Finishing An Unfinished Attic

Make sure to nail into the wall studs when installing the osb image b.

Finishing an unfinished attic.

Here are some must do tips to follow when finishing your attic. There are no special exceptions just because it s living space in the attic. Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home as long as it s done properly. 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.

Finishing an attic turns the finished parts into standard living spaces making them subject to all of the same rules that apply to other living areas of the home. Replace any attic insulation where necessary. When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale. Low cabinets and bookcases fit snugly in the space under slanted ceilings.

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. In most cases though the joists cannot support live loads and may not even be covered with boards. Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a nail gun. Follow the rule of 7s.

Finishing the attic my preference is to push the knee walls close to the eaves creating as much floor space as possible. At the lyons house this meant that only a portion of the attic was usable though some of the low clearance area was tapped for storage. These powerful tools can drive a nail through wood or a hand or foot. 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.

Every attic is different but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation. Use a nail gun to attach sheets of osb to the walls over the insulation. Any living space requires at least 7 feet of headroom over a floor area of at least 70 square feet measuring at least 7 feet in each direction. If your home is smaller than other homes in your area or simply lacks the necessary amount of storage or living space for your family finishing your attic is a relatively inexpensive way to increase your usable space.

Enforcement varies but codes typically say that at least half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high and that this area must be a minimum of 7 feet wide and 70 square feet.