attic boil down to the sizes of the finished rooms.
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Before finishing an attic get the necessary permits from your local housing commission so you don t get in trouble later on if you try to sell your house.
Once you have a permit install subfloor panels over the floor joists so you can lay down flooring.
I received a call the other day from a woman that was very excited and needed advice.
If you re finishing your attic insulating it to the proper r value can cause a dramatic loss of headroom if you limit yourself to fiberglass batts.
In my opinion you should always get a permit.
Every attic is different but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation.
Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home as long as it s done properly.
Think to the future too.
Finished is important to remember when you re measuring an empty attic space.
A permit keeps you and the contractor honest and should ensure that the modifications are up to code.
Flooring ceiling and wall materials and other elements will reduce headroom and floor space and it s the finished area that matters.
When a house is for sale and has a finished attic that didn t apply for a permit from the county how should you proceed with the sale.
To meet all three goals insulating your finished attic ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom use a combination of dense batt insulation rigid foam sheeting and air chutes.
At some point you ll want to sell this house buyers will want to know that the new addition is legal.
In most cases though the joists cannot support live loads and may not even be covered with boards.
In rare cases especially in new construction homes the attic may have been built unfinished with the correct flooring in place with the idea that the homeowner could later on finish the space.
Account for codes and safety photo by casey dunn.